The new state-of-the-art esports and entertainment venue on the East Coast marks MSE’s extended commitment to gaming.
Washington, DC – Today, Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) celebrates the grand opening of District E Powered by Ticketmaster, a nearly 14,000-square-foot facility that will serve as a hub for esports, entertainment and discovery at the heart of Downtown Washington, D.C. Guests were treated to a lively ribbon cutting ceremony, tours of space and a tasting of the culinary creations from the venue’s restaurant.
“As we thought about what we wanted to be as an organization coming out of the pandemic, we knew we wanted Monumental Sports to be digitally focused and technology centric. District E Powered by Ticketmaster is a real manifestation of that strategy and pushing forward to do things a little bit differently,” said Zach Leonsis, President of Media & New Enterprises. “For many people in D.C. this space will be their first experience with esports, and we really want to make it a great one. But this won’t be a venue just focused on esports! We’re also excited about the proximity to Capital One Arena making it easy to host plenty of Capitals and Wizards events as well. The highly flexible multiuse space provides us with endless opportunities for the future.”
Speakers at the ribbon cutting event also included Jordan Silberman, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Capital One Arena for Monumental Sports & Entertainment; Liz Noe, Vice President of Operations for Aramark Sports + Entertainment; Melissa Dueñas, Senior Vice President, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer for Leidos and Brendan Donohue, President of the NBA 2K League. The afternoon was emceed by Wes Hall, Washington ‘Wizards Pregame/Postgame Live’ show host on NBC Sports Washington.
District E Powered by Ticketmaster delivers on the organization’s desire to create an esports and local entertainment hub including a new bar and restaurant concept, District Bites, in partnership with Aramark Sports + Entertainment. Announced in January 2022, plans to reestablish the vacant space in Gallery Place as a lively mixed-use, high-tech venue at the core of Downtown, D.C. took just over one year to complete.
The live-event theater offers a 365-day-a-year series of immersive experiences in esports, music, event programming, and community events – along with pre-and post-event activations for fans attending Capitals and Wizards games. The venue creates a best-in-class competition and training venue for the esports franchises Monumental owns, operates, and invests in, including Wizards District Gaming and Caps Gaming. District E also serves as a catalyst to foster the amateur gaming community in the Greater Washington Metropolitan region and attract the growing influencer streaming community through its state-of-the-art streaming pods. Additionally, it establishes an East Coast satellite office for global esports powerhouse Team Liquid – just steps away from Capital One Arena.
District E features a large event space with a wide variety of configurations, making it the perfect option for social receptions, conferences, business functions, community programs, and more. The venue has been open to external bookings since January 2023 and in just a short time, it is already set to host the NBA 2K League’s 2023 season. Tickets for the NBA 2K League games at District E starting with the SLAM Open Semifinals on March 29 are available here. District E will also host the NHL 23 North American Championships and select BLAST Counter-Strike Spring Final events in June, in addition to a variety of different programming spanning esports, traditional sports viewing, and musical or comedic entertainment.
The opening of District E expands upon Monumental Sports’ longstanding commitment to esports and its rapidly growing portfolio over the past several years. Since an initial, sizable investment in esports ownership group, aXiomatic, in 2016, MSE’s efforts in esports include multiple properties [The NBA 2K League’s Wizards District Gaming, the first-ever back-to-back 2K League Champions, the NHL affiliated Caps Gaming, District Elite and equity in Team Liquid, Epic Games, Niantic, Dapper Labs and Nifty Games], positions [MSE’s Chairman, Founder, and CEO, Ted Leonsis represents MSE on the board of aXiomatic and Zach Leonsis, represents MSE on the board of Team Liquid.], and now a dedicated venue.
What others are saying about District E:
“We are thrilled to welcome a new destination to downtown DC. From District E downtown to the ESA in Congress Heights, DC is quickly becoming a leader in e-sports. We look forward to welcoming e-sports fans from around the region and across the nation to Washington, DC.” – Mayor Muriel Bowser, the District of Columbia
“We’re excited to have this new venue for non-traditional sporting events in Downtown DC. We look forward to the ensuing gaming competitions that will bring new visitors to the District.” – Chairman Phil Mendelson, Council of the District of Columbia
“I am excited to congratulate Monumental Sports on the opening of District E — a premier esports and entertainment venue — adjacent to Capital One Arena! Sports unite us and bring us joy, celebration, and togetherness in the District. District E will welcome visitors to enjoy esports together in our downtown. Capital One Arena is a hallmark of the Chinatown neighborhood and Monumental Sports has been a vital partner as we work to build back downtown stronger than ever. I am thrilled to see this newest development as we build for the future and for Ward 2 residents and visitors to enjoy District E for years to come!” – Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Ward 2, Council of the District of Columbia
“The opening of District E is fantastic for the esports community in Washington, D.C. and a wonderful addition to our bustling downtown area. We are very excited to sponsor NBA 2K at District E and BLAST Counter-Strike Spring Final at our very own Entertainment & Sports Arena in Southeast. Using District E’s state-of-the-art technologies, these matches are broadcast both locally and internationally, showcasing the innovation and beauty of the District of Columbia to a world-wide audience.” – Angie M. Gates, Events DC President and CEO
“District E Powered by Ticketmaster reimagines the future of live experiences by bringing esports, latest technology and community engagement together in a one-of-a-kind space. The Leonsis family and Monumental’s unwavering commitment to their fans and facilities is demonstrated once again with this pioneering concept. We applaud our partner and cannot wait to see this space in action.” – Marla Ostroff, Managing Director of North America, Ticketmaster
“Ticketmaster’s investment in District E is driven by our trust in the vision and leadership of the team at Monumental. We are eager to continue to expand our longstanding partnership and explore new opportunities to invigorate sports and entertainment.” – Kurt Schwartzkopf, Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Sports, Ticketmaster
“Leidos is thrilled to be a part of the grand opening of District E, the state-of-the-art esports venue that will bring together the best and brightest in the world of competitive gaming. As a company that is dedicated to innovation, creativity, and teamwork, we recognize the enormous potential of esports to shape the technological landscape of tomorrow. By supporting District E, we are investing in the future and empowering the next generation of digital leaders with the skills and experience they need to succeed.” – Melissa Dueñas, Senior Vice President, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, Leidos
“Aramark Sports + Entertainment is proud to showcase the latest groundbreaking project in our longstanding partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment. District E provides a unique opportunity for us to showcase our commitment to hospitality and culinary innovation in a dedicated esports space, and we look forward to officially tipping off this new venture alongside MSE, Ticketmaster, and the NBA 2K League.” – Liz Noe, Vice President of Operations, Aramark Sports + Entertainment
“The new state-state-of-the-art District E Powered by Ticketmaster is a perfect example of how the Leonsis family and Monumental Sports & Entertainment are leaders in innovation and pioneers of esports. The NBA 2K League is thrilled to partner with one of our teams, Wizards District Gaming, and play 2023 season games in Washington, D.C. at District E.” – Brendan Donohue, President, NBA 2k League
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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.
