Verizon Center
Verizon Center |
"The Phone Booth" |
|
Former names |
MCI Center (1997–2006) |
Location |
601 F Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004-1603 |
Broke ground |
October 18, 1995 |
Opened |
December 2, 1997 |
Owner |
Monumental Sports and Entertainment (land leased from the City of Washington) |
Operator |
Monumental Sports and Entertainment |
Construction cost |
$ 260 million |
Architect |
Ellerbe Becket Architects & Engineers |
Capacity |
Basketball: 20,173
Ice hockey: 18,277 |
Tenants |
Washington Capitals (NHL) (1997–present)
Washington Wizards (NBA) (1997–present)
Washington Mystics (WNBA) (1998–present)
Georgetown Hoyas (NCAA) (1997–present)
Washington Power (NLL) (2001–2002) |
The Verizon Center (formerly MCI Center) is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, D.C., USA, named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications, and has been nicknamed the "Phone Booth" because of its association with telecommunications companies. It is located in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington and sits atop the Gallery Place-Chinatown station on the Washington Metro. The arena is home to the Washington Capitals of the NHL, Washington Wizards of the NBA, Georgetown University men's basketball, and Washington Mystics of the WNBA, and was formerly home to the Washington Power of the NLL from 2001–2002. It seats 20,173 for basketball and 18,277 for hockey.[1] The arena is now owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, on land leased form the city of Washington. It was built and originally owned by Abe Pollin from 1997-2009. Following Pollin's death in 2009, on on June 10, 2010, the Pollin family sold the Verizon Center, the Wizards, and the Washington-Baltimore area Ticketmaster franchise to Monumental Sports & Entertainment, contorted by Ted Leonsis.[2]
History
The arena opened as the MCI Center on December 2, 1997 in downtown Washington's Chinatown. The building replaced the US Air Arena, in Landover Maryland. The arena is largely considered a commercial and cultural success and is regarded as one of the driving catalyst's of the revitalization and gentrification of Washington's Chinatown neighborhood.[3]
2006
Verizon buy's out MCI, the arena's name is changed accordingly. [4]
2007
In 2007 the "first true indoor high-definition LED scoreboard" was installed at the Verizon Center.[5]
2010
The Verizon center is one of only two U.S sports arenas, along with Baseball's Tropicana field, with 100% of it's food vendors found to have major heath and sanitary violations.[6].
Fan fixtures
Two notable fan fixtures at Washington Capitals games at Verizon Center since the late '90s include Goat and The Horn Guy. "Goat," aka William Stilwell, sits in Section 105 and loudly stomps and starts cheers for the team, with his loud voice that The Washington Post once called "the loudest voice and stompiest stomp on F Street." [7] "The Horn Guy," aka Sam Wolk, sits in section 415 and blows out three blasts on a horn to which the arena responds "Let's Go Caps!," a chant that can be heard during all radio and TV broadcasts.[8]
Notable events
Washington Capitals game on March 8, 2006 featuring the Verizon Center markings on the ice surface.
1998
Stanley Cup Finals games 3-4: June 13 (game 3), June 16 (game 4), 1998 - The Washington Capitals are swept four games to none in the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals.
2003
February 21, 2003; Michael Jordan scores 43 points, becoming the All-Time oldest player, and only player, at age 40 or older to ever score 40 points in an NBA Game.
April 5, 2003; Peter Bondra passes Mike Gartner as the Washington Capitals' career scoring leader.
2005
April 30, 2005 Washington Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls: The Wizards win their first playoff game in nearly 17 years with a 117–99 win over the Bulls. It is the first NBA playoff game ever held within the District of Columbia, as the DC-area team previously played at USAir Arena in Landover, Maryland.
May 6, 2005 Washington Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls: The Washington Wizards win 94–91 over the Bulls, taking the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series from them four games to two. The game marks the first playoff series victory for the Wizards in 23 years, and first playoff series win at the Verizon center or within the limits of Washington DC.
2006
March 26, 2006 - George Mason vs. Connecticut Huskies; NCAA men's Division I basketball championship, Washington DC regional final:
George Mason, playing in front of a mostly partisan crowd due to being located just across the Potomac River in Fairfax Virginia, defeats top seeded UConn to become only the second double-digit seed to reach the NCAA Final Four
2008
Wizards and Capitals both play playoff games in the building in the same calendar year for the first time
other notable events
- NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament first and second rounds; 1998, 2002 & 2008
- NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament regional finals; 2006
- NBA All-Star Game; 2001
- WNBA All-Star Game; 2002, 2007
- ISU World Figure Skating Championships; 2003
- ACC men's basketball tournament; 2005
- BB&T Classic Basketball Tournament; held annually.
- Mike Tyson vs. Kevin McBride; June 11, 2005, Tyson's final fight.
- Kids' Inaugural: We are the Future; January 19, 2009 hosted by first lady Michelle Obama
- NCAA's Men's 2009 Frozen Four hockey championship; 2009
- The Archdiocese of Washington Youth Rally and "Mass for Life"; every January, 2004–present .[9]
The Verizon Center is located in the Chinatown neighborhood.
Controversy
Health code violations
In August 2010 ESPN's Outside the lines reported that the Verizon center was one of only two major sports arenas in the U.S, and the only in the NBA, to have been found with 100% of it's food vendor's with at least one "critical or major" health code violation. At the Verizon center, these violations included Mice droppings in a least 10 different vending locations.[10]
Decline of Chinatown
While proving to be a boon to Washington's yuppie culture, when the arena opened there was concern that it would lead to the displacement of Chinese businesses and culture in the area that was city's Chinatown. This concern has proven to be mostly accurate, as the surrounding area has been dramatically gentrified, resulting in higher prices for real estate, and more upscale residential and commercial development in Chinatown and surrounding areas.[11]. The D.C office of Planning and of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs has created a strategy group to come up with a strategy for Washington's Chinatown cultural preservation and development in light of yuppie's moving into the area and diminishing the Chinese cultural influence in the area.
Ice quality issues
In December 2007, then-Capitals captain Chris Clark gained a bit of press by stating that he believed the Verizon Center had the worst ice in the NHL. "There's a lot of ruts in the ice. It's soft. It's wet half the time. I could see a lot of injuries coming from the ice there. It could cost [players] their jobs...Even guys on other teams say the same thing. When we're facing off, they say, 'How do you guys play on this?'" Caps owner Ted Leonsis addressed this criticism directly [12]. The ice quality issue has been persistent both since the opening of Verizon Center and with the Capitals franchise in general [13].
"Attendance Champions" banners
The "Washington Mystics Attendance Champions" banners that hung at the Verizon Center had been the focal point of much criticism over the years, with many people believing that the rafters should be reserved for achievements by sports teams and not by the fans. Critics thought it was insulting to have banners for championships and retired numbers hang next to "attendance champion" banners. Originally there were six banners (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004); the number was later reduced to three in 2007 (for the first two seasons plus 2002, the only season in which the Mystics have won a playoff series to date) with the other three removed to make way for a banner honoring Final Four appearances by the Georgetown Hoyas.
The Washington City Paper had called them "embarrassing" [14], a 2005 ESPN.com article by Todd Wright commented, "it's time to lose those Mystics attendance banners hanging from the rafters" [15], the Sports Road Trip website mocked the banners by stating "Oh... Mystics... WNBA "attendance champions" in '98 and '99. "Wheeeeeeee!" [16].
When Washington Post writer Jon Gallo was asked about the banners, he stated "The attendance banners were largely achieved because the Mystics gave away approximately 30 percent of their tickets before Sheila Johnson took over the team. If the Mystics had made everyone pay for a ticket, then they would not have had the best attendance in the league." [17].
In the 2009 season, the Mystics once again led the WNBA in attendance at 11,338 per game[18]; however, in an entry on his blog earlier that season, Ted Leonsis, whose Lincoln Holdings owns the Mystics, had promised that there will be no attendance banner for 2009 should the Mystics conclude the season with the attendance lead[19].
On Leonsis' authorization, the final remaining attendance banners were removed from the Verizon Center rafters in 2010 [20].
In film
- Chris Rock filmed a brief scene from his 2003 comedy Head of State in the building.
References
- ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11261-2004Nov24.html?nav=rss_sports/leaguesandsports/nhl/19992000/washingtoncapitals
- ↑ http://www.latestsportsbuzz.com/?p=3838
- ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2283463
- ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2283463
- ↑ Verizon Center shows off "first true indoor HD LED scoreboard" - Engadget
- ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=5401646
- ↑ ""I Was Blessed:" The Goat Story". The Washington Post. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2006/12/the_goat_story_i_was_blessed.html. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
- ↑ "The Horn Man Blows". The Washington Post. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2006/10/the_horn_man_blows.html. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
- ↑ http://www.adw.org/service/jan22.asp
- ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=5401646
- ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/28/AR2009012801315.html
- ↑ Ted's Take - Toughness, 6 December 2007
- ↑ Steinberg, Dan (10 February 2009). "The Caps and Bad Ice: A History". DC Sports Bog (washingtonpost.com). http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2009/02/the_caps_and_bad_ice_a_history.html.
- ↑ McKenna, Dave (30 June 2006). "CHEAP SEATS: In With the Out: The Mystics embrace their trustiest fans.". Washington City Paper. http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/cheap/2006/cheap0630.html.
- ↑ ESPN - Venue Visitation: 107 and Counting - Espnradio, 26 July 2005
- ↑ Washington Wizards, The Ultimate Sports Road Trip website
- ↑ Gallo, Jon (18 August 2006). "Washington Mystics". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/08/11/DI2006081100300_pf.html.
- ↑ WNBA Attendance: 09 Season Summary, WomensBasketballOnline.Com
- ↑ Ted's Take: Mystics Lead WNBA in Attendance After First Report, 13 July 2009
- ↑ Ted's Take: Washington Mystics Attendance Banners, 7 May 2010
External links
Links to related articles |
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Events and tenants |
Preceded by
US Airways Arena |
Home of the
Washington Wizards
1997 – present |
Succeeded by
current |
Preceded by
first arena |
Home of the
Washington Mystics
1998 – present |
Succeeded by
current |
Preceded by
US Airways Arena |
Home of the
Washington Capitals
1997 – present |
Succeeded by
current |
Preceded by
US Airways Arena |
Home of the
Georgetown Hoyas
1997 – present |
Succeeded by
current |
Preceded by
The Arena in Oakland |
Host of the
NBA All-Star Game
2001 |
Succeeded by
First Union Center |
Preceded by
Pepsi Center
Denver, Colorado |
Host of the
Frozen Four
2009 |
Succeeded by
Ford Field
Detroit, Michigan |
Georgetown University |
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Undergraduate |
Georgetown College • School of Nursing and Health Studies • School of Business • School of Foreign Service • Qatar
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Graduate |
School of Arts and Sciences • School of Medicine • Georgetown Law • School of Continuing Studies • Public Policy Institute
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Research |
Berkley Center • Prince Alwaleed Center • Contemporary Arab Studies • Alcohol Marketing and Youth • International and Regional Studies • Woodstock Theological Center
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History |
Alumni • Presidents • Faculty • Andrew White • John Carroll • Patrick Francis Healy • Edmund A. Walsh • John J. DeGioia
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Campuses |
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Buildings |
Healy Hall • Lauinger Library • Housing • McDonough Gymnasium • Observatory • Multi-Sport Field • Hospital • Intercultural Center
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Athletics |
Big East • Men's basketball • Football • Rugby • Women's lacrosse • Verizon Center • Hoya Saxa • There Goes Old Georgetown • Jack the Bulldog
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Student life |
GUSA • The Corp • Lecture Fund • GUASFCU • GERMS • HOYA Clinic • ΔΦΕ • Philodemic • Improv • Mask & Bauble • Nomadic Theatre • Chimes • GUSIF • Solidarity
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Media |
The Hoya • The Georgetown Voice • Georgetown Law Weekly • The Georgetown Heckler • WGTB • GUTV • University Press
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Washington Capitals |
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Franchise |
Award winners • Coaches • Draft picks • General managers • Players • Records • Roster • Seasons
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Lore |
1974 NHL Expansion Draft • 2011 NHL Winter Classic • Easter Epic • Rivalries
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Arenas |
Capital Centre • Verizon Center • Kettler Capitals Iceplex
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Affiliates |
Hershey Bears ( AHL) • South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
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Washington Mystics |
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Founded in 1998 • Based in Washington, D.C. |
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The Franchise |
Franchise • Most recent season
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Arenas |
Verizon Center
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Head Coaches |
Jim Lewis • Cathy Parson • Nancy Darsch • Darrell Walker • Tom Maher • Marianne Stanley • Michael Adams • Richie Adubato • Tree Rollins • Jessie Kenlaw • Julie Plank • Trudi Lacey
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Administration |
Owner: Washington Sports and Entertainment • Lincoln Holdings
General Manager: Melissa McFerrin • Judy Holland-Burton • Linda Hargrove • Angela Taylor • Trudi Lacey
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All-Stars |
Alana Beard • Monique Currie • Stacey Dales • Lindsey Harding • Chamique Holdsclaw • Crystal Langhorne • Nikki McCray • Delisha Milton-Jones
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Seasons |
1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010
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Playoff Appearances |
2000 • 2002 • 2004 • 2006 • 2009 • 2010
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Conference Titles |
None
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WNBA Titles |
None
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Rivals |
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Media |
TV: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic • Radio: WWRC (Money 1260) • Announcers: Frank Hanrahan, Christy Winters Scott
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Washington Wizards |
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Formerly the Chicago Packers, the Chicago Zephyrs, the Baltimore Bullets, the Capital Bullets, and the Washington Bullets • Founded in 1961 • Based in Washington, D.C. |
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The Franchise |
Franchise • Expansion Draft • Head coaches • Seasons • Current season
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Arenas |
International Amphitheatre • Chicago Coliseum • Baltimore Civic Center • Cole Field House • Capital Centre/US Airways Arena • Verizon Center
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Coaches |
Pollard • McMahon • Leonard • Jeannette • Seymour • Farmer • Jeannette • Shue • Jones • Motta • Shue • Loughery • Unseld • Lynam • Staak • Bickerstaff • Brovelli • Heard • Walker • Hamilton • Collins • Jordan • Tapscott • Saunders
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General Managers |
Ferry • Nash • Unseld • Grunfeld
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D-League Affiliate |
Dakota Wizards
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Administration |
Ted Leonsis (Owner) • Ernie Grunfeld (President & GM of Basketball Ops.) • Flip Saunders (Head Coach)
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Retired Numbers |
10 • 11 • 25 • 41
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NBA Championships (1) |
1978
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Rivals |
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Culture and lore |
Wes Unseld • 1975 championship upset • It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings • The Big E • Abe Pollin • Washington Bullets • Earl the Pearl • The Phone Booth • Agent Zero • Hibachi
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Media |
TV: WDCW • Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic • Comcast Network • Radio: WJFK-FM • Announcers: Steve Buckhantz • Phil Chenier • Dave Johnson • Glenn Consor
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Current arenas in the National Hockey League |
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Eastern
Conference |
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Western
Conference |
American Airlines Center · Bridgestone Arena · HP Pavilion · Honda Center · Jobing.com Arena · Joe Louis Arena · Nationwide Arena · Pepsi Center · Rexall Place · Rogers Arena · Scotiabank Saddledome · Scottrade Center · Staples Center · United Center · Xcel Energy Center
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Current arenas in the National Basketball Association |
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Eastern Conference |
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Western Conference |
American Airlines Center · ARCO Arena · AT&T Center · EnergySolutions Arena · FedExForum · New Orleans Arena · Oklahoma City Arena · Oracle Arena · Pepsi Center · Rose Garden · Staples Center · Target Center · Toyota Center · US Airways Center
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Current basketball arenas in the Big East |
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Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) men's basketball tournament venues |
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Reynolds Coliseum (1954–66) • Greensboro Coliseum (1967, 1971–75, 1977–80, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1995–98, 2003–04, 2006, 2010–11, 2013–15) • Bojangles' Coliseum (1968–70) • Capital Centre (1976, 1981, 1987) • The Omni (1983, 1985, 1989) • Charlotte Coliseum II (1990–94, 1999–2000, 2002) • Georgia Dome (2001, 2009) • Verizon Center (2005) • St. Pete Times Forum (2007) • Time Warner Cable Arena (2008) • Phillips Arena (2012)
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