Capital One Arena is currently undergoing an $800 million, multi-phase renovation process to modernize and upgrade athlete facilities, the building’s exterior, concourses, concessions, and other areas of fan experience. When those renovations are complete, some top sporting events could be on their way to DC.
Ted Leonsis, owner and chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, recently spoke with WTOP’s Ben Raby about the possibility of bringing both the NHL and NBA All-Star games to the arena once renovations are complete. If construction remains on track, MSE has previously laid out that the final touches will be made in the summer of 2027.
“When our building is up and functioning, I would hope we’d be considered for an NBA All-Star Game,” Leonsis said. “The NHL All-Star Game – we’d love to be able to host it.”
DC has never hosted an NHL All-Star Game; the only time the event was held in the area, in 1982, the Capitals still played their home games in Landover, Maryland, at the Capital Centre. The lone NBA All-Star Game hosted in DC was held at the then-MCI Center in 2001, after the Bullets hosted it twice (1969, 1980) in Maryland.
According to previously released plans, Phase 4 of the renovations, which includes “major exterior and interior renovations,” is set for this summer. Phase 5, work addressing the “interior remodeling and premium amenities,” will take place during the 2026-27 season, and Phase 6, the “final interior improvements and Grand Pavilion completion,” will occur during the 2027 offseason, which early renderings noticeably featured a statue for Alex Ovechkin.
As far as the NHL is concerned, league commissioner Gary Bettman has been kept in the loop by Leonsis throughout the construction process and spoke glowingly about what he has seen so far this past January.
“Ted took me on a tour of what’s been done and what’s being planned,” Bettman said. “What’s going on here is nothing short of spectacular. And sharing our tentpole events, our special events with the fans in Washington, with the Capitals, the organization, is always on the table.”
Bettman added that any such consideration for league events, including the NHL Draft, would happen after the Capital One Arena transformation and that the planning for those larger events occurs “at least a year out.”
While that means the two parties cannot yet have any concrete discussions, it’s clear that Leonsis wants to shine a light on the vast improvements being made to the building.
“I think it’s the right thing for the city and the right thing for our team to show off the new building once it reopens,” Leonsis said. “We’ll put our hand up when the time is right.”
