Verizon Center Caps-off 10th Anniversary Campaign
with "Taste of Ten" Luncheon and Community
Service Day at Anacostia High School

Luncheon to Feature 29 Area Restaurants and Local Celebrities
Anacostia to Receive New Carpeting, Lights and Paint for Main Office and Student Classroom

Verizon Center is capping-off its 10th anniversary campaign with a "Taste of Ten" luncheon at the arena on Wednesday, May 21 from 12noon – 2:00 p.m. and a community service day makeover at Anacostia High School on Thursday, May 22. Sparking a revitalization of downtown Washington over the past ten years to the tune of over $6.2 billion, Verizon Center surpassed the 25 million mark in attendance in March of this year and was nominated for Arena of the Year in 2007 by leading trade publication, Pollstar.

“This has been a special year for Irene and me,” says Chairman of Washington Sports & Entertainment Abe Pollin. “We’ve seen the surrounding neighborhood grow into a bustling downtown destination after breaking ground a little over ten years ago with the Verizon Center and what better way is there to cap off this great anniversary than with our neighbors and friends of the District of Columbia.”

The “Taste of Ten” luncheon will take place on the main concourse of Verizon Center on Wednesday, May 21 from 12noon – 2:00 p.m. Local celebrities will be in attendance as 29 area restaurants will be serving lunch on the main concourse of Verizon Center including District Chop House, Legal Seafood, Tony Chang’s, Matchbox, Morton’s, Clyde’s, The Greene Turtle, and Zola, as well as arena concessionaires Aramark and Levy Restaurants. All members of the community are invited to celebrate ten great years of sports and entertainment in the heart of downtown Washington with music, food and fun on Abe Pollin Way. Tickets for the luncheon are $10 with proceeds benefiting Washington Sports & Entertainment charities.

In continuation of giving back to the community, Verizon Center employees and staff, on behalf of Abe and Irene Pollin, will be installing new lights and carpeting, and painting Anacostia High School’s main office and a student classroom on Thursday, May 22 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. A previous community service day makeover took place at Spingarn High School on September 27 during the launch of the year-long anniversary campaign.

“The Pollin’s contributions to the District of Columbia go far beyond the building of Verizon Center and bringing the Wizards to the city,” said Fenty. “They have been committed residents whose dedication and personal investment in providing excellent opportunities to our youth is unparalleled.”

Verizon Center’s tenth anniversary campaign detailed “A Passion That Shows” amongst the local community and featured members of the neighborhood, as well as members of the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals and Washington Mystics being at the center of the action.

Over the past year, a series of events occurred revolving around the tenth anniversary of the building. Events ranged from a community service day at Spingarn High School, to the donation of junior and varsity basketball uniforms to three area high schools – Spingarn, Ballou and Anacostia, to the renaming of F Street to Abe Pollin Way and the declaration of Abe Pollin Day in the District of Columbia, to a company-wide dinner celebration with Bill Cosby. Additional highlights throughout the year have included the first nomination for the building for Arena of the Year by leading trade publication, Pollstar, to being a recipient of the 2007 Prime Site Award of Excellence from trade publication, Facilities, to surpassing the 25 million mark in attendance for the arena.

Verizon Center will continue its tradition of providing world-class sports and entertainment this summer with a series of concerts and events including Alicia Keys on June 13, Pearl Jam on June 22, Coldplay on July 2, WWE presents RAW on July 28, George Michael on July 29, Neil Diamond on August 5 and Pop Tarts Presents American Idols Live on August 14.

Additional Information on Taste of Ten Luncheon

Taste of Ten Luncheon is taking place on the main concourse of Verizon Center
Wednesday, May 21 from 12noon -2 pm
Enter through the F Street Entrance

Tickets are $10 and are available the day of the luncheon only.
Each ticket allows for a sampling of up to six different restaurants.
Both Cash and Credit Cards will be accepted

All proceeds will benefit Washington Sports & Entertainment Charities

Area restaurants participating include:

Aramark – B. Smith’s – Bar Louie – Capital Q – Chipotle – Chop’t – Clyde’s – Coca Cola - D’Acqua
Dunkin’ Donuts – ESPN Zone - Fado - Gifford’s Ice Cream – The Greene Turtle – Hard Rock Café – Jaleo
Legal Seafoods – Levy Restaurants – Lucky Strike – Mamma Lucia - Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant –McDonald’s - Morton’s – Rosa Mexicano - Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Crown Food – The Source - District Chophouse & Brewery – Tony Cheng’s Seafood Restaurant and Mongolian BBQ
Zaytinya - Zola