DC sports fans got another glimpse of Capital One Arena’s future appearance.
Ted Leonsis’s Monumental Sports & Entertainment released new renderings and videos on Tuesday, offering a look at the arena after its massive $1 billion-plus renovation project is complete.
MSE showcased its vision in an accompanying video narrated by former Capitals winger TJ Oshie, former Wizards guard John Wall, and former Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment promotional video for Capital One Arena renovations
The arena has been under construction since shortly after the DC Council approved legislation in December of 2024 that contributed $515 million of city funds to the building’s refresh and kept the Capitals and Wizards in DC through 2050. The renovations are being completed in phases, with the entire transformation scheduled to be finished before the start of the 2027-28 NHL and NBA seasons.
The primary new information and updated looks come to the concourses, which will be completely redesigned with the stated goal of making them more integral to the gameday experience. Perhaps the most interesting new feature involved in those plans is the “Visibowl.”
The “Visibowl” while a Capitals game occurs
MSE is calling the Visibowl the “cornerstone” of the renovations, allowing fans on the concourse to see directly into the arena bowl while purchasing concessions or walking around the venue. And when they do leave their seats, they will be greeted by new bars, a food hall, and other social spaces.
One of the other most obvious changes will be the revamped “iconic new exterior” of the arena. In the released photo renders, the building’s current simple box structure will be capped with a flowing roof fitted with glass panels that extend to a rounded point at each corner of the arena. New grand arena entrances, including one on F Street exclusively for Capital One cardholders, will also dot the exterior.
The major updates to the arena’s exterior and interior are expected to be completed before doors open for Capitals and Wizards games in the fall. Then, throughout the 2026-27 campaign, further interior remodeling and work on premium amenities will continue. The final phase of construction, “final interior improvements and Grand Pavilion completion,” is expected to be finished by the end of summer 2027.
After the renovations are complete, Leonsis has plans to vie for DC to be the host city and Capital One Arena the host arena for both the NHL and NBA All-Star events. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also left open the possibility that the building would eventually host the league’s Draft.
Monumental and Capital One also announced that they have extended their arena naming-rights deal by 20 years, so the building will remain named Capital One Arena for at least another two decades.
Renderings
Exterior
Cardholder entrance
Concourse
