The Spectacular Verizon Center, Washington Capitals

Official Review by Geoff Crawley, Stadium Journey Correspondent

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Washington DC’s Verizon Center is home to the NHL’s Capitals, NBA’s Wizards, WNBA’s Mystics and Georgetown University men’s basketball. Built in 1997, it was the start of the revitalization of DC’s Chinatown. It is largely responsible for the area being one of the hottest spots in the city. In a word: phenomenal.

Food & Beverage   5/5

You absolutely cannot, cannot have a complaint here. There is absolutely everything here you could ever ask for. All of your regular arena selections are here, nachos, pizza, dogs and popcorn. But the additional selections include hand pulled pork sandwiches, kosher and vegetarian options, salads and lighter sandwich choices, donuts, very good BBQ, crab cakes and fried calamari. Yes, I said fried calamari. The truly amazing part is that the arena accomplishes this without a full sit down restaurant; this, and a lot more are available completely via stands.

There are several full bars in the arena. The arena has nearly 40 (!) different beers on tap, only two of which are $8.00. The rest are $7.50 or less.

Atmosphere   5/5

The buzz here is palpable. It begins on the ride over on the subway, packed with fans. The neighborhood buzzes with excitement. It is so electric on the way to, around and in the arena it is almost dizzying. You cannot help but be swept up in it. Owner Ted Leonsis has done an excellent job of building the team brand and generating excitement in the city. I am breathless just writing about it. Seriously. Amazing.

Neighborhood   5/5

Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of downtown arenas. My expectations were high for Verizon Center’s neighborhood, and it does not disappoint. There is far too much to go into detail. You want American? Done, casual and upscale. You want burgers? Done, at Fuddruckers or Five Guys. You want seafood? Done, and done well, at Legal Sea Foods. Steakhouses, Indian, Thai, Chinese (duh, it’s in Chinatown), BBQ, lighter fare, Irish pubs, even a Tapas Bar all here, within a block of the arena. If you are dying to go to the obligatory ESPNZone, it’s a little farther, but certainly within walking distance.

Here are three great spots:

Rocket Bar: Literally a hole in the wall, Rocket Bar has no food, but you can have California Tortilla deliver to you there, or bring your own food in. There are two full bars, lots of TV’s, pool tables, foosball, darts, even shuffleboard and skee-ball! Wicked cool place.

RFD: Like beer? Then you’ll love this place (www.ilovebeer.com). Over 30 beers on tap and THREE HUNDRED different varieties are available in bottles. Even the menu is centered around beer, including desserts such as Bieramisu and the Fudge Stout Brownie. It is also an official bar of the Washington Capitals, and a great place to watch the game if you can’t get into the Phone Booth, as the Verizon Center is affectionately called.

Lucky Strike: Like to bowl? Even if you don’t, you have to check out this place. Attached to, but not a part of Verizon Center, Lucky Strike is a bowling alley/bar/nightclub. When I walked in, I said, “Wow,” and the doorman said, “We get that a lot.” I’ll bet they do. Full bar, full menu, full giant screen TV’s above each lane, words fail to capture the greatness of this place. You have to see it to believe it.

There are more. Just go and explore.

Fans   5/5

Hockey fans in most places, especially on the east coast, are well informed and involved, and DC is no exception. The team’s rallying cry is “Rock The Red!” and the fans do so en masse. I saw several fans with Alex Ovechkin t-shirts and jerseys with his name spelled in Russian on the back, which I thought was awesome. Visiting team’s fans are slightly hassled, less slightly if they are fans of old Patrick Division teams.

When the Caps score, the arena explodes and the Gary Glitter song “Rock and Roll, Part Two” plays over the loudspeakers. You know, they “HEY!” song. Except that Caps fans serenade the other team by adding “YOU SUCK!” after “HEY!” Or at least they used to. They could have been playing the theme from ‘Chariots of Fire’ for all I know, it was so ear-bleedingly loud.

In the words of the great American Thespian, Paris Hilton, “That’s hot.”

Access   2/5

Um, yeah, so, since it can’t be perfect, there is no official parking available at the arena for Caps games, except for persons with disabilities. There is parking available in garages, and it starts at $25, and no, you don’t get anything special, like a picture with the President with that. Take public transit, it is right on the Metro line.

Like with most of the new arenas, bathrooms are plentiful, with family changing rooms in select locations. They sparkle, along with the rest of the arena.

Return on Investment   5/5

Really, if you don’t have fun here, there is something wrong with you. Make it an all night affair, come for an early dinner, go see a game (always sold out, but always tickets available from, uh, independent brokers on the street), then go bowling and dancing. For crying out loud, it is around the corner from the International Spy Museum. In fact, make it an all day AND night affair.

Extras   5/5

Because I can’t give the neighborhood a 10, I’ll make it up here. This joint oozes greatness for Caps games. There is just too much to do and talk about. There is a full spa – A FULL SPA – attached to the arena. It has a legit sports bar in The Greene Turtle. It even has a Dunkin Donuts, which, in case you didn’t know, makes the world’s best coffee. If you think that Starbucks is better, you are wrong. I dare you to do a blind taste test and tell me that it’s better.

Final Thoughts

If you are in or around DC (Baltimore is close enough if you are there) between September and May, make it your business to get down to the Verizon Center and see a Caps game. Spend a day downtown here. Leave your car and take public transit (www.wmata.com) and relax and enjoy the ride. I promise you will not be disappointed. Unless there is something wrong with you.

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