The company that runs the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards has announced the first game for each team that will be held in front of fans.
Monumental Sports and Entertainment said in a statement Monday that fans would be admitted to the Capital One Arena for the Wizards鈥� game against the Golden State Warriors Wednesday, April 21, and the Capitals鈥� game against the New York Islanders Tuesday, April 27.
Mayor Muriel Bowser鈥檚 office, the Department of Health and the District鈥檚 Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency approved the teams鈥� request to open the arena at 10% capacity 鈥� about 2,100 fans.
鈥淥ur fans fuel everything our players and teams accomplish, and they have been deeply missed,鈥� said Ted Leonsis, the owner of both teams and CEO of Monumental Sports and Entertainment. 鈥淥ur country has been through great stress over the past year, and it has taken a mental toll on all of us, but we know that sports are a great healer.鈥�
鈥淗undreds of pre-selected frontline workers鈥� will be invited to the games, Monumental said in the statement. After that, season ticket holders will get first crack at the tickets; any information on public access to tickets is forthcoming, the teams said.
A host of safety rules are in place for fans returning to the arena. Some of the major ones:
- Face masks (not gaiters or face shields) are required for everyone over age 2 unless you鈥檙e eating or drinking. They鈥檒l be provided if you don鈥檛 have one.
- All tickets will be electronic.
- Tickets will be sold in pods of up to four; to maintain social distancing, seating will be staggered around the arena and no aisle seats will be sold. This means that if you鈥檙e a season ticket holder, you might not get your regular seat.
- All food at the concession stands will be packaged and meant to be taken back to your seat. There鈥檚 no standing in the concourse.
More information on the rules, as well as ways to get tickets, is on .
鈥淲e thank Mayor Bowser and her team for approving our vigorous health and safety plan so that some of our passionate Caps and Wizards fans may gather 鈥� with the first games being attended by some of our incredible first responders and frontline COVID-19 workers,鈥� Leonsis said.
