Capital One Arena Seating Guide
Where to sit & the best seats
“The Phone Booth (former)” · “Cap One Arena”
Where to sit at Capital One Arena
100 Level center court (near 101/111 sidelines)
Mid-court lower-bowl seats give the definitive Wizards sightline.
100 Level corners
Corner lower-bowl seats give full-ice views without center-ice prices.
400 Level back rows (highest sections)
Very high and steep, a long way from the play.
About Capital One Arena
Capital One Arena seats roughly 20,000 for Wizards basketball and about 18,500 for Capitals hockey, built as a 100 (lower), 200 (club/mezzanine) and 400 (upper) level bowl, with no 300 level in the seating numbering. The lower bowl carries the price and atmosphere, the 200 level offers strong club-style views, and the 400 level is the affordable upper deck. The building is famous for loud Capitals playoff crowds and the outdoor viewing parties in the plaza. It hosts the Wizards, Capitals, Georgetown basketball, concerts and events.
Capital One Arena, opened in 1997 as the MCI Center and later the Verizon Center, sits in the Penn Quarter and Chinatown of downtown Washington, D.C. Its three-tier bowl seats around 20,000 and is the shared home of the Wizards and Capitals, credited with revitalizing the surrounding neighborhood; a major renovation has been modernizing its concourses and premium spaces.
Capital One Arena in photos
3 outside · 2 inside the venue
Seating map
This is the map used for ticket sales at Capital One Arena. Exact configuration varies by event.
How the venue is set up
Basketball
Wizards and Georgetown games open the bowl to around 20,000, with courtside and 100-level sideline seats the premium tickets and the 400 level the value end.
Ice hockey
Capitals games seat roughly 18,500; the lower-bowl corners and glass seats are prized, and the loud playoff atmosphere is a signature.
End-stage concert
Concerts set the stage at one end and curtain off seating behind it; the floor is added as GA or reserved rows while the sides of all levels keep views.
In-the-round concert
Center-stage tours open the full bowl for maximum capacity, with reduced views directly behind the stage.
Seating levels explained
100 LevelSections 100-121
The lower ring around the floor and ice, with premium seats nearest the surface.
Pros: Closest views, best detail and atmosphere.
Cons: Expensive, especially at center court or center ice.
200 LevelSections 200-229
A middle band of club-style seats considered among the best sightlines in the arena, plus suites.
Pros: Excellent mid-height views, club amenities, comparable to suite sightlines.
Cons: Premium pricing relative to the upper deck.
400 LevelSections 400-433
The upper deck, often called the mezzanine, wrapping the arena.
Pros: Most affordable seats with full views of the whole surface.
Cons: Steep and high; back rows sit well above the play.
Best seats at Capital One Arena
Premium basketball view
100 Level center court (near 101/111 sidelines)
Mid-court lower-bowl seats give the definitive Wizards sightline.
Best all-round view
200 Level center sections
Club-level mid-height seats offer some of the cleanest, most comfortable views in the building.
Best hockey value
100 Level corners
Corner lower-bowl seats give full-ice views without center-ice prices.
Value with a full view
400 Level center, front rows (e.g. around 415-420)
Elevated mid-court/ice angle over the whole surface at the lowest prices.
Concert with an end stage
100 or lower 400 Level sides
Angled toward the stage with a clean view, away from behind-stage cutoffs.
| For | Sections | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Premium basketball view | 100 Level center court (near 101/111 sidelines) | Mid-court lower-bowl seats give the definitive Wizards sightline. |
| Best all-round view | 200 Level center sections | Club-level mid-height seats offer some of the cleanest, most comfortable views in the building. |
| Best hockey value | 100 Level corners | Corner lower-bowl seats give full-ice views without center-ice prices. |
| Value with a full view | 400 Level center, front rows (e.g. around 415-420) | Elevated mid-court/ice angle over the whole surface at the lowest prices. |
| Concert with an end stage | 100 or lower 400 Level sides | Angled toward the stage with a clean view, away from behind-stage cutoffs. |
Seats to avoid & obstructed views
400 Level back rows (highest sections): Very high and steep, a long way from the play.
Sections directly behind an end stage (concerts): Curtained off or facing the back of the stage.
Behind-net/basket 100 Level front rows: Low angle flattens the far end of the surface.
Seats beside camera and broadcast platforms: Occasional partial obstruction from equipment.
Accessibility & companion seating
Capital One Arena provides wheelchair-accessible and companion seating on all levels, with elevators, ramps and accessible restrooms, and direct access from the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station. Accessible tickets are booked via the box office or Ticketmaster; an ongoing renovation has been upgrading accessible facilities.
Where: Accessible platforms and companion seats are distributed around the 100, 200 and 400 levels, including sightline-protected positions.
Upcoming events at Capital One Arena
Washington Mystics vs To be decided
Thu, 24 Sept 2026 · WNBA
Washington Mystics vs Chicago Sky
Thu, 24 Sept 2026 · WNBA
Washington Capitals vs Boston Bruins
Fri, 25 Sept 2026 · NHL (Ice Hockey)
Olivia Rodrigo-Washington DC, USA
Sat, 3 Oct 2026 · Concerts
Olivia Rodrigo-Washington DC, USA
Sun, 4 Oct 2026 · Concerts
Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Wed, 7 Oct 2026 · NHL (Ice Hockey)
Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers
Fri, 9 Oct 2026 · NHL (Ice Hockey)
Washington Capitals vs Seattle Kraken
Sun, 11 Oct 2026 · NHL (Ice Hockey)
Getting there
Transport
The arena sits directly above the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station, served by the Red, Green and Yellow Lines, so most fans arrive by rail. Several downtown parking garages are nearby but limited on event nights, making Metro the easiest option.
The area
The arena anchors Penn Quarter and Chinatown, marked by the Chinese friendship arch and surrounded by restaurants, bars and theaters. The National Mall, Smithsonian museums and the National Portrait Gallery are all within a short walk.
Capital One Arena · Washington, D.C., USA
Frequently asked questions
What was Capital One Arena called before?
It opened in 1997 as the MCI Center, became the Verizon Center in 2006, and has been Capital One Arena since 2017.
Why is there no 300 level at Capital One Arena?
The seating is numbered 100, 200 and 400 levels, skipping 300 in the public numbering. The 400 level is the upper deck and the most affordable tier.
Are the 200-level seats good?
Yes. The 200 level is a club-style mid-tier widely regarded as offering some of the best sightlines in the arena, comparable to suite views.
What are the best seats for a Capitals game?
Lower 100-level corner or glass seats put you closest to the ice; the front rows of the center 400 level offer the best value with a full view.
How do I get to Capital One Arena?
It sits directly above the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station on the Red, Green and Yellow Lines, so Metro is the easiest way to arrive.
What else plays at Capital One Arena?
Besides the Wizards and Capitals, it hosts Georgetown Hoyas basketball, concerts, and other events, and has been undergoing a major renovation of its concourses and premium areas.
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Hero image: APK, CC BY 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons