Tonight, the Washington Capitals are thrilled to host a group of local firefighters from the DCFD Engine Co. 2 at Capital One Arena for a special presentation of the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship Ring to the City of Washington, DC. Team captain Alex Ovechkin will present the ring to the firefighters who will accept on behalf of Mayor Muriel Bowser. The Mayor’s Chief of Staff will also be on hand for the ring presentation. The ring will then be transported by Engine Co. 2 during a ceremonial trip to City Hall where they will be put on display. The ring will arrive just in time for the Mayor’s annual Open House, which will be held at the historic John A. Wilson Building on February 4. The event will kick off the start of Mayor Bowser’s second term. This year, she became the first woman ever re-elected as the Mayor of Washington, DC and the first mayor to earn a second term in 16 years.

I’ve always believed nothing brings a city closer together than a winning sports team, so I am honored to once again celebrate the Caps historic Stanley Cup win with the City of Washington, DC. Over the years, the city has demonstrated its ongoing commitment, loyalty and support in the team’s pursuit of a championship title. From the coordination of our outdoor viewing parties giving fans the opportunity to be a part of the live game action, to the city’s approval of funding to maintain late night metro hours making public transportation more accessible to our fans on game nights, to hosting our celebratory team parade through the streets of Washington, DC as we brought the Stanley Cup home to Capital One Arena, and the massive cleanup effort following the team’s championship celebration, the city went above and beyond in helping to make the Caps 2018 playoff run and championship title win an unbelievable experience!

I’m also proud to partner with the city, including Mayor Bowser and EventsDC, in our efforts for the redevelopment of Ward 8. In September 2018, Monumental Sports and Entertainment cut the ribbon on our new Entertainment and Sports Arena (ESA) in Congress Heights where the Washington Mystics and the Capital City Go-Go play, along with the MedStar Wizards Performance Center, where the Wizards practice. What we’ve seen with Capital One Arena over the past 20 years is that it has served as an engine of economic development in Chinatown – creating jobs, generating tax revenue and growing our city. We believe the same will be true for this great facility in Ward 8, and we look forward to a lasting and continued partnership with the city for many more years to come.