Verizon Center The Verizon Center ( formerly MCI Center ) is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington , D . C . , USA , named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications . The arena has been nicknamed the " Phone Booth " because of its association with telecommunications companies . The arena is home to the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League , Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association , Georgetown Hoyas , and Washington Mystics of the Women ' s National Basketball Association . It is located in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington . History . The arena opened as the MCI Center on December 2 , 1997 in downtown Washington . When Verizon bought out MCI in 2006 , the arena ' s name was changed accordingly . The building replaced the US Air Arena , which was located on the Capital Beltway in Landover , Maryland . Some complained that the building ' s construction , by closing off a block of G St , corrupted the historic L ' Enfant layout of the Washington city streets . Others were concerned it would lead to the displacement of Chinese businesses in Chinatown . While largely considered a commercial success , the Verizon Center was the catalyst that led to gentrification of Washington ' s Chinatown , with rent increases after construction of the Arena forcing many small Chinese businesses to close . On the other hand , the Arena is not only a popular venue for sports and concerts , but helped to turned " Gallery Place / Chinatown " neighborhood into one of the prime sites for commercial development in Washington . Virtually all Chinese residents in the D . C . area already live in the suburbs , and displacement that occurred over the years has been mostly commercial rather than residential . 2007 . In 2007 , what was claimed as the " first true indoor high - definition LED scoreboard " was installed at the Verizon Center . 2008 . 2008 marks the first year that the Wizards and Capitals both played playoff games in the building in the same calendar year . Furthermore in Washington , D . C . sports lore 2008 also marks the first time the Wizards , Caps and Washington Redskins made the playoffs since 1988 . Tenants . The Verizon Center is the home arena of the NHL ' s Washington Capitals , the National Basketball Association ' s Washington Wizards , the National Collegiate Athletic Association ' s Georgetown Hoyas men ' s basketball team , and the Women ' s National Basketball Association ' s Washington Mystics . It was home to the Washington Power of the National Lacrosse League from 2001 – 2002 . It seats 20 , 173 for basketball and 18 , 277 for hockey . Notable games . June 16 , 1998 - Washington Capitals vs . Detroit Red Wings : The Caps lose 4 – 1 to the Red Wings to be swept four games to none in the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals . It was the first , and as yet still only , visit to the Stanley Cup Finals for the Caps . April 5 , 2003 - Washington Capitals vs . Pittsburgh Penguins : Peter Bondra passes Mike Gartner as the Washington Capitals ' career scoring leader . A tip - in ties the record early in the 3rd period and an empty net goal with 12 seconds left in the game sealed the record for Bondra . The Caps won 5 – 3 . April 5 , 2008 - Washington Capitals vs . Florida Panthers : The Capitals defeat the Panthers 3 – 1 to clinch the Southeast Division title and their first playoff berth in five years . The win marked an unprecedented comeback in NHL history , as the 2007 – 2008 Caps became the first team in NHL history to make the playoffs after rallying from 14th or 15th place at the season ' s midpoint . The game was the third home game of the week and all three were sellouts in which the entire Verizon Center crowd was wearing red April 11 , 2009 - Boston University Terriers vs . Miami University RedHawks : In the NCAA Men ' s Ice Hockey National Championship Game , the Boston University Terriers erased a two goal deficit in the final minute of the game , forcing sudden - death overtime . The Terriers would go on to defeat the RedHawks in overtime on a goal by Colby Cohen to cap what is considered to be one of the best championship games of all time . Ownership . The arena is owned by Washington Sports & Entertainment ( which owns the Wizards and formerly owned the Capitals and Mystics ) , but on land leased from the city of Washington . At the end of the 30 year lease , the land is set to revert to the ownership of the city , with the mayor of Washington to make mandatory biennial reviews of the city ' s continuing need for the arena . Fan fixtures . Two notable fan fixtures at Washington Capitals games at Verizon Center since the late ' 90s include Goat and The Horn Guy . " Goat , " aka William Stilwell , sits in Section 105 and loudly stomps and starts cheers for the team , with his loud voice that The Washington Post once called " the loudest voice and stompiest stomp on F Street . " " The Horn Guy , " aka Sam Wolk , sits in section 415 and blows out three blasts on a horn to which the arena responds " Let ' s Go Caps ! , " a chant that can be heard during radio and TV broadcasts , home and away . Ice quality issues . In December 2007 , Capitals captain Chris Clark gained a bit of press by stating that he believed the Verizon Center had the worst ice in the NHL . " There ' s a lot of ruts in the ice . It ' s soft . It ' s wet half the time . I could see a lot of injuries coming from the ice there . It could cost players their jobs . . . Even guys on other teams say the same thing . When we ' re facing off , they say , ' How do you guys play on this ? ' " Caps owner Ted Leonsis addressed this criticism directly The ice quality issue has been persistent both since the opening of Verizon Center , but with the Capitals franchise in general .