DC Approves Waiver for Wizards, Capitals to Begin Hosting Fans at Games

D.C. approves Wizards and Caps to begin hosting fans at games originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Not long after it looked like the Wizards and Capitals would have to wait until next season to host fans at Capital One Arena, on Friday the office of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser approved a waiver for them to begin allowing 10% capacity at home games.

Fans could be at Capitals games as soon as Tuesday, per the Washington Post. The Wizards' are on the West Coast, with their next home game set for April 16.

It is unclear exactly who will be able to attend, or where the fans will be able to sit. Monica Dixon, the president of external affairs at Monumental Sports and Entertainment, says the teams will have more information on Monday.

"We are grateful to @MayorBowser, DC Health & DC HSEMA for granting us a waiver to welcome Caps and Wizards fans back to Capital One Arena. The waiver is for a 10% capacity / 2,100 fans. We are finalizing details and will release further announcements on Monday, April 12th," Dixon tweeted on Friday.

D.C. has practiced a good deal of caution in allowing fans to attend sports games. Recently, when the mayor's office had not yet granted the waiver, Dixon and MSE chairman Ted Leonsis tweeted their disappointment with the city's approach. Dixon noted how Washington was "on track to be one of the last American cities to host fans at indoor sporting events."

But now both the Wizards and Caps should be able to host fans for about a month of their regular seasons and any playoff games as well. The Capitals end their regular season on May 11, while the Wizards' schedule runs through May 16.

The last time fans attended a game at Capital One Arena was March 10, 2020 when the Wizards played the Knicks.

In addition to the Capitals and Wizards, the Washington Nationals and DC United were each approved to increase their operating capacity from 10% to 25% at their venues.