In very important corporate brand awareness news, reports indicate that Verizon Center may be renamed Capital One Center when a new naming rights deal goes into place in 2018.

According to Domain Name Wire, Capital One recently registered more than 50 domain names such as CapitalOneCenterDC.com and Capital1ArenaDC.com.

UPDATE 9:45 AM: These domains may be related to the new shopping and events center Capital One recently earned approval to build in the Tyson’s Corner area.

The Capitals’ home arena was originally known as the MCI Center when it opened in 1997. It was renamed Verizon Center in 2006 after Verizon acquired MCI.

Leonsis discussed why the naming rights negotiation will be a big deal on a Forbes podcast last month. “The city has blossomed,” Leonsis said. “The media reach for the teams, and we now own six teams, and DC has become one of the great vibrant communities.”

Capital One Founder and CEO Richard Fairbank is a partner in Monumental Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Capitals, Verizon Center, and several other pieces of the DC sports market. Capital One has been an official sponsor of the teams that play in Verizon Center in the past, with its logo featured on the ice at Capitals games and on giveaways such as bobbleheads and rally towels, so an arena naming rights deal could be the next step in the relationship.

Though it’s one of the largest banks in the United States, Capital One has its roots in the D.C. area. It started in Richmond, Virginia, and is now headquartered in McLean.

If this report’s prediction turns out to be true, the good news is that we can just start calling it the Cap Center again.

Hat tip to Japers’ Rink for including in Caps Clips today.

Photo: Rob Carr