Washington Wizards' Verizon Center

Official Review by Geoff Crawley, Stadium Journey Correspondent

Washington DC's Verizon Center is home to the NBA's Wizards, NHL's Capitals, WNBA's Mystics and Georgetown University men's basketball. Built in 1997, it was the start of the revitalization of DC's Chinatown. It is largely responsible for the area being one of the hottest spots in the city. It is a terrific venue for most events. For Wizards' basketball? Eh.

Food & Beverage    5

You absolutely cannot, cannot have a complaint here, variety-wise. There is absolutely everything here you could ever ask for. All of your regular arena selections are here; nachos, pizza, dogs and popcorn. But the additional selections include hand pulled pork sandwiches, kosher and vegetarian options, salads and lighter sandwich choices, donuts, very good BBQ, crab cakes and fried calamari. Yes, I said fried calamari. The truly amazing part is that the arena accomplishes this without a full sit down restaurant inside of it (the Greene Turtle is attached, but not inside); this, and a lot more are available completely via stands.

I did not rate the Acela Club level restaurant because I, like most fans, don't have access to it.

There are several full bars in the arena. The arena has nearly 40 (!) different beers on tap, only a few of which are $8.00. The rest are $7.50 or less.

Atmosphere    1

It's the Wizards. No one cares. For many years the team sold tickets by marketing to fans of the visiting teams. Then they got good for a minute. Then they changed the name. Then they got bad again. Then they got Gilbert Arenas and people got excited. They had a mini rivalry going with Cleveland which ended when Arenas got hurt for two years. Then he came back and brought an arsenal to work one day and got suspended for the rest of the season. Then they gutted the team. Now no one cares again.

Neighborhood    5

Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of downtown arenas. My expectations are high for Verizon Center's neighborhood, and it does not disappoint. There is far too much to go into detail. You want American? Done, casual and upscale. You want burgers? Done, at Fuddruckers or Five Guys. You want seafood? Done, and done well, at Legal Sea Foods. Steakhouses, Indian, Thai, Chinese (duh, it's in Chinatown), BBQ, lighter fare, Irish pubs, even a Tapas Bar all here, within a block of the arena.

Here are three great spots:

Rocket Bar: Literally a hole in the wall, Rocket Bar has no food, but you can have California Tortilla delivered to you there, or bring your own food in. There are three full bars, lots of TV's, pool tables, foosball, darts, even shuffleboard and skee-ball! Wicked cool place.

RFD: Like beer? Then you'll love this place (www.ilovebeer.com). Over 30 beers on tap and THREE HUNDRED different varieties are available in bottles. Even the menu is centered around beer, including desserts such as Bieramisu and the Fudge Stout Brownie.

Lucky Strike: Like to bowl? Even if you don't, you have to check out this place. Attached to, but not a part of Verizon Center, Lucky Strike is a bowling alley/bar/nightclub. When I walked in, I said, "Wow," and the doorman (under 21 only after 7pm) said, "We get that a lot." I'll bet they do. Full bar, full menu, full giant screen TV's above each lane, words fail to capture the greatness of this place. You have to see it to believe it.

There are more- just go.

Fans    1

This was going to be a zero because I could count the number of Wizards shirts/jerseys in the stands on two hands. Then the group of kids, about eight to ten years old, start heckling Orlando's Dwight Howard with something scatalogically unprintable. I thought I was in Philly for a second. Then the crowd cheered when Howard dunked on half the Wizards team and I remembered where I was. Still, the kids give it a point here. But just barely.

I understand coming out and rooting for the opposing team. As a Philly fan living in the DC area, I do it all the time. But it tends to happen here in large quantities. And no one gets beat down for it. Not that I'm advocating that. I'm just saying.

Access    2

Don't drive here. Seriously. There is no official parking available at the arena for Wizards games, except for persons with disabilities. There is parking under the arena and when I asked security how I could park there, I was told I needed a pass. When I asked how I could get a pass, I was told, "Know somebody." So yeah, that's out for the average fan. There is parking available in other garages, and it starts at $25, goes as high as $40, and no, you don't get anything special, like a picture with the President with that. Take public transit, it is right on the Metro line. I mean, really, do you want to pay $25 to park to see the Wizards play?

Like with most of the new arenas, bathrooms are plentiful, with family changing rooms in select locations. They sparkle, along with the rest of the arena.

Return on Investment    3

The arena itself is world class, truly. The problem is that the lack of a buzz about the team makes it difficult to really enjoy the game. But there is a lot to do around the arena, so the entire experience is as enjoyable as you make it.

Extras    5

Because I can't give the neighborhood a 10, I'll make it up here. There is just too much to do and talk about. There is a full spa - A FULL SPA - attached to the arena. It has a legit sports bar in The Greene Turtle. It even has a Dunkin Donuts, which, in case you didn't know, makes the world's best coffee. If you think that Starbucks is better, you are wrong. I dare you to do a blind taste test and tell me that it's better. I double dog dare you.

Final Thoughts

Great arena + great neighborhood + lousy team + bored fans = average rating. There are a lot more fun things to do in DC than take in a Wizards game. Like take in a Caps game, for example. Or do everything around the arena. I mean, if you are DYING to see bad basketball, I guess you could go in. If you sit close enough, they may ask you to play.


Geoff Crawley is the Mid Atlantic Regional Correspondent and Voice of the Fan and is the host of a weekly podcast.