NHL commissioner Gary Bettman attended the Washington Capitals vs San Jose Sharks game on Friday night after spending his afternoon at The White House celebrating the Florida Panthers’ back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the president.
While speaking to reporters during the matchup, Bettman revealed that the Washington Capitals could host an All-Star Game or the NHL Draft in the not-so-distant future.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Bettman replied. “Actually, Ted took me on a tour of what’s been done and what’s being planned (at Capital One Arena). What’s going on here is nothing short of spectacular. And sharing our tentpole events, our special events with the fans in Washington, with the Capitals, the organization, is always on the table.”
Capital One Arena is currently undergoing an $800 million, multi-phase renovation to modernize the fan experience, athlete facilities, and the building’s exterior, with major upgrades planned to create wider concourses, add more concessions, install new tech, and build a Grand Pavilion. Phase 1 of the renovations appear to have been recently completed with the Capitals receiving a huge new locker room, new film room, and player tunnel.
The renovations were funded primarily by the District of Columbia to keep the Capitals and Wizards in Washington, DC over the long haul, with the upgrades scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2027 — shortly before the start of the Capitals’ 2027-28 season.
Bettman added that any such consideration for those events would happen after the Capital One Arena transformation and that the planning for those larger events occurs “at least a year out.”
“The construction is going to go on here for another couple of years,” Bettman said. “So I don’t think you want to come when a building is under construction. You can tie that back to another. But yeah, I mean, there’s a great fan base here. Monumental is a terrific organization. Ted Leonsis has done a spectacular job being an important member of this community. And what this building and these teams represent to downtown. And I think they give back on a nightly basis when you see all the people who come in here.”
Earlier in the week, the league announced that the 2026 NHL draft will be hosted by the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center, returning to the city for the first time in a decade. The Sabres have helped put on the event three prior times: 1991, 1998, and 2016.
The Capitals have never hosted an NHL Draft, while the team has seen only one All-Star Game come to the area. The league’s 34th ASG came to Landover, Maryland in 1982. Mike Bossy was the All-Star Game MVP as the Prince of Wales Conference All-Stars beat the Campbell Conference All-Stars, 4-2.
Capital One Arena is one of the few NHL arenas that have never hosted either event.
