Announcing New Food and Features for Fans Attending Games and Events at Capital One Arena
Washington, D.C. – Monumental Sports and Entertainment’s (MSE) Capital One Arena is coming upon its 25th anniversary on December 2, 2022 and today unveiled the comprehensive list of features and amenities for fans and visitors. Since opening its doors in 1997, Capital One Arena has been a hub for sports and entertainment and where fans have come to build community and experience the highest quality food, drinks, technology, and premium offerings. And year-over year for more than two decades, the arena has offered an unmatched experience for the tens of millions of fans who have spent time here. Monumental Sports has committed to investing in innovation on every floor of the concourse and fans are already raving about the updates.
“To see Capital One Arena progressively transform over 25 years into a fan’s paradise – complete with local flavors, great drinks, high-tech experiences and excellent entertainment – has been incredible to be a part of,” said Jordan Silberman, General Manager, Capital One Arena. “Monumental’s continued investments to make this building the best destination for sports and entertainment in the region is all fueled by the desire to create indelible memories for fans. And we can’t wait to debut more new and exciting features for the future.”
The 25th Anniversary Celebration for Capital One Arena includes a headlining performance by Imagine Dragons on December 2, 2022, and continued gameday activations at the Washington Wizards vs. LA Lakers game on December 4 both presented by Aramark Sports + Entertainment, in addition to the Washington Capitals vs. Seattle Kraken game on December 9 which will feature special silver anniversary content in arena and on social media. MSE has worked with longtime partner Aramark Sports + Entertainment to bring forth multiple new food and beverage creations and hospitality upgrades in honor of the celebration.
“Aramark is committed to delivering the best possible experience when guests visit Capital One Arena – especially in this milestone year,” said Marcelo Velazquez, General Manager, Aramark Sports + Entertainment. “Through a variety of chef collaborations and culinary innovations, as well as the expansion of autonomous ordering capabilities and service technology, we are bringing new food options and local flavors to fans while making various dining touchpoints more efficient and easier to navigate.”
Expanded Culinary Creations
Capital One Arena is one of the top places to eat in Downtown, DC with the variety of flavors and local flair added to nearly all concession offerings. The following creations help satisfy the cravings of the over 3 million people that visit the arena each year, with the excess donated to local shelters to reduce overall food waste:
Bun Papa: Alexandria, Virginia’s Bun Papa dishes out its Fried Chicken Sandwich, Big Papa Deluxe, Roadhouse Burger, and Papa Poutine to Capitals and Wizards fans. An original vendor at the resident Launchpad Kiosk – which allows burgeoning food businesses to test out their success on an arena concourse for a limited time – Bun Papa is a success for having made the transition from Launch to a permanent stand at the arena. (Section 120)
Federalist Pig: A two-time Michelin Bib Gourmand winner, Federalist Pig brings DC barbecue to Capital One Arena. Fans can order a Texas Ranger featuring chopped brisket, crispy onions, and house pickles on a BBQ toasted bun or indulge in the Carolina on My Mind with pulled pork, coleslaw, crispy skin, and Carolina Vinegar BBQ sauce on a toasted bun. (Section 110)
Chiko: Specializing in comforting dishes that pull from Chinese and Korean cuisines, Chiko’s menu features a Sesame Slaw Dog and Kimchi & Chili Dog. (Section 422)
Swizzler: Swizzler’s offers a sustainable take on classic fast food and sells two different cheeseburger options and a signature chicken sandwich. (Section 105)
DMV Wings: Offering classic fried chicken wings with fan’s choice BBQ, Old Bay, Buffalo or DC’s famous Capital City Mambo Sauce. (Section 103)
Takorean: With menu items that feature a combination of Korean flavors with Mexican flair, Takorean’s new locations serve up a bulgogi taco, chicken dak galbi taco, and hoisin tofu taco, plus more vegetarian and vegan combinations. (Sections 107, 432)
Sidekick Bakery: After debuting via robot during the Washington Capitals 2022 playoff run, the local DC staple will now offer its popular Ted’s tarts and more sweet treats year-round at Capital One Arena. (Section 118)
Peach Cobbler Tacos: As a part of Aramark’s Eat Your Feed signature menu program, fans can taste this special dish – a flour tortilla filled with house-made peach cobbler, cinnamon sugar, and flaky dough crumbs – that experienced viral popularity on social media. (Section 408).
Pizza Cupcake: This innovative pizza experience debuted at Capital One Arena last season with instant popularity and is now back as a permanent menu item (Section 105, 214).
Drink Up: Coca Cola is the exclusive soft drink provider for Capital One Arena providing its signature beverages, Coke, Diet Coke, Barq’s, Fanta, Fresca, Schweppes, Sprite and Dasani water. Fans will find their favorite spirits made with Patron, Jose Cuervo, 1800 Tequila and Hennessy on every level of the arena with a dedicated location at Section 102 for the Jack Daniels bar, and Moet champagne in each suite.
Premium Lounges: Guests in the arena’s premium hospitality areas including the Etihad Airways Lounge (event level), Caesars Sportsbook Lounge (event level), The Ultra Club (second level) and The Player’s Club (third level) will experience rotating menus of new cuisine concepts, snacks, and access to designated bars. New this year, the Etihad Lounge now features a full dessert bar complete with assorted brownies, cookies, funnel cake fries, made-to-order frozen lollipops, and seasonal specialties to offer fans a sweet treat before, during or after each game.
Enhanced Efficiencies
Capital One Arena has been outfitted with the latest concession technology to help support all of the new culinary creations while ensuring ease of movement on the concourse and shortening the time it takes fans to get back to the game or concert. These state-of-the-art conveniences include:
Drink MKT: The Drink Mkt brand uses Zippin AI-powered technology to offer autonomous, checkout-free experiences for beverages featuring fan favorites such as Michelob Ultra, Devil’s Backbone, Stella, & NUTRL, and small snacks. The arena has three autonomous grab-and-go markets on its concourses. (Section 105, 108, 116)
Self-Order Kiosks: Touch-to-order kiosks have been in use at Capital One Arena for several seasons to empower guests to customize their checkout interactions and increase autonomy and speed of service. Now, Monumental Sports has expanded kiosk ordering at the arena with two Hall of Favs locations that feature popular concessions brands. (Sections 106, 417)
Uber Eats: Launched within Capital One Arena in May 2022, guests can now skip the line with Uber Eats mobile ordering and remote pickup for all Wizards and Capitals home games. Fans can select from multiple concession options throughout each of the arena’s four concourses offering gameday classics and local flavors.
Bespoke Experiences
MSE displays its commitment to creating the absolute best experience at Capital One Arena through continuous updates at every fan touchpoint. Even before entering the building, dedicated staff, cutting-edge tech infrastructure and complementary bricks-and-mortar destinations ensure that each guest can choose their own adventure and personalize their gameday as seamlessly as possible.
Touchless Entry
Guests at games and events at Capital One Arena will experience expedited entry and security screening with Evolv touchless and wandless threat detection. Fans will now walk through Evolv screeners one after the other, only stopping if the AI detects a prohibited item. Once through security, guests will scan their digital tickets at one of the 34 touchless ticket scanners, and then move to the concourse to locate their game snacks or find their seats, as seamlessly as possible.
Cashless Concourse
All guests are encouraged to use touchless payment methods for concessions, the Team Store and vendors throughout the concourse. Using contactless payment is a fast, safe, and secure way to pay. Paying with a Capital One card secures additional discounts, but all point-of-sale locations accept any major debit or credit card, or Apple Pay for any food in Capital One Arena. All concession stands have cashless/no-touch options for payment through smartphone apps and credit card payments. Reverse ATMS on levels 1 and 4 will convert cash into a reloadable debit card.
KultureCity Sensory Room
The new “David Costabile Sensory Room” at Capital One Arena provides a dedicated space designed in partnership with KultureCity and by medical professionals for those who may need a quieter and more secure environment. Outfitted with custom door and window treatments by SelectBlinds, bean bags from Yogibo, visual light panels by Nanoleaf, activity panels, Sparkle Interactive Light (by NunoErin – a therapeutically fun furniture embedded with soft glowing lights that respond to motion), bubble walls, and a custom tactile artwork created by an autistic artist, all guests are welcome to use this space for stimulation break at every game and event (Administrative Entrance)
50/50 Raffles
MSE Foundation (MSEF) is hosting the popular 50/50 raffle for all home games during the 2022-23 seasons for the Capitals and Wizards with the option to purchase tickets online or in-arena at 50/50 raffle kiosks at section 115 and 120 or from roving sellers. Raffle proceeds directly support MSEF programming and events benefiting D.C.-area nonprofits and community partners. Tickets are sold in the following increments: 10 tickets for $10, 40 tickets for $20, 100 tickets for $40 and 300 tickets for $100. Monumental5050.com
Caesars Sportsbook
After opening in its permanent location in 2021 as the first in-arena sportsbook in the U.S., Caesars Sportsbook remains a daily, year-round, publicly accessible betting experience destination. The second floor offers direct access to Capital One Arena for ticketed guests during select events. New this year, Guy Fieri’s DC Kitchen + Bar now operates from the Sportsbook offering menu items like DC Mumbo Wings, Bacon Mac-N-Cheese Burger and a Flavortown signature, Trash Can Nachos. caesars.com/sportsbook-and-casino/dc
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Monumental Sports’ latest venue is all about esports! The new state-of-the-art, destination gaming studio and hospitality space will house an esports competition venue, esports practice & streaming facility and a food & beverage experience upon opening in early 2023! www.districtedc.com.
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About Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Monumental Sports & Entertainment is America’s leading sports and entertainment family. Our people, players, teams, and events bring excitement and joy to millions. We invest and innovate to consistently raise the game so we can deliver extraordinary experiences that will inspire and unite our community, our fans, and our people. To learn more, please visit www.monumentalsports.com.
