Building Momentum: The Brand-New Capital One Arena

ABOUT THIS ENTRY

“Building Momentum, presented by KPMG,” is an exclusive content series that chronicles the transformation of Capital One Arena, giving fans unprecedented access to the renovation process from start to finish. In collaboration with key partners like Clark Construction, the series delivers behind-the-scenes views to the visionaries, engineers, and builders reimagining one of D.C.’s most iconic venues. Through short-form storytelling, the content fuses brand purpose with innovation, spotlighting the voices behind the project’s impact. Building Momentum is aimed at educating and inspiring fans while authentically amplifying partner brands and reinforcing Monumental’s commitment to elevating the future of live sports and entertainment. Each episode features a newly transformed space inside Capital One Arena, from the reimagined Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards player spaces to elevated premium destinations like the Lexus Vaults and United Globe Club, alongside innovative culinary concepts, curated local art installations, and staff spaces that power every event. 

How does this represent "Excellence in Engagement"?

Building Momentum is raising the game for how the industry approaches communication, connection, and long-term engagement. By making fans active participants rather than passive observers, the series sets a new precedent for how a landmark project for the city can cultivate loyalty, generate anticipation, and strengthen community ties. Using familiar voices such as on-air talent, executives, and partners, the series leverages personalities the fanbase already knows and trusts, creating credibility and authenticity in every update. 

Going beyond digital impact, the linear TV episode expands the series’ reach to engage another segment of the audience, those who may prefer traditional viewing but still want to feel connected to the arena’stransformation. This multi-platform strategy ensures that no fan is left behind, uniting audiences across digital and broadcast channels through compelling storytelling. 

As MSE continues to venture into future stages of construction, this content provides an innovative blueprint for transparent, fan-centered storytelling. It transforms complex project milestones into engaging narratives, while reinforcing a sense of shared ownership over the arena’s transformation.   

Objective

In 2024, Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) unveiled a transformative partnership with the city of Washington, D.C. to reimagine Capital One Arena. This once-in-a-generation investment would revitalize the more than 20-year-old venue into a dynamic, state-of-the-art destination, reigniting downtown and redefining the fan experience for years to come. 

Amid the first phase of construction commencing in early 2025, MSE’s commitment to transparency, communication, and access remained at the heart of the project, ensuring fans are not just spectators of progress, but part of it. In collaboration with KPMG, MSE launched Building Momentum, a transformation-focused content series to inform, inspire, and immerse fans in every phase of the arena’s evolution. Rooted in an “everyfan” ethos, the series spotlights the voices of the builders closest to the work, bringing audiences behind the scenes to uncover the stories behind the building’s transformation. 

Another key theme driving the concept was to demystify the transformation process. With an intentional launch ahead of the 2025–26 season, the series was strategically timed to build anticipation for the year ahead. By translating complex development updates into accessible, story-driven content, Building Momentum bridges the gap by helping fans understand how construction milestones will directly enhance their game-day experience. 

Strategy & Execution

Content was developed to focus on key moments through the initial phase of construction, including back-of-house operations, team areas, premium spaces, and new fan experience elements. Under the Building Momentum umbrella, several mini-series were created to tackle different niche topics and target audiences. 

• The Ground Floor with Juliana Morgan – hosted by on-air/digital personality Juliana Morgan, explaining some of the changes coming to the arena, breaking down why they matter, and the project’s timeline. 

• Pardon our Progress – bite-size :60 second sizzles highlighting construction sites, showing progress, and elevating partner voices from MSE, Clark Construction, Gensler to show the finishing touches on the new spaces. 

• Partnership Vignettes – high-level content pieces that focus on KPMG’s expertise and involvement in the transformation project. 

• Monumental Sports Network – Talent Content Series – a special for linear TV featuring MSE on-air talent Alexa Landestoy and Wes Hall as they explore different aspects of the transformation through 1:1s with MSE leadership. 

The decision to launch Building Momentum as a digital-first series was intentional. With a combined social following of more than 16 million fans across MSE’s network of team and brand accounts, digital platforms offered unmatched reach, immediacy, and engagement to deepen trust with the fanbase. 

Organizations

• Monumental Sports

• KPMG
• Clark Construction

Links

•   Website

Featured

• Juliana Morgan

• Alexa Landestoy
• Wes Hall

Credits

Adam Gotts
Vice President, Project and Revenue Management
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Britton Spark
Vice President, Global Partnership Design
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Cameron Reeve
Senior Producer
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Jim Kowats
Senior Vice President - Productions & Executive Producer
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

David Konschnik
Supervising Producer
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Amy Boyce
Senior Director of Production
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Alexandra Kreger
Production Manager
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Zachary Jamieson
Videographer
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Alex Diamond
Director of Photography
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Emily Levanas
Videographer
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Colby Ratel
Jr. Media Manager
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Caroline Marney
Production Coordinator and Assistant Editor
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Tom Roseski
Director of Animation
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Danny Angus
Motions Graphics Designer
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Alli Rice
Video Editor
Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Mike Bautista
Editor
Freelance

Ted Tuel
Camera Operator
Freelance

Brett Wiley
Camera Operator
Freelance

Chris Olson
Camera Operator
Freelance

Alex Rosen
Camera Operator
Freelance