WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Washington Wizards announced the numerous interactive fan festivities and activations in conjunction with the team’s home opener against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, Oct. 28, at Capital One Arena. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. Game night festivities are as follows:
Wizards Pregame Party
Prior to tip-off, the Wizards will hold a pregame block party at District E powered by Ticketmaster from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Fans can enjoy photobooths, a meet-and-greet with Wizards alumni Michael Adams and Harvey Grant and a live performance from J. Addo, a DMV based artist featured on the Wizards DMV Music Portal. DJ Chalant and the Wizards Dancers will also entertain fans.
The first 100 fans attending the Block party will receive a Wizards pullover as well as a gift card to the Team Store. Fans will be able to sample the District Bites menu, located inside District E, with select $10 appetizers. Fans can also celebrate the home opener with Michelob ULTRA offering a $6 beer special as well as samplings of Jack Daniel’s and Patron. To RSVP, click https://monumentalsports.formstack.com/forms/wizparty.
Giveaway
All fans in attendance at Capital One Arena will receive a Wizards 2023-24 t-shirt courtesy of Robinhood, the team’s new jersey patch partner. Fans will also receive a Wizards 2023-24 schedule magnet. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Throughout the season, other giveaways will include hats designed by Tyus Jones (Dec. 27), Deni Avdija (Jan. 24) and Gilbert Arenas (Mar. 6), a reversible ‘swaggy buckets’ bucket hat featuring Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole (Dec. 31), a Jordan Poole ‘Poole Party’ towel (Jan. 25) along with a DMV bobblehead series featuring Ben’s Chili Bowl’s Virginia Ali from Washington, D.C. (Jan. 15), tennis star Frances Tiafoe from Maryland (Feb. 10) and rapper Pusha T from Virginia (Mar. 17).
Limited tickets are still available to the home opener on Saturday, October 28. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.washingtonwizards.com/tickets.
Capital One Café
As the official bank and credit card of the Washington Wizards, Capital One will celebrate the 2023 home opener at the Capital One Café in Chinatown at 732 7th Street NW, across the street from Capital One Arena. Festivities will run from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Oct. 28, including giveaways, a meet and greet with Wizards alumni Gheorghe Muresan and Phil Chenier and more. Additionally, from Oct. 23 through Oct. 28, fans are encouraged to stop by the Capital One Cafés in Chinatown, Georgetown, or Anacostia for Wizards giveaways. All are welcome, and Capital One cardholders will receive 50% off handcrafted beverages when using their Capital One debit or credit card at any Capital One Café.
Meet at the Metro
The Wizards will take over the Gallery Place-Chinatown WMATA station (7th and F Metro entrance) from 4:30-5:00 p.m. on Oct. 28, featuring appearances from alums Ennis Whatley and Etan Thomas, G-Wiz, and the Wizards 202 Crew hype squad.
Retail
Wizards fans can stock up on all their merchandise needs for the home opener by visiting the Team Store. The Team Store has a variety of 2023-24 jerseys, including new additions Bilal Coulibaly and Jordan Poole along with returning players Kyle Kuzma, Corey Kispert and Deni Avdija.
The team will also offer new merchandise for the 2023-24 season including product from Chris Pyrate, DC PROPER and more. Additionally, in November the team will unveil a range of new styles in the Wizards 2023-24 City Edition look. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.
To help expedite the checkout process this season, self-checkout options will be available to fans in the main team store, as well as the Overtime Shop at Section 118. Both locations will also have multiple handheld points of sale to help fans easily purchase their gear and get back to their seats.
When visiting the Team Store or a merchandise kiosk, Capital One cardholders will receive 20% off their purchase when they present and use a Capital One credit or debit card at checkout. The discount is only applicable at the time of sale.
New Luxury Seating
The home opener will also give fans a first look at the newly enhanced Hennessy Lofts courtside seating. Hennessy Lofts at Washington Wizards games is one of the most unique and exclusive premium seating products at Capital One Arena. Each courtside loft features a private reserved dining table accommodating four to six guests, featuring a curated five-course dining experience, along with access to a full menu of beer, wine, and cocktails curated by Hennessy, all served directly to fan’s seats by a dedicated service team.
Hennessy Loft clients also receive their choice of a transportation benefit: complimentary parking or Uber ride credits, as well as access to all Wizards VIP membership benefits, including exclusive VIP events, gift items, and much more.
In-Game Entertainment
Fans can look forward to an engaging halftime act during the home opener that will showcase the skills and creativity from each entertainment team. The Wizards Dancers, Wizdom, WizKids, and 202 Crew Dunkers, as well as the one and only, G-Wiz, will come together for a unique and exciting halftime performance.
Throughout the 2023-24 season, fans will also see familiar faces, with the return of PA Announcer Mark Fratto, in-arena hosts Dennis T & Britt Waters and DJ Heat.
The Wizards will also debut their 2023-24 in-game graphics, branding and imagery for the season. This season, the Wizards launched their “For the District” campaign, which serves as the team’s unifying slogan for the season. Throughout the 2023-24 campaign, the Wizards will recognize and honor organizations and individuals who bring pride to the District.
Postgame Radio Show
This season, the postgame radio show hosted by Glenn Consor will take place in the Caesars Sportsbook, which fans can access from the concourse outside section 204. Fans are invited to join in as Consor provides analysis on the game along with special guests.
NBA 2K24 Tournament
On Saturday October 28th at 11 am District E is hosting an NBA 2K24 1v1 tournament presented by the DC Army National Guard. The tournament will be single elimination competition with a $1000 prize pool, with $750 awarded to the 1st place winner and $250 awarded to 2nd place. Participants must register in advance. For more information and registration please visit: bit.ly/46A5dVy
Capital One Cardholder Benefits
Capital One Cardholders can also gain early access to the building during all home games through the Capital One cardholder entrance located on 6th Street. The first 750 fans to enter through the dedicated Capital One Cardholder entrance located at 6th and F St on Oct. 28 will receive a signed Corey Kispert player card. The entrance is for Capital One debit and credit cardholders only and doors open 15 minutes earlier than other entrances at 5:45 p.m. Capital One cardholders are encouraged to be on the lookout for more exclusive experiences for Wizards games at www.capitalone.com/entertainment. In addition, cardholders receive 10% off all food and beverage items in-arena and 20% off items in the Team Store within the arena.