The DC Council passed legislation on Tuesday to fund a reimagining of Capital One Arena, putting a combined $800 million into the venue with Monumental Sports & Entertainment. The deal keeps both the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards in the District through 2050.
While the project improves a wide range of features inside the building, there is a rethinking outside the building as well, giving Capitals fans something they’ve long hoped for.
Thursday, MSE revealed renderings of what the new Capital One Arena will look like when construction is completed in the summer of 2027. In one image, there appears to be an Alex Ovechkin statue outside an entrance to Capital One Arena.
The statue wears number eight and shows a hockey player holding up the Stanley Cup. The name on the back appears to be Ovechkin’s, but slightly misspelled, OVLKCIN — though that could also be caused by the lighting in the model.
In another rendering from down the street, the hockey player statue is joined by an unknown basketball player statue as well.
It’s worth noting: nothing official has been announced about any statues being built or who they would be dedicated to. Ovechkin is under contract with the Capitals through the 2025-26 season. He is deserving; The Great 8 is likely to go down as the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history and is already the greatest player in Capitals’ history.
According to an MSE release, the construction will occur in stages beginning now through the start of the 2027-28 NBA and NHL seasons “to ensure minimal disruption to fans and the league’s schedules.” The arena will remain dark in the summers between the Wizards and Capitals seasons when the bulk of the work will be completed.
MSE partnered with CAA ICON to serve as the project manager, Gensler on the design, and Clark Construction on the building construction.
