The arena first started to be built on August 24, 1972. Construction for the building cost $16 million. A week before it opened, the arena had failed an inspection by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and Bullets owner Abe Pollin had to get parts for the sewage treatment plant for the arena from Syracuse, New York and Thomasville, Georgia. The arena would be opened on December 2, 1973.[1]
On December 2, 1973, the first event took place. The then-Capital Bullets defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 98–96 in front of a sellout crowd of 19,035 in attendance.[2] The Washington Capitals would join the National Hockey League (NHL) as an expansion team the next year. On October 15, 1974, the Capitals would play their first game at the Capital Centre. They would tie the Los Angeles Kings 1–1.[3]
On November 26, 1997, the Capitals played their final game at the arena. They would be defeated by the Montreal Canadiens 6–5.[5] On November 29, 1997, the now-Washington Wizards played their final game at the arena. They would lose to the Chicago Bulls 103–93.[6]
On December 2, 1997, the MCI Center was opened and replaced the Capital Centre as the home arena for the Wizards, Capitals and Hoyas.[7] On December 15, 2002, the Capital Centre was demolished in an implosion. A shopping mall called the The Boulevard at the Capital Centre sits on the former lot.[8]
