Fansided

3 things we would love to see modernized at Capital One Arena

No new arena in Virginia means the Caps are staying put!

By Michael Marzzacco |
Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals / Avi Gerver/GettyImages
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By now you've probably heard the news about the Washington Capitals no longer relocating to Potomac Yard in four years. Neither are the NBA's Wizards. The deal was shot down in Virginia and as a result, Capital One Arena is getting upgraded.

Ted Leonsis, Capitals owner and Chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports and Entertainment (owns the Wizards, Mystics and more as well) along with Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser along with D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announced an agreement of a renovation of the Capitals current barn on 7th and F Street.

It'll be a revitalized entertaiment desitination not just for the building but the surrounding Gallary Place/Chinatown area. So we have some ideas on how to make life easier for Leonsis and Monumental so here's what we would do with a new arena concept.

#3 More bathrooms

Sounds silly right but you know the long lines that come with having to go number one or number two while not missing any of the action. It's easier said than done but that is a long line like you're waiting for an athlete's autograph just to go. More restrooms, less lines! Simple math really.

But to solve the current problem my trick is I go during the TV timeouts quickly then get right back to my seat to avoid the intermission lines, since I like to go on concourse walks during intermission anyway.

Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals / Patrick Smith/GettyImages

#2 Standing area

One of my favorite features of a Nationals game yes I mean the baseball team is after you get food on the way back to your seat you can glance over and see the field. Imagine if we had a spot like that at Capital One Arena.

It would be the hottest spot in downtown DC by far. Imagine looking at the ice, consuming your bevarage and not missing an Alex Ovechkin goal. That's what renovations are about, improving the fan experience.

Leonsis talked about that in a press release:

"This is more than an investment from the city – it’s a true partnership demonstrated by all of these investments which the city has committed to for our fans to have an exceptional gameday experience.”
Ted Leonsis

Bowser added, "We are going to have a state of the art urban arena in Downtown DC and that's a great deal for DC, for the teams, and for the fans."

District E is already a good pregame hot spot. Imagine some food and drink specials at the concessions in that area or for the fans who arrive early to watch warmups. Imagine if you're at a Wizards game and still see a slam dunk from Kyle Kuzma.

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals / Patrick Smith/GettyImages

#1 Add a museum

This is crazy but a lot of new ballparks and arenas have retired number displays and statues. We obviously are due for a Peter Bondra or Olaf Kolzig number retirement someday down the line. Back then when the building was called the MCI Center I learned there was even a Discovery Channel store inside the arena. Why not have a museum display.

We can show statues like Ovechkin lifting the Cup and the Bullets winning their NBA title. For Ovi lifting the Cup do the one where he's handing it off to Nicklas Backstrom. That would be fun.

You can either connect it to the area or be adjacent to it and it can be open on non game days. That's cha ching money. That's jobs. That is also a little bit of business for when teams are on the road or when there isn't a concert. It can also be a sports history lesson for the concert goers.

Baltimore has a museum near Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. Why not do one that's Caps, Wizards, Mystics, Valor, and E Sports related. Those are our ideas on making Capital One Arena the number one destination for sports fans everywhere.

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