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KSweeley · Aug 10, 2017

An estimated $100 million naming rights deal for 10 years effective immediately with Capital One has taken effect, renaming the Verizon Center in D.C. to the Capital One Arena: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ne-arena-starting-now/?utm_term=.d0daf8ae12cd

Verizon Center to become Capital One Arena, starting now
August 9, 2017

Washington's downtown sports arena is changing names, effective immediately. Monumental Sports and Entertainment will make the switch official on Wednesday, announcing that Verizon Center will now be known as Capital One Arena. The signage and branding makeover will happen this fall, but there's already a new logo and a third name for the Chinatown venue, which opened as the MCI Center in the winter of 1997.

The previous 20-year naming rights arrangement was negotiated by former Wizards and Capitals owner Abe Pollin, and current owner Ted Leonsis has said repeatedly that he was seeking a more team-friendly deal. The Verizon deal was set to expire in 2018, but Capital One's involvement accelerated the schedule.

Financial details were not released, but the deal is worth $100 million over 10 years, according to a source familiar with the arrangement, who confirmed an earlier Bloomberg report. That's believed to be a significant jump over what Monumental received per year from the previous deal.

Capital One's press release announcing Capital One Arena: http://press.capitalone.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=251626&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2292991

YouTube announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugm-wwLK3-Q&feature=youtu.be

Darryl M R · Aug 10, 2017

It's going to be an adjustment to not call it the Verizon Center.

Also the Capital One Arena does not roll off the tongue as nicely as the Verizon Center.

4 is a cutie · Aug 10, 2017

lame

Verizon Center sounds way cooler and I always liked seeing the big red screens on the building

louiedog · Aug 10, 2017

Darryl M R said:
It's going to be an adjustment to not call it the Verizon Center.

Also the Capital One Arena does not roll off the tongue as nicely as the Verizon Center.

Sponsored names can get much worse

Haruko · Aug 10, 2017

I wonder why they didn't go with Capital One Center

Kappa

Han Seoul-Oh · Aug 10, 2017

To me, it will always be the Verizon Center and Nissan Pavilion.

SteveMeister · Aug 10, 2017

You could almost forget it's a sponsor name. Sounds more like an important address in DC: Capitol One Arena. Better than Verizon Center or FedEx Field.

JawesomeJaw · Aug 10, 2017

Han Seoul-Oh said:
To me, it will always be the Verizon Center and Nissan Pavilion.

Good times can always be had at the Lube.

Earthbound64 · Aug 10, 2017

louiedog said:
Sponsored names can get much worse

DopeyFish · Aug 10, 2017

Considering the caps play there, it's just gonna be called the cap arena

InfiniteCombo · Aug 10, 2017

Yea, as a DC resident, it'll be pretty weird. "Verizon Center" was just easy to say, and sounded good. I JUST went there to see the Roger Waters concert the other day.

But then again, it's whatever you get used to. I'm still anachronistic as hell: to me, the concert venue is still "Nissan Pavilion" and the Nationals still play at "RFK".

excelsiorlef · Aug 10, 2017

Darryl M R said:
It's going to be an adjustment to not call it the Verizon Center.

Also the Capital One Arena does not roll off the tongue as nicely as the Verizon Center.

Just call it the COA as in Co-ah

As in we're heading down to the COA to see a real champion in action... because the Pens are in town

hodayathink · Aug 10, 2017

louiedog said:
Sponsored names can get much worse

I never stopped calling it Comiskey.

ThreePiMatt · Aug 10, 2017

hodayathink said:
I never stopped calling it Comiskey.

It was disappointing when it first became US Cellular Field, but after some time calling it "The Cell" became pretty natural. Since becoming Guaranteed Rate Field, most of my circle have just gone back to Comiskey.

Risible · Aug 10, 2017

Sponsored names are the fucking lamest thing ever.

Xyrmellon · Aug 10, 2017

louiedog said:
Sponsored names can get much worse

In Tampa we had the 1-800-Ask-Gary amphitheater. It was named for an ambulance chasing law firm.

Orbis Tabula · Aug 10, 2017

Risible said:
Sponsored names are the fucking lamest thing ever.

They really are almost all embarrassingly lame.

WedgeX · Aug 10, 2017

Isn't there already a Capital One Stadium in the D.C. area?

Alcotholic · Aug 10, 2017

I miss when theaters and stadiums weren't sponsored.

itwasTuesday · Aug 10, 2017

I still call it mci

makingmusic476 · Aug 10, 2017

People actually call these things by their sponsored names?

I've only ever said the New Orleans Arena.

louiedog · Aug 10, 2017

Xyrmellon said:
In Tampa we had the 1-800-Ask-Gary amphitheater. It was named for an ambulance chasing law firm.

What did people actually call it? I can't imagine people saying that out loud who aren't lawyers named Gary.

nhlducks35 · Aug 10, 2017

I like the Oracle Arena and Staples Center

Advocatus Diaboli · Aug 10, 2017

DopeyFish said:
Considering the caps play there, it's just gonna be called the cap arena

Yep. Much better than Verizon Center.

Cap(s) Arena is fine by me. Which will be transformed into "Caps Won!* Arena."

* Except in the postseason.

Kobe24 · Aug 10, 2017

long live the MCI Center

SkyMasterson · Aug 10, 2017

I mean, it works out considering the Washington Capitols play there. Pretty ideal if you ask me.

Gunstar Ikari · Aug 10, 2017

Captial One Arena, because the Capitals won't ever win more than one series in the playoffs

kirblar · Aug 10, 2017

They definitely wanted to lock in that name because it's actually a good name for the Arena, given that it's DC and the Capitols.

MrNelson · Aug 10, 2017

louiedog said:
What did people actually call it? I can't imagine people saying that out loud who aren't lawyers named Gary.

The Amp

It's been the Ford Amphitheatre, the 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre, and now the Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre, but pretty much everyone calls it The Amp.

linko9 · Aug 10, 2017

Always the MCI center to me.

5taquitos · Aug 10, 2017

My local arena went from the Rose Garden (awesome) to the Moda Center (lol).

Squirrel Killer · Aug 10, 2017

Risible said:
Sponsored names are the fucking lamest thing ever.

I'll do you one worse... Uni ads.

Rahvar · Aug 10, 2017

The biggest football (soccer) stadium in Sweden had it's naming rights bought by a bank. But because the bank was under some criticism around then, they decided to give their right to an anti-bullying organization. Thus I went and saw Guns N Roses at Friends Arena. Could be a lot worse, though it took time to get used to.

Newcastle United's arena was for a season changed from St James' Park to sportsdirect.com @ St James' Park Stadium -_-

Geist- · Aug 10, 2017

You just reminded me that Safeco Field is losing its name next year. Fuck, I hate sponsored stadium names.

Hattori · Aug 10, 2017

louiedog said:
Sponsored names can get much worse

thank goodness for Wrigley and Soldier Field (United Center ain't bad either)

Preble · Aug 10, 2017

Lol was just starting to get used to the change from the MCI Center.

Falchion · Aug 10, 2017

Hmm, I wonder if I'll get free tickets since I have their card.

Megawarrior · Aug 10, 2017

Will capital one members get discounts.

otapnam · Aug 10, 2017

Megawarrior said:
Will capital one members get discounts.

1% cashback.

Autumn Wind · Aug 10, 2017

linko9 said:
Always the MCI center to me.

Indeed. It's where a few WCW Starrcade PPVs took place and also a few WWE PPVs later on.

TheLetdown · Aug 10, 2017

louiedog said:
What did people actually call it? I can't imagine people saying that out loud who aren't lawyers named Gary.

Around town, it was mostly just known as the 1-800-ASK-GARY 24/7 legal referral service non-attorney spokesperson amphitheater.

Lulubop · Aug 10, 2017

Waiting for Bob's discount furniture field.

DOWN · Aug 10, 2017

Staples Center and Amway Center are two of the only ones that sound ok

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