News & Information
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Verizon Center Hits 25 Million in Attendance
Verizon Center recorded another milestone today as the building
counted its 25 millionth fan to enter through the turnstiles, exactly
two years ago to the day that the building changed names for the
first time in its ten year history. The recipient of the 25 millionth
fan prize package, Vincent Mallard, with his son Mateo, of Alexandria,
Virginia, received a seat upgrade for tonight’s game to two
courtside center seats, two roundtrip airline tickets on Southwest
Airlines, Regal Cinemas movie passes for a year, Dunkin Donuts coffee
for a year, Papa John’s pizza for a year, Chipotle burritos
for a year and a year-long membership to Bally’s Total Fitness.
“Another stellar accomplishment for the building is exciting,”
says Chairman of Washington Sports & Entertainment Abe Pollin.
“Our patrons have made this building become one of the most
successful arenas in the country, right here in the nation’s
capital. We’re very proud to have drawn 25 million people
to downtown Washington, D.C.”
“I didn’t know what was going on,” says Mallard.
“It’s beautiful. The ambiance at Verizon Center is great.
I love the Wizards.”
Celebrating ten years at the center of the action, Verizon Center
has experienced a plethora of new accolades and accomplishments
this season. In September of 2007, the building installed the first
true high-definition scoreboard of its kind for an arena in the
nation and underwent a mini-makeover including a new concourse color
scheme and directional signage. In December of 2007, the building
marked its official tenth anniversary with a company wide celebration
and announcement of being nominated for the first time in its ten
year history for Arena of the Year by trade publication Pollstar.
In January of 2008, Verizon Center was named as a 2007 Prime Site
Award of Excellence recipient by trade publication Facilities for
venue excellence. The award is voted on by members in the industry
and is based on recognizing arenas for their physical edifice (structural
dynamics), level of technology (sound, lighting, staging), and venue
personnel.
Verizon Center is a 20,000-seat arena home to the NBA’s Washington
Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, the WNBA’s Washington
Mystics and the NCAA’s Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball
team. The arena hosts over 220 events annually ranging from concerts
to family shows to world class tournaments. Events taking place
later this month range from the Harlem Globetrotters to the first
and second rounds of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball
Tournament to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
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