Capital One Arena Replaces Verizon Center
The Verizon Center, a sports and entertainment arena originally known as the MCI Center, became the Capital One Arena on Aug. 9.
Monumental Sports and Entertainment, which owns the 20,000-seat F Street venue, sold the naming rights to Capital One for $10 million per year, according to the Washington Post, which reported that “financial details were not released, but the deal is worth $100 million over 10 years, according to a source familiar with the arrangement.”
Monumental, which owns the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals, announced a $40-million investment in the facility. The Capital One Arena is also home to the Washington Mystics and the Georgetown University men’s basketball team.
The one-million-square-foot arena runs along F Street from Sixth and Seventh Streets NW in Chinatown and opened in 1997 as the MCI Center, sparking an economic boom in the neighborhood. Verizon assumed the naming rights when the company acquired MCI.
In addition, Capitol One is acquiring retail property at Georgetown’s most famous corner — Wisconsin Avenue and M Street — from Kevin Plank’s Sagamore Development for a record $50.2 million. The 3150 M St. NW address was once home to the legendary Nathans Restaurant.
Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One is completing its one-two-three punch to branding recognition by building a new building — to be the region’s tallest — which will be anchored by a theater and a Wegmans grocery store. Capital One is a bank holding company that is the ninth-largest bank in the U.S. in terms of assets.
Historical Society to Reopen in Newseum
The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., announced that it will reopen in the Newseum on Sept. 19. The relocation is temporary, pending the completion of renovations to the Carnegie Library at Mount Vernon Square, expected to take about a year and a half. An Apple “global flagship” store will occupy the first floor of the library, built in 1903, with the Historical Society on the second floor. Though the Newseum charges an admission fee, the Historical Society will remain free.
Scavenger Hunt for Banned Books
The D.C. Public Library Foundation will celebrate Banned Books Week in September with a citywide banned-book scavenger hunt and “Uncensored Underground,” a party at Dupont Underground. This year’s theme is “Texts Against Tyranny.” Hundreds of banned books will be hidden throughout D.C. Clues will be distributed on social media and elsewhere, so keep an eye out beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Teen Hit in Crossfire Dies
Jamahri Sydnor, a recent Wilson High graduate died after being hit in crossfire.
A 17-year-old girl who was hit with a stray bullet Aug. 10 in Northeast D.C. died three days later, Fox 5 reported. Jamahri Sydnor was shot while driving in the 1400 block of Saratoga Avenue NE. A 21-year-old male was arrested the next day and charged with assault with intent to kill. Sydnor, who had just graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, where she captained the cheerleading squad, was planning to attend Florida A&M University.
New Frederick Douglass Span Planned
The design for a $441-million bridge over the Anacostia River was made public by Mayor Muriel Bowser. The new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge will replace the nearly 70-year-old existing structure, also known as the South Capitol Street Bridge. Currently the largest construction project in D.C. history, the new bridge — meant to boost economic development on both sides of the river — is expected to open late in 2021.
Juvenile Charged with Attempted Carjacking
A young teen was charged with attempted carjacking and assault with a dangerous weapon in Northwest D.C.’s Brightwood neighborhood, the Washington Post reported. Authorities said the 13-year-old boy and another individual tried to pull a woman out of her car around 7:15 p.m. Aug. 10 in the 6000 block of 13th Place NW. Two witnesses intervened and the boy tried to stab them with a knife. The woman was able to drive away.
Yelp’s D.C. Expansion Gets Good Reviews
Yelp cofounder and CEO Jeremy Stoppelman has signed a lease for new company offices in D.C. The expansion — to a 52,000-square-foot space next to Capital One Arena (have to get used to saying that) — will bring 500 new jobs to the District over the next five years, half of them targeting D.C. residents. The popular site for crowd-sourced reviews of local businesses, Yelp is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Scottsdale, New York, Chicago, London and Hamburg, Germany.
