Verizon Center

The Verizon Center (before MCI Center , called " Phon Booth ") is a general sports room located in Chinatown at Washington, it is sponsored by Verizon Communications.

Since 1997, its tenants are the frankness from Basket-ball NBA of the Wizards of Washington, the frankness from Hockey LNH of the Capitals of Washington, and equips it with Basket-ball of the Georgetown university, the Georgetown Hoyas (NCAA). The room is also the residence of the Mystics of Washington which are a female team of Basket-ball of WNBA created in 1998. It is also the old arena of the Washington Power of NLL. Its capacity is of 20.173 places for the Basket-ball and 18.277 for the Hockey, then it has 110 continuations of luxury and 3.000 seats of club.

History

Work began the October 18th 1995 and the building was inaugurated the December 2nd 1997 in the district of Chinatown in the middle of the center of Washington. The name of the arena was previously MCI Center , but when MCI was acquired by Verizon, the name was changed into Verizon Center the March 5th 2006. The arena was called " Booth" phon; (phone box) because of its association with companies of telecommunications. The cost of construction of the project is evaluated to $260 million dollars. The Verizon Center was conceived by the firm Ellerbe Becket and accommodates more than 220 events and concerts per annum.

The room replaced decayed the Capital Center (known like " USAir Arena") located at Landover in the Maryland which was demolished in 2002. Some complained about the construction of the building, which changed the historical provision of the streets of town of Washington designed by the French architect, Pierre Charles the Child. While in great part regarded as a business success, the Verizon Center was the catalyst which led to the Gentrification of Chinatown of Washington, the rent increased after the construction of the arena forcing many Chinese small companies to close.

The arena is had by Washington Sports & Entertainment (which has the Wizards of Washington and formerly had the Capitals of Washington), but it is located on a ground rented at the town of Washington. At the end of the 30 years lease, the ground will be placed to turn over again to the property of the city, with the mayor to make obligatory biennial reviews as long as the city will need the arena.

In 2003, a scene of comic film Head off State of Chris Rock was turned in the Verizon Center .

Notable matches

June 16th, 1998 - Capitals of Washington vs. Red Wings de Détroit: Capitals lose 4-1 against Red Wings to be to sweep four plays with any in the finales the Coupe Stanley 1998. It was the first participation in the finales of the Stanley Cut for Capitals.

February 21st, 2003 - Wizards of Washington vs. Nets of the New Jersey: Michael Jordan mark 43 points, he becomes the only player of more than 40 years has scorer at least 40 points in a match of NBA. Wizards gain 89-86.

April 5th, 2003 - Capitals of Washington vs. Penguins de Pittsburgh: Peter Bondra replaces Mike Gartner as a scorer leader with Capitals of Washington. Capitals gained 5-3.

April 30th, 2004 - Wizards of Washington vs. bulldozers of Chicago: Wizards gain their first match of playoff in almost 17 years with a victory 117-99 over the bulldozers. Enough curiously, it is the first match of Playoffs NBA held in the District of Columbia (the team had always played in USAir Arena of Landover, Maryland).

May 6th, 2005 - Wizards of Washington vs. bulldozers of Chicago: Wizards beat the bulldozers 94-91 and gain the quarterfinals of the Conference Is 4 plays with 2. The match marks the first victory of series in playoffs for Wizards of 23 years.

Events

Gallery

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