Verizon Center facts for kids
Verizon Center is a big sports building in Washington D.C.. It's a place where many exciting games and events happen! The arena first opened its doors on December 2, 1997.
Today, it's the home stadium for several professional sports teams. These include the Washington Capitals for ice hockey (NHL), the Washington Wizards for basketball (NBA), and the Washington Mystics for women's basketball (WNBA). The men's basketball team from Georgetown University also plays their home games here. For a short time, from 2001 to 2002, it was also home to the Washington Power lacrosse team.
History of the Arena's Name
When the arena first opened in 1997, it was known as the MCI Center. This name lasted for many years. Then, in January 2006, a company called Verizon Communications bought the rights to name the arena. That's how it became known as the Verizon Center, which is its name today.
Exciting Events and Shows
The Verizon Center isn't just for sports games. It has also hosted many big entertainment events, especially wrestling shows! For example, it has welcomed major WWE events like SummerSlam in 2005, Cyber Sunday in 2007, Survivor Series in 2009, and WWE Capitol Punishment in 2011. Before WWE, another wrestling company called World Championship Wrestling (WCW) also held its big pay-per-view event, Starrcade, at the arena several times in the late 1990s.
Images for kids
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Washington Capitals game on February 1, 2011, featuring the Verizon Center markings on the ice surface.
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The Washington Wizards in an NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, December 5, 2007.
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Verizon Center is located in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
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Verizon Center
