![Photo by Jess Rapfogel](/sites/default/files/2023-10/Jess%20Rapfogel.jpg)
Photo by Jess Rapfogel
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Attending a Washington Capitals game is a time-honored tradition in DC's Penn Quarter/Chinatown neighborhood. Thousands of fans flock to the Capital One Arena 41 times between October and April, rocking the red to root on the Caps. In 2018, the team won the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. As the team embarks on another quest for the Cup, check out our favorite reasons to attend a game.
Photo by Jess Rapfogel
A legacy in ALL CAPS! The Capitals celebrate their 50th anniversary throughout the 2024-25 season in style. The schedule is packed with giveaways, theme nights, ticket deals and NHL platform nights. Check out the full promotions schedule and mark down all the games you don’t want to miss.
Over the last 15 seasons, the Caps have qualified for the playoffs 13 times, with a Stanley Cup championship to boot. The team has also won the President's Trophy, which goes to the most successful regular season team, three times in that span. This spectacular run is primarily owed to the tremendous, long-standing success of NHL legend Alex Ovechkin.
After 19 years in the NHL, Ovechkin is just 42 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 career tallies. Ovi’s chase for the record will be a major storyline of the NHL season and you have up to 41 chances to see him in action at Capital One Arena.
In addition to the incredible goal-scoring prowess of Ovechkin, the Capitals are also fortunate to employ star power in the form of defenseman John Carlson, wingers Tom Wilson and T.J. Oshie and center Dylan Strome. Exciting newcomers include defenseman Jakob Chychrun, center Pierre Luc-Dubois and winger Andrew Mangiapane. All this talent means the Caps are one of the most watchable teams in hockey, making every game on the schedule a must-see. Be on the lookout for special theme nights as well.
Now one of the most popular traditions at Caps games, fans can spot the cow for a chance to win a prize each night. Although there is only one winner, everyone can participate and scan the arena for the cow.
In his debut season as head coach last year, Spencer Carbery led a scrappy Caps team to the playoffs. Carbery has a long history with the organization: he played for the Caps’ minor-league team and worked his way up the team’s minor-league system as a coach (including running the bench for the Hershey Bears) before taking the head job with the Capitals. The hometown favorite hopes to build on last year’s success with an improved squad.
The atmosphere both inside and outside of Capital One Arena is always filled with excitement – the arena is considered one of the loudest and most boisterous stadiums in the NHL. Roughly 19,000 red-clad fans pack the arena for each Caps game, losing their minds for every Ovechkin goal or brilliant Backstrom pass. Fans young and old absolutely adore this team and its stars, and the atmosphere is one of the best at any regular sporting event in the District.
Many sports fans will tell you that hockey, specifically the NHL brand, is the most entertaining sport to witness live. The game’s non-stop action, featuring speedy and skilled skating, gorgeous puck-handling, high-impact hits and goalies that stretch like ballerinas to make saves, will put you at the edge of your seat throughout the 60-minute game. In addition, there’s nary a bad view from Capital One Arena’s seats.
Penn Quarter/Chinatown is one of the liveliest neighborhoods in the District. There are dozens of restaurants near Capital One Arena, as well as the shopping hub that is CityCenterDC. The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery are housed in the same building across the street, while the National Gallery of Art is a short walk away. Have another night in the city? Check out a play at Ford’s Theatre or Shakespeare Theatre Company.
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