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Washington’s Verizon Center will become Capital One Arena

Washington Capitals Install Logo And Lines In Verizon Center Ice

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 09: Workers install the Washington Capitals logo on the ice at Verizon Center on January 9, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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WASHINGTON (AP) The downtown home of the NBA’s Wizards and NHL’s Capitals is now called Capital One Arena.

Owner Ted Leonsis announced the change from Verizon Center on Wednesday, along with an investment of $40 million in the arena. Leonsis’ Monumental Sports & Entertainment is not disclosing the financial terms or length of the new naming-rights agreement.

It goes into effect immediately, with new signage expected by the fall.

The 20,500-seat arena located in Washington’s Chinatown neighborhood was built by late Wizards owner Abe Pollin and opened in in 1997. It was previously known as MCI Center before Verizon bought MCI in 2006.

Capital One founder, chairman and CEO Richard Fairbank is a minority owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. A Monumental official said Fairbank recused himself from the negotiations.