Capital Center
| Cap Centre The Cap |
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April 2002, eight months prior to demolition
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| Former names | US Airways Arena (1996–97) USAir Arena (1993–96) |
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| Location | 1 Harry S. Truman Drive Landover, Maryland, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 38°54′9″N 76°50′49″W / 38.90250°N 76.84694°WCoordinates: 38°54′9″N 76°50′49″W / 38.90250°N 76.84694°W |
| Owner | Washington Sports & Entertainment (Abe Pollin) |
| Operator | Washington Sports & Entertainment (Abe Pollin) |
| Capacity |
Basketball: 19,035 (1974–89), 18,756 (1989–97) Ice hockey: 18,130 |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | August 1972 |
| Opened | December 2, 1973 |
| Closed | 1999 |
| Demolished | December 15, 2002 |
| Construction cost | $18 million ($103 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect | Shaver Partnership |
| Structural engineer | Geiger-Berger and Associates |
| General contractor | George Hyman Construction Co. |
| Tenants | |
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Capital/Washington Bullets/Wizards (NBA) (1973–1997) Washington Capitals (NHL) (1974–97) Georgetown Hoyas (NCAA) (1980–97) Washington Warthogs (CISL) (1994–97) Washington/Maryland Commandos (AFL) (1987, 1989) Washington Wave (MILL) (1987–89) |
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The Capital Centre (later known as USAir Arena) was an indoor arena in the eastern United States, located in Landover, Maryland, a suburb east of Washington, D.C. Opened in late 1973, it was the primary home for the Washington Bullets of the National Basketball Association and the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. The Bullets moved to the Washington area from nearby Baltimore, and the Capitals were an expansion team in the arena's second year. The seating capacity was 18,756 for basketball and 18,130 for hockey.
In 1993, the air carrier USAir purchased the naming rights for the building and the arena became known as USAir Arena. When the airline went through its 1996 rebranding and became US Airways, the name of the arena changed as well.
In 1997, US Airways' naming rights deal came to an end after the now-Wizards and Capitals moved to the MCI Center in downtown Washington, and the arena once again became known as Capital Centre. Most TV and radio crews broadcasting from the venue referred to it by its nickname "Cap Centre". The venue was demolished in December 2002, though its name lives on in a shopping complex located on the former site of the arena as The Boulevard at the Capital Centre.
It was located just outside the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) at exit 16, less than a mile (1.6 km) southeast of FedExField, the home of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.
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