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Cap Centre The Cap The Centre | |
 April 2002, eight months prior to demolition | |
 | |
  Landover Location in the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Former names | USAir Arena(1993–1996) US Airways Arena(1996–1997) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Harry S. Truman Drive |
| Location | Landover, Maryland, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 38°54′9″N76°50′49″W / 38.90250°N 76.84694°W /38.90250; -76.84694 |
| Owner | Washington Sports & Entertainment (Abe Pollin) |
| Operator | Washington Sports & Entertainment (Abe Pollin) |
| Capacity | Basketball: 19,035 (1974–1989) 18,756 (1989–1997) Ice Hockey: 18,130 |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | August 24, 1972 |
| Opened | December 2, 1973; 51 years ago (1973-12-02) |
| Closed | March 23, 2002; 23 years ago (2002-03-23) |
| Demolished | December 15, 2002 |
| Construction cost | $18 million[1] ($135 million in 2024[2]) |
| Architect | Shaver Partnership[3] |
| Structural engineer | Geiger-Berger and Associates[3] |
| General contractor | George Hyman Construction Co.[4] |
| Tenants | |
| Capital/Washington Bullets/Wizards (NBA) (1973–1997) Washington Capitals (NHL) (1974–1997) Georgetown Hoyas (NCAA) (1981–1997) Maryland Arrows (NLL) (1974–1975) Washington/Maryland Commandos (AFL) (1987, 1989) Washington Wave (MILL) (1987–1989) Washington Warthogs (CISL) (1994–1997) Washington Power (NLL) (2002) | |
TheCapital Centre (laterUSAir Arena andUS Airways Arena) was anindoor arena in the eastern United States, located inLandover, Maryland, a suburb east of Washington, D.C.[5][6] Theseating capacity was 18,756 forbasketball and 18,130 forhockey.
Opened in late 1973, it closed in March 2002, and was demolished that December.[6]
In 1964,Abe Pollin became the owner of theNational Basketball Association'sBaltimore Bullets and wanted to reconnect the sport to the DC region. Pollin announced plans to build a $18 million multi-purpose sports arena in the Maryland beltway in 1972. Ground-breaking of the arena took place on August 24 of that year. The construction lasted for 15 months before the arena opened on December 2, 1973.[7]
It was located just outside (east) of theCapital Beltway (Interstate 495) at exit 16, less than a mile (1.6 km) southeast ofFedExField, the home of theWashington Commanders of theNational Football League, which opened in 1997. The elevation at street level was approximately 160 feet (50 m) above sea level.
In 1993, the air carrierUSAir purchased the naming rights for the building and the arena became known asUSAir Arena. The rename was initially not popular with Washington-area residents.[8] When the airline went through its 1996 rebranding and became US Airways, the name of the arena accordingly changed toUS Airways Arena which remained in use until its demolition in December 2002.[9]
Capital Centre was the primary home of theWashington Bullets of the NBA, theWashington Capitals of theNHL, andGeorgetown University men's basketball. All three teams departed for the MCI Center (nowCapital One Arena), just north of theNational Mall in D.C., when it opened in December 1997.[10]
Capital Centre hosted its first NBA game on December 2, 1973, as theCapital Bullets defeated theSeattle SuperSonics, 98–96 in front of a sellout crowd.[11][12][13] During October and November 1973, the Bullets held their home games at nearbyCole Field House on the campus of theUniversity of Maryland inCollege Park.
The arena hosted games of threeNBA Finals; the first was in1975, when the favoredBullets were swept by theGolden State Warriors.[14] The Bullets returned to the Finals in1978 and1979, in tilts against theSeattle SuperSonics. In 1978, theBullets won Games 2 and 6 at the Capital Centre on their way to claiming the championship, taking Games 4 and 7 in Seattle.[15] The Bullets won the Finals' opener at home in 1979, but then dropped four straight to theSonics, who celebrated their only NBA title after the Game 5 victory at Capital Centre.[16] Footage of past Washington Bullets games held at the Capital Centre was used in the 1979 comedy filmThe Fish That Saved Pittsburgh. The arena was also the host of the1980 NBA All-Star Game. The Washington Wizards were known as the Bullets until 1997 and played the first five home games of the1997–98 season at the old arena under their new name.
TheACC men's basketball tournament was held at Capital Centre in1976,1981, and1987. On December 5, 1981, theGeorgetown Hoyas men's basketball team played againstSan Diego State with a 71–53 win in their first game at the arena after moving from theMcDonough Gymnasium. They played at the arena as their primary home until their last game at the venue on November 25, 1997, againstCleveland State.
The arena also hosted the NHL's Washington Capitals. The Capitals joined the league alongside theKansas City Scouts as an expansion team for the1974-75 season, making this arena their first home. The Capitals hosted the1982 NHL All-Star Game. The arena also was home to a few noteworthyNHL playoff games, including theEaster Epic in1987. The Capitals played their final game at the venue in a 6–5 loss against theMontreal Canadiens on November 26, 1997.
TheWashington/Maryland Commandos of theArena Football League also called the arena home in 1987 and 1989. The Maryland Arrows,Washington Wave, andWashington Power lacrosse teams used the arena, as did theWashington Warthogs CISL professional indoor soccer team.
TheMuhammad Ali vs. Jimmy Young fight for theworld heavyweight boxing title was held at the venue on April 30, 1976. A sluggishAli won a controversial unanimous decision overYoung after 15 rounds.[17][18]A year later, 35-year-old Ali defeatedAlfredo Evangelista in another unanimous decision to retain the title onMay 16, 1977.[19]
WWF wrestling matches were held at the arena throughout the 1980s and early 90s. The arena hosted WWF'sSurvivor Series in1995. TwoWCW events were also held at the arena in 1989.
The first concert ever held at the Capital Centre was theAllman Brothers Band on December 4, 1973, two nights after the first Bullets game. They were backed up by theJames Montgomery Blues Band, who played from 9 P.M. until midnight. The Allman Brothers played until 3:30 A.M.
The Who played there two nights later on December 6, 1973, as part of the debut of their rock operaQuadrophenia. It wasfestival seating at the concert and there were no seats on the floor as the venue was newly opened and not finished.[20]Lynyrd Skynyrd was the opening act that evening and throughout the tour, performing their landmark debut album.[21][22] After drummerKeith Moon died in September 1978,The Who returned to the stage in May 1979 and later that year they performed at the Capital Centre on December 13 and 17.[23] During a farewell tour they returned to the Capital Centre for two performances on September 22–23, 1982, the latter date opened byDavid Johanson.[24]
The Jacksons held 5 concerts at the Capital Centre between 1973 & 1981:
Michael Jackson held four sold-out concerts at the Capital Centre in 1988 during theBad tour. The dates were October 13, 17, 18 and 19, 1988.[25]
Frank Sinatra performed for four shows: April 24, 1974 (aud. 16,500), June 20, 1978 (17,000), May 8, 1987 (13,048), and March 31, 1988 (18,146), withSammy Davis Jr. on the "Together Again" tour (Dean Martin left the tour shortly before the concert). The second joint concert with Davis (October 6, 1989) was canceled due to Davis' illness.
John Denver played his first of ten concerts at the Capital Centre on April 28, 1974, and his last concert there was June 7, 1991. Between those dates, he performed concerts at the Centre in 1982 (2), 1980 (1), 1978 (1), 1976 (2), and 1975 (2).[26][27]
Grand Funk Railroad played there May 2, 1974, on theirShinin' On tour, with opening actWet Willie.
Eric Clapton played two shows there on October 4 & 5, 1974, in support of his album461 Ocean Boulevard. A recording of the October 4 show exists.
Led Zeppelin sold out every show they ever booked there. The first concert took place on February 10, 1975; 2 years later in 1977, they sold out 4 dates: May 25, 26, 28 and 30.
Pink Floyd played two shows in June 1975 on theirWish You Were Here Tour, available on bootleg, and then again for four sold-out shows afterRoger Waters left in October 1987 during theirA Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour.
Chicago's performance recorded live at Capital Centre on June 24–26, 1975, was released in 2011'sChicago XXXIV: Live in '75. After releasing its eighth consecutive gold album in just six years,Chicago embarked upon a massive stadium tour in 1975 that is considered to be one of its finest.
The first two volumes ofKiss' retrospective DVD seriesKissology included bonus discs of late-1970s shows videotaped at the arena. Kiss first performed on November 30, 1975, supporting their live albumAlive; years after that show, it surfaced on various Kiss videos and archives. Kiss returned on December 19, 1976, promotingRock and Roll Over, and with theAlive II Tour on December 19–20, 1977 supporting their second live albumAlive II. TheirDynasty Tour visited the arena on July 7–8, 1979 promotingDynasty. They returned to the arena after a 13-year absence on October 18, 1992, supportingRevenge with theirRevenge Tour. They returned four years later on October 6–7, 1996 for theirAlive/Worldwide Tour.
Elvis Presley performed two shows there on Sunday, June 27, 1976, to a total audience of nearly 38,000. Both shows sold out in one day. Ticket prices were $7.50, 10, and 12.50. His last concert at the Capital Centre was on May 22, 1977, during his second-to-last tour, which included 13 other venues. June 26, 1977, atMarket Square Arena inIndianapolis, would be his final concert performance. His only other concert in the Washington, D.C., area was on September 27 and 28, 1974, at nearbyUniversity of Maryland'sCole Field House, also in Prince George's County.[28]
Rush performed here thirteen times, first in 1976, then on every tour between 1979 through 1996.[29] Their performances on August 22, 1979, September 26, 1980, May 17, 1981, November 29, 1982, September 27, 1984, December 16, 1985, November 30, 1987, December 4, 1991, April 26, 1994, and November 7, 1996, are all available as bootleg recordings.[30]
The arena was home to severalToys for Tots concerts in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Jethro Tull's performance recorded and filmed live at Capital Centre on November 21, 1977, was released in 2017'sSongs From the Wood 40th Anniversary box set. The first four songs' audio was taken from the band's show at theBoston Garden two weeks later because the first reel of the Capital Center audio could not be located.
TheGrateful Dead recorded and released three shows performed at the arena:Dick's Picks Volume 20 on September 25, 1976,Terrapin Station (Limited Edition) on March 15, 1990 (on bass guitaristPhil Lesh's 50th birthday), andSpring 1990 on March 16, 1990, the next night. The Grateful Dead played a total of 26 times at the arena from 1974 until 1993. Three more shows were played in 1994 under the new name, USAir arena.
Concert videos ofBlue Öyster Cult from the arena on December 27, 1976, have been released on theirLive 1976 DVD and on July 14, 1978Some Enchanted Evening Legacy Edition CD/DVD.Uriah Heep (band) were the opening act for the 1976 show andCheap Trick for the 1978 show.
Parliament-Funkadelic headlined numerous sold-out shows at the venue, mainly during the years 1976 to 1983.
TheEagles' performance from March 1977 was released in 2013'sHistory of the Eagles.[31] They had previously played at the arena in July1975, opening forThe Rolling Stones.
The Steve Miller Band's August 3, 1977, performance at the Capital Centre was released in May 2021 as the live albumLive! Breaking Ground August 3, 1977.
Queen performed at the arena on three separate occasions, first during theNews of the World Tour in November 1977, then as part of theJazz Tour the following year. In July 1982, the band returned to the venue for the North American leg of theHot Space Tour, withBilly Squier as the opening act.[32]
AC/DC performed several concerts of their tours in the arena, such as the Let There Be Rock Tour (opening for Kiss on Dec. 19, 1977), If You Want Blood Tour (1979),Back in Black Tour (1980),For Those About to Rock Tour (1981),Flick of the Switch Tour (1983),Blow Up Your Video World Tour (1988) andThe Razors Edge World Tour (1990). The shows of December 20–21, 1981 were filmed and several tracks from these shows are included in their DVD setPlug Me In.
Van Halen performed several shows at the arena: theirdebut tour on August 12, 1978, opening forTed Nugent, theWorld Invasion Tour on May 1, 1980, promotingWomen and Children First (1980), theFair Warning Tour on July 28–29, 1981 supportingFair Warning (1981), and theHide Your Sheep Tour on October 11–12, 1982 forDiver Down (1982). The second night of the Hide Your Sheep Tour was filmed at the arena. The1984 Tour on March 25–26, 1984 for1984 (1984) and the5150 Tour on August 8–9, 1986 for5150 (1986). The 5150 Tour was the first to featureSammy Hagar as David Lee Roth's replacement. Van Halen returned to the arena after a five-year absence on October 17, 1991, supporting their Grammy winning albumFor Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991).
Bruce Springsteen held 14 concerts at the Capital Centre between 1978 and 1992:
Billy Joel played at the Centre on October 3, 1978, during the "52nd Street (album)" tour. Playing such hits asMovin' Out (Anthony's Song),The Entertainer andVienna.
Styx performed here four times between 1978 and 1983. Their April 1981 performance at the venue from theParadise Theatre tour is available on bootleg.
A recording ofThe New Barbarians' concert on May 5, 1979, during the band's only concert tour ever, was released asBuried Alive: Live in Maryland.
TheBee Gees performed two sold-out concerts here on September 24–25, 1979, as part of theirSpirits Having Flown Tour.[33]
The Rolling Stones played three sold-out shows at the arena on December 7–9,1981, in support ofTattoo You, the year's highest-grossing tour, with ticket sales of $50 million. Their 1982 live albumStill Life, included three songs taken from theLargo concerts: "Let Me Go" (December 8), "Twenty Flight Rock," and "Going to a Go-Go" (both December 9). They had previously played at the venue in1975 (July 1 & 2).
REO Speedwagon performed here in 1981 and 1982.
The cult video documentary shortHeavy Metal Parking Lot was shot byJeff Krulik and John Heyn on May 31, 1986, in the arena's parking lot, comically documenting thousands ofheavy metal fans as they partied before aJudas Priest concert (with special guestsDokken). (The parking lot itself was divided into four sections, with patriotic emblems, to aid patrons in remembering where they parked after an event: Liberty Bell, Capitol, Eagle, and Stars and Stripes.)
On July 4, 1987, the venue played host to a benefit and tribute concert for Vietnam vets and organized by "Welcome Home", an organization that aids and supports Vietnam vets. The star-studded event includedAnita Baker,James Ingram,Crosby, Stills & Nash,The Four Tops,Frankie Valli,James Brown,John Fogerty,John Sebastian,John Ritter,Kris Kristofferson,Linda Ronstadt,Neil Diamond,George Carlin,Richie Havens,John Voight, andStevie Wonder.[34] The show was broadcast later that evening on HBO.[35]
Local Washington, D.C.–basedgo-go bands (such asRare Essence,Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers, andE.U.) performed annually at the "Back to School" concerts held at the Capital Center, including theGo Go Live at the Capital Centre concert in 1987.
George Michael, in the midst of becoming the highest selling artist in America in 1988, brought his worldwide "Faith Tour" to the Capital Centre on August 6 and 7, 1988.[36]
Madonna'sBlond Ambition World Tour included two concerts at the Capital Centre on June 8 and 9, 1990.
Red Hot Chili Peppers on February 14, 1996, performed their only show in the area with then guitaristDave Navarro at USAir Arena during theirOne Hot Minute. The show also marked the only time the band played the venue and it was also their biggest show ever in the area at that point having played smaller venues on previous tour stops. The show was originally scheduled for December 10, 1995 but was postponed due to drummerChad Smith injuring his arm.The Rentals andSilverchair opened the show.[37]
The Smashing Pumpkins played their last concert with late touring keyboardistJonathan Melvoin at the arena on July 10, 1996, two days before Melvoin's death. DrummerJimmy Chamberlin also played his last show for two years with the band as he was fired following Melvoin's death due to his own drug problems.
The final concert at the venue was anAerosmith performance on January 3, 1998, as part of theNine Lives Tour. The band had previously performed twelve times at the venue in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, and 1994.
Other events there included monster truck shows, Arenacross shows, and tractor pulling shows.
The arena also hosted family-friendly events, such as theHarlem Globetrotters andIce Capades. In the late 1970s, the arena hosted acircus named Circus America, which was created by Abe Pollin to compete withFeld Entertainment'sRingling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.[38]
Numerous graduation ceremonies for high schools inPrince George's County were also hosted here.
On January 21, 1985, the arena hosted inaugural festivities celebrating PresidentRonald Reagan'ssecond inauguration. Reagan, Vice PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush, and their wives attended. Bitterlycold weather had forced the cancellation of the day's inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. As a result, the alternative indoor event at the Capital Centre afforded the parade's expected participants—including an estimated 9,000 students—an opportunity to perform for the president.[39]
On January 19, 1993, a cast includingMichael Jackson,Barbra Streisand,Elton John, the Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe, comediansChevy Chase andBill Cosby, and actorsJack Lemmon andJames Earl Jones, performed at the 42nd Presidential Inaugural Gala inBill Clinton's honor. A specially re-formedFleetwood Mac performed "Don't Stop", Clinton's campaign song.[40]
The Capital Centre arena wasimploded on December 15, 2002, byControlled Demolition, Inc. It was replaced byThe Boulevard at the Capital Centre, a town center-style shopping mall that opened inLandover in 2003, which was also demolished July 2019 to make way for Carillon, a new lifestyle-oriented mixed-use development on the same site.[41]
Opened in late 1973, the Capital Centre was the first indoor arena to have a video replay screen on its center-hung scoreboard. The four-sided projection video screen was known as the "Telscreen" (or "Telescreen") and predated theDiamond Vision video screen atDodger Stadium by seven years.[42][43] It was also the first indoor arena to be built withluxury boxes,[44] and a computerizedturnstile system.
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| Preceded by | Home of the Washington Bullets 1973–1997 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by first venue | Home of the Washington Capitals 1974–1997 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Host of the NHL All-Star Game 1982 | Succeeded by |
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