Photo: @CapitalOneArena

The new jumbotron at Capital One Arena continues to get set for the 2019-20 NHL and NBA seasons. The jumbotron is one of the largest 360-degree continuous video screens of any arena in the country with over 7,000 total square feet of SMART LED display, eight distinct display areas, best-in-class four-millimeter pixel pitch, and 4,000 HD quality.

The board will feature eight distinct display areas, providing but real-time stats, scores, and updates in addition to video streams.

This is part of a $55 million renovation that began in the summer of 2018. $15 million of that money was spent this offseason.

“Investing in a technologically-integrated venue experience is paramount to our mission of creating monumental memories for our fans,” David Touhey, President of Venues at MSE, said. “Upon completion of this second round of renovations and upgrades, Capital One Arena will feature the best LED displays available today, creating the best in-bowl and in-arena experience for sports and entertainment in America.”

The sound system is also currently being renewed with new EAW loudspeakers. Clair Solutions handled the install for the 54 EAW anna three-way full-range array modules, configured as six arrays of nine Anna elements, with 24 EAW QX364 to cover seats at the rear of the arena.

“With changes in technology and the age of the system, we knew it was time to update the sound system,” Capital One Arena/JLL sound engineer Mark McCabe told Front of House magazine. “We had areas in the arena that did not have good sound coverage and equipment that was failing that could not be repaired.” “The old system didn’t provide the capabilities that are expected at modern NBA and NHL events,” adds Stu Schatz, a consultant at Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon & Williams, the design and consulting firm hired by arena management company Monumental Sports & Entertainment to manage the sound system renovation. “We wanted to modernize, and we looked at several options.”

The renovations should be completed by the time the Washington Capitals are set to begin their season.

Four state-of-the-art two-sided, curved DualTV boards in the corners of the arena will guarantee that every fan will get a great view of the action. The boards will boast more than 2,200 square feet of HD LED video display arena-side and the first back-side LED video display in the industry. Over 1,000 square feet of HD LED video display on the back-side will deliver stats and scores alongside live action.

For the first time in an indoor complex, the arena will feature an incredible SkyRing that will have over 9,000 square feet of LED video, wrapping the roofline of the arena bowl. The SkyRing measures 390 feet in diameter, the largest display in any U.S. arena to date, over 9,250 square feet of LED display area, 1,230 square foot circumference wraps the arena, and has best-in-class HD with true-to-color quality.

All ribbon boards will get an upgrade with new 10-millimeter LED boards giving an exceptional picture for fans. Updated upper and lower fascia ribbons with 1,600 square feet of brand-new LED, two new end zone ribbons with more than 1,040 additional square feet of LED display to Capital One Arena, and true-to-color quality will also be included.

All sports and seating lighting will be replaced with new LED lighting, tunable white fixtures for customizable sports lighting, color-changing LED lights for customized arena bowl lighting, stronger lumen output per fixture, and environmentally conscientious 60-75% energy-use reduction.

New concession booths such as The Exchange (a walk-in market) and Tenders, Love, and Chicken, expansion of luxury seating, a new lounge, and a renovated 200 level are among the other upgrades that have been added. The arena will continue bringing the best chefs in town on board.

The PwC Club added a few rows of seating in the lower part of the club.

Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company Outpost has been added to the 400 level. Brewed in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company is committed to taking their time to craft signature lagers like Vienna Lager, Trail Angel, Schwartz Bier, and Eight Point. Now their craft beers will be on-tap for our fans in a beautiful, wide open space that celebrates the Devil’s Backbone commitment to great beer with great friends.

The Kettler Loft 200 level concourse will join the previously-renovated 100 and 400 levels in getting a complete makeover, including new flooring, new lighting, and sleek new decor.

By Harrison Brown