Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia returned as a major sponsor for the 17th Annual DC JazzFest, on September 1-5, 2021.  The sponsorship builds upon Events DC’s 12-year relationship with the dynamic jazz nonprofit, reinforces the authority’s mission of leveraging the attraction of the nation’s capital with one-of-a-kind event experiences, and raises the profile of the District as a premier destination for jazz. 

The 2020 DC Paradise Jam, presented by the U.S. Virgin Islands, an NCAA Division 1 Men’s and Women’s College Basketball event was held on November 26 – 28, 2020 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. This annual Thanksgiving game is usually held in St. Thomas (USVI) but due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Events DC was happy to help offer a replacement.   

In partnership with local nonprofit My Brother’s Birdies, Events DC hosted the first Capital Long Drive Classic. The live event transformed West Potomac Park into a professional golf long drive “arena” for a first-ever exhibition of its kind on the National Mall and Memorial Parks area.  

In addition to the exhibition that featured some of the top men’s and women’s professional long drive athletes, the event included a youth clinic at East Potomac Park Golf Course to introduce golf to children from underserved communities. 

The Convention center was filled with thousands of baseball fans for Major League Baseball’s All-Star FanFest. Fans represented teams for the team all over and got the chance to discuss baseball history and moments.  

The 2018 Fan Fest also partnered with the Restaurant Association Metropolitain Washington Association (RAMW) to give ticketholders a chance to enjoy exclusive dining deals throughout the city. Restaurants such as City Winery, Ris, and Penn Commons let fans enjoy their great dishes with exclusive discounts.  

On May 11, 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the Walter E. Washington Convention Center would be converted from 473,000 square feet of exhibit space (Halls A, B, C) into an approximately 1,200-bed alternate care facility. The site was designed to alleviate the strain on DC’s hospitals in anticipation of the surge in positive COVID-19 cases.  When needed, the convention center facility will primarily treat non-acute COVID-19 patients. 

On Sunday, September 19, an official delegation from FIFA visited Washington, DC as they evaluated the 17 remaining candidate host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. This was a key step in selecting the best venues for the games with a view to finalizing this highly competitive selection process by Q1/Q2 2022. 

USA Basketball returned to Washington, DC to host two FIBA World Cup Qualifying matches vs Puerto Rico on Feb. 24 and Mexico on Feb. 27. The arena hosted over 1,200 people to show their support for our men’s basketball team. USA won against Mexico (89-67) and Puerto Rico (93-67). This was a unique opportunity for basketball fans in the Washington metropolitan area to show their support for our USA men’s senior national teams in high-level FIBA competitions.  

Emphasizing the “world” in world-class venue, the Entertainment & Sports Arena welcomed the USA and Puerto Rico men’s basketball teams for a qualifying game in the FIBA AmeriCup tournament. More than 2,400 attendees watched the USA win the game with a score of 95-73. 

The FIBA AmeriCup 2021, considered the FIBA Americas zone championship, featured 12 nations from North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America.