Last updated on November 13th, 2023 at 06:53 pm
Capital One Arena is home to the NBA Washington Wizards and NHL Washington Capitals teams. The venue is also home to the Georgetown College basketball team. The bag policy at Capital One Arena for a game or concert is strict where only medical bags that don’t exceed 14″ x 14″ x 6″ can enter the arena. Along with that, small purses and clutches that don’t exceed 5″ x 7″ can enter the facility. Otherwise, traditional backpacks and similar bags can’t enter the arena.
Here are the complete Capital One Arena bag policy guidelines for your next match.
Approved Bags
The bag policy at the D.C. venue is stricter than in other places, which means bringing a clear diaper bag to the game is the way to go. Otherwise, your best bet is to avoid bringing a bag to the arena. Here are some types of bags that can enter the stadium.
- Medical bags/diaper bags/parenting bags that don’t 14″ x 14″ x 6″
- Small purses and wallet-size clutches
- Empty clear plastic water bottles
- A clear plastic bag to put food in for medical reasons or special dietary food.
My Clear Bag Recommendation + Experience
While I have not been to Captial One Arena, I have been to plenty of NHL venues that have the same bag policy in place. For example, I brought my clear fanny pack to TD Garden (Boston Bruins home) for a game that measures 11″ x 6.5″ x 5.9″ in size without any issues. That means that bringing that same clear fanny pack to Capital One Arena won’t have any problems getting through the bag inspection check. As long as you don’t have any prohibited items inside that clear pack, you will be all set getting that through security. Also, I’ve never had my clear fanny pack rejected by any stadium that I’ve brought it to.
Below is a video of me going into more details as to why I recommend this type of bag.
How Does the Capital One Arena Security Team Review Bags?
Fans coming to Capital One Arena for a basketball game, hockey match, or concert will go through a metal detector before scanning their tickets. Fans with a bag will go through a bag check line at the gate. The bag check reviews the inside and outside of the bag along with the content inside of it to ensure it can enter the venue. If you are bringing a medical bag /diaper bag to the game, head to the 6th Street and F Street entrances. That entrance has a specific medical bag/diaper bag check entrance.
Are There Any Items that Fans Can’t Bring into Capital One Arena?
Fans making their way to the basketball/hockey arena in Chinatown, Washington D.C., should know that certain items can’t enter with them at the venue. Some of the prohibited items are below for reference. Check out the official prohibited items list of the venue for more details and up-to-date information.
- Weapons of any kind
- Bags that exceed 14″ x 14″ x 6″
- Coolers, luggage, briefcases, backpacks, etc.
- Outside food and beverage that are not for medical or religious reasons
- Laser pointers
- Animals not for ADA purposes (Service animals are ok)
- Selfie sticks
- Noisemakers
- Tripods
Is there a Bag Check Area at Capital One Arena?
Capital One Arena tends to have one of the game’s most strict bag policy rules. With that being the case, if your bag is not for parenting / medical reasons, it is best to avoid trying and bringing it in. The security screening at the gate won’t allow traditional bags into the venue, so you should leave your bag in your car before heading there.
If you take public transportation to the arena and can’t leave your bag in a car, consider seeing if a nearby bar or hotel can watch your stuff. Some numerous bars and hotels are within walking distance of the basketball/hockey venue, so you can see if they will hold onto your stuff. Most bars and hotels charge a small fee to hold onto them while you attend the game.
As a note, in 2023, there are no locker storage areas directly at the stadium.
Additional Helpful Links
Visit the Capital One Arena Parking guide for further details.
Be sure to visit the Capital One Arena Food Guide for more information.
Greg Kristan, owner of The Stadium Reviews, LLC and TM Blast, LLC, brings his extensive experience visiting over half of the MLB ballparks, along with numerous MLS, NHL, NBA, and NFL venues, to provide in-depth coverage on the bag policy, food options, and parking. He has also been interviewed about his experiences on several sports podcasts.