Monumental unveils Capital One Arena renderings

Monumental Sports & Entertainment "debuted exterior renderings" of the redesigned Capital One Arena, as well as "construction timeline and new amenities" details. The unveiling follows the final approval from the D.C. Council of the District's $87.5M acquisition of the arena from MSE. Officials "held a ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday at the Gallery Place Atrium." The exterior is "inspired by the L'Enfant Plan developed in 1791 to outline the District's street grid," and it "pulls from the design of the National Portrait Gallery next door." Gensler is the project's architect (WASHINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/19). Construction will "span six phases over three years." The initial phase will have "minimal disruptions," and construction will start in the summer "with work including new locker rooms, a family lounge for athletes and initial tweaks to fan seating." Major exterior changes will "take place in phase four, in the summer of 2026" (AXIOS, 12/19). At the unveiling ceremony, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver referenced "the All-Star games we'll be bringing here" regarding the Capital One renovations (X, 12/19).