On Wednesday, the NCAA announced that the 2027 Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship (commonly known as the “Frozen Four”) and 2028 Division I Women’s Basketball Regional (commonly known as the “Sweet 16” and “Elite 8”) will be held at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, DC.
This marks the first time NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament games have taken place at Capital One Arena and the second time the Frozen Four will be played in the District. Capital One Arena previously hosted the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four, won by Boston University, and is scheduled to host the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball East Regional in 2026.
“We are honored to welcome the 2027 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four to Capital One Arena, partnering with the U.S. Naval Academy to showcase this remarkable event in our vibrant city,” said Jordan Silberman, President, Venues at Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE). “As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Capitals this season, this is the perfect time to announce this prestigious event that will be enjoyed by generations of passionate hockey fans in the national capital region.”
The United States Naval Academy and Events DC will serve as host for the 2027 Frozen Four and Georgetown University and Events DC will host the 2028 NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional.
“With the 2028 Division I Women’s Basketball Regional coming to Capital One Arena for the first time, we are excited to continue the rich tradition of college basketball in DC,” added Silberman. “Our arena has seen first-hand the rapidly rising interest in women’s basketball and we’re looking forward to growing the game further through this iconic event, in partnership with Georgetown University.”
These two tournaments are the latest in a long line of high-profile events hosted at Capital One Arena. The multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue hosts 220 events a year on average, making it one of the nation’s busiest arenas. Capital One Arena is owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment and is home to the NBA’s Washington Wizards, the NHL’s 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals, and the NCAA’s Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team.
“I am thrilled to welcome the 2027 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four and the 2028 Division I Women’s Basketball Regional to Washington, DC, the Sports Capital,” said Events DC President and CEO Angie M. Gates. “Washington, DC is a world-class city united by sports and is a vibrant destination, which makes us the ideal host for these two spectacular tournaments. The District looks forward to celebrating the excitement of college hockey and basketball with fans from around the word.”
Over the years, the arena has hosted a multitude of celebrated events including the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Regional in 2006, 2013 and 2019. On September 19, the WNBA’s Washington Mystics recorded the highest attendance in WNBA history with a record-breaking total of 20,711 fans in attendance at the team’s game vs. Indiana.
In March, MSE announced an agreement with the District of Columbia to completely modernize Capital One Arena and create a revitalized entertainment destination in Downtown D.C.
College basketball and hockey fans will have several opportunities over the coming years to visit the nation’s capital. In July, Monumental Sports & Entertainment announced that the inaugural Capital Hockey Classic will debut at Capital One Arena on Thursday, December 12. The exciting college hockey double header will feature a contest between Army and Navy’s club hockey teams, followed by a matchup between Army and Penn State’s Division I programs. The Capital Hockey Classic will take place days before the Army-Navy rivalry football game takes place at Northwest Stadium on December 14. Then in March 2025, Capital One Arena will host the 2025 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship, taking place in DC for the third time in its history.
The 2027 Frozen Four’s setting in Washington, DC, also reflects upon the Capitals commitment to growing the game of hockey at all participation levels. The Capitals offer a robust lineup of on- and off-ice youth hockey programming, including a Future Caps Learn to Play program, ALL CAPS ALL HER, a Hockey School program, Try Ball Hockey for Free, and more. In addition, the Capitals also annually host a College Hockey Combine & Fair as a free opportunity for high school aged hockey players throughout the Washington, DC, region to showcase their on-ice and off-ice talents, as well as learn about the different avenues and opportunities in college hockey. To date the organization has also refurbished or built 14 ball hockey rinks across Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC, and West Virginia. USA Hockey registration of adult and youth players across Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland currently totals 21,949 individuals, of which 12,749 are youth players – a testament to the Capitals impact on growing the game.
The Washington Wizards host numerous community basketball events including the Wizards’ annual Basketball Day in the DMV which highlights the talented basketball being played at the local high school level. The Wizards’ youth basketball program consists of camps and gameday clinics for area boys and girls ages 6-14 under the Wizards and Mystics brands. Additionally, Jr NBA and Jr WNBA leagues are run throughout the DMV under the Wizards and Mystics brands.
For the latest information about the 2027 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four, CLICK HERE. For details on the 2028 NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional Championship, CLICK HERE.
