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Verizon Center Facts

Verizon Center, managed by Washington Sports & Entertainment, LP, is home to the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, and the Georgetown Hoyas Men’s Basketball team. Located in the heart of Chinatown in downtown Washington, D.C., Verizon Center is only a few steps away from the White House and hosts more than 220 events and concerts each year.

Debuting in December of 1997, the $200 million sports and entertainment facility is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with having entertained over 25.3 million patrons with over 2,153 world-class sporting events, concerts and family shows. The arena has also become a catalyst for the downtown neighborhood by sparking a dramatic redevelopment effort to the tune of $6.2 billion.

The first and second rounds of the 2008, 2002 and 1998 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, the 2007 and 2002 WNBA All-Star games, the 2006 Washington Regional Round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, the 2005 ACC Tournament, the 2003 World Figure Skating Championships, the 2001 50th NBA All-Star game, and the 1998 NHL Stanley Cup Finals are only a sample of the world-class events held during the past ten years at the building.

Concerts and family shows have included U2, Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Bon Jovi, Prince, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Andrea Bocelli, Disney on Ice, and The Wiggles. The longest tenured events for the building are the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington International Horse Show.

Continuing the tradition as a downtown destination, Verizon Center will host the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Hockey Championships (Frozen Four) for the first time.

Located within the arena are 108 luxury suites and a variety of concession stands and restaurants offering menu choices from Hunan Chinatown to Papa John’s pizza to Dunkin Donuts to hot dogs and pretzels to crab cakes and deli sandwiches. Additional amenities include the private Acela Club Restaurant for club seat and suite holders, the Johnnie Walker Coaches Club for Gold VIP season ticket holders, Dewar’s 12 Clubhouse open to the public an hour before and after events, The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille, Fan Gear sporting goods store, VIDA Fitness and Bang Salon.

EXECUTIVE SUITES/PARTY SUITE

A great way to enjoy events at Verizon Center is to entertain some friends and family or business associates in one of our 108 luxury suites. Between 18 and 22 guests can enjoy the VIP treatment as they watch over 220 sporting events and concerts held annually at Verizon Center. The luxury suites offer an exclusive membership and access to the Acela Club restaurant, premium catering and food service, early and late entry to events and countless other amenities including a private seating area, a restroom and a flat screen television.

The Johnnie Walker Party Pavilion is another exciting option for entertaining up to 99 guests at one time. Whether you’re looking to entertain a group of 34, 65 or 99 guests, this is the place. Guests of the party suite have access to premium catering and food service, a private glass enclosed suite for meetings or hospitality purposes and most importantly a great view for the event. Another amenity of the party suite that makes it stand out from the rest of the suites at Verizon Center is the ability to rent it out on an event by event basis.

HIGH-DEFINITION SCOREBOARD AND LINEAR LED BOARDS
Debuting during the 2007-2008 season, the brand new high-definition LED scoreboard is the first true indoor high-definition scoreboard of its kind for arenas. The center hung scoreboard exclusively features the Diamond Vision LED Fascia, corner stat displays and video boards driven by ANC Sports’ patent pending VisionSOFT operating system. Sitting at 14 feet 5 inches high x 25 feet 2 inches wide, the new scoreboard provides the highest clarity of all the action, including video playback, and exhibits over 68 billion colors. The scoreboard features four 6mm video screens, four 10mm LED video matrixes measuring 5ft x 25ft, and two 20mm LED rings. Over a 1,000 feet of linear LED boards encompass the upper bowl of the arena, as well as 400 feet of LED boards surrounding the lower bowl of the arena with full motion signage. Four additional LED displays highlight the top corners of the arena offering animation, 3D graphics and advertisements.

LOCKER ROOMS/DRESSING ROOMS
Backstage at Verizon Center includes seven performer dressing rooms, the Wizards, Capitals, Mystics and Hoyas locker rooms, and NBA/NHL visitors and official’s locker rooms. The Wizards and Capitals locker rooms include a training room, steam room, hydrotherapy pool, team lounge and weight room.

ACELA CLUB RESTAURANT
The Acela Club is a sophisticated and energetic restaurant available for club seat and suite holders, as well as their guests. The unique
400-seat tiered restaurant overlooks the court and the ice, and combines gourmet dining with world-class service. The Acela Club is also used for private events.

JOHNNIE WALKER COACHES CLUB
Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics, Washington Capitals and Georgetown Hoyas Gold VIP ticket holders can enjoy the Coaches Club before, during, and after games. Located on the event floor, this private lounge serves hors d'oeuvres and beverages in the perfect setting.

DEWAR’S 12 CLUBHOUSE
The Dewar’s 12 Clubhouse is located just inside Verizon Center’s main lobby on F Street on the second floor. Open an hour before and an hour after events at the venue, Dewar’s 12 Clubhouse offers a relaxing atmosphere for drinks, appetizers and a main course.

THE GREENE TURTLE SPORTS BAR & GRILLE
Opening their first franchise location outside of the state of Maryland in 2007 at Verizon Center, The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille is the perfect setting to catch a bite to eat and drink before, during or after a game or event at Verizon Center. Based out of Ocean City, Maryland, The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille offers an appetite for all at an affordable price.

FAN GEAR
Fan Gear, located just inside Verizon Center’s main lobby on F Street, is every patron’s favorite place to shop offering team merchandise for Verizon Center’s own Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals and Washington Mystics. Merchandise can also be found for the Georgetown Hoyas Men’s basketball team.

VIDA FITNESS AND BANG SALON
Located at the corner of 7th and F Streets NW, VIDA Fitness is redefining fitness in Washington, D.C. The perfect place to work on your mind, body and spirit to achieve a fuller and more balanced life, VIDA Fitness offers a calming and rejuvenating space that incorporates all the senses. The 28,000 square foot space brings state-of-the-art fitness equipment, group programming in yoga and pilates, mixed martial arts by Team Lloyd Irvin, and endless pools. Bang Salon/Spa caps off the experience by offering cuts to color, facials to hair removal and a head to toe selection of salon and spa services including Japanese soaking tubs.

PRACTICE FACILITY
The Washington Wizards and the Washington Mystics have an NBA/WNBA regulation sized practice court inside the arena where all team practices are held. Located on the event level, players have easy access to and from the court. The practice court is also used for special events such as large press conferences and receptions.