Record-setting crowd of 17,228 during Sunday’s PWHL Takeover Tour™ game sets new U.S. arena benchmark for women’s hockey attendance

Milestone builds on Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s growing leadership in women’s sports, following WNBA single-game regular season attendance record set in 2024

Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) announced that today’s Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Takeover Tour™ game at Capital One Arena was the highest-attended game at a U.S. arena in women’s hockey history, marking another defining moment in the rapid growth of women’s sports in the Washington, D.C. region.

A record-setting crowd of 17,228 attended the PWHL Takeover Tour™ matchup between the Montréal Victoire and the New York Sirens at Capital One Arena, surpassing the previous record of 16,014 fans set during a PWHL game between the Seattle Torrent and Minnesota Frost at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on November 28, 2025. Sunday’s game was broadcast locally on Monumental Sports Network (MNMT) and marked the first-ever PWHL contest played in the District of Columbia.

This achievement continues MSE’s strong momentum in elevating women’s sports. In September 2024, Capital One Arena hosted a Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever game that drew a record 20,711 fans, setting the WNBA single-game attendance mark for a regular season game.

“We’re incredibly proud to see Capital One Arena serve as the stage for another historic moment with today’s record-setting PWHL game,” said Ted Leonsis, Founder, Chairman, Managing Partner, and CEO of MSE. “Whether it’s on the ice or the court, these record-setting crowds are the result of deliberate investment, long-term partnership, and a belief that women’s sports deserve to be celebrated at the highest level. Monumental has made elevating women’s athletics a priority across our teams, venues, network, and in our community, and the momentum we’re seeing today reflects both the excellence of the athletes and the growing demand from fans to experience women’s sports at the highest level.”

Sunday’s game was part of the PWHL Takeover Tour™, a league initiative designed to bring top-tier women’s professional hockey to new markets across North America. The expanded 2025–26 tour features 16 neutral-site games across 11 cities in the United States and Canada, continuing the success of last season’s tour, which drew more than 123,000 fans and delivered multiple attendance records.

“What an incredible day at Capital One Arena,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL EVP of Business Operations. “Washington, D.C. showed up in such a big way, and the energy our fans brought into the arena turned this game into something truly special. Moments like this capture the joy of our sport and the momentum behind the league. We are so grateful to Monumental Sports & Entertainment for being such a committed partner in helping deliver this world class experience.”

MSE Raises the Game for Women’s Sports and Fan Experiences 

The game builds on MSE’s decades-long work to champion women’s sports, with Leonsis’ 20-year tenure as one of the earliest and longest-serving WNBA owners reflecting this deep-rooted commitment.  

MSE and the Washington Capitals have a longstanding commitment to women’s hockey, having most recently launched the award-winning ALL CAPS ALL HER platform in December 2021. ALL CAPS ALL HER provides access to hockey through an array of on- and off-ice programming and elevates the game for women and girls in the Washington, D.C., area.

As part of the PWHL Takeover Tour™ weekend, the Capitals hosted a series of community-focused events at MedStar Capitals Iceplex designed to further engage and inspire the next generation of players and fans. The Montréal Victoire and New York Sirens held open practices for the public, featuring interactive fan experiences and autograph sessions. In addition, the Capitals hosted girls’ youth hockey clinics led by ALL CAPS ALL HER instructors and ambassadors with appearances by PWHL players.

Through year-round programming, events, and content, ALL CAPS ALL HER continues to provide multiple entry points into the sport, foster leadership and development opportunities, and highlight influential women and families across the hockey community. To date, ALL CAPS ALL HER has provided access to hockey and elevated the game for more than 5,000 women and girls in the Washington, D.C., region. 

On a corporate level, MSE debuted a  Girls Empowerment Program in 2025 that includes a groundbreaking partnership with Coach Across America’s She Changes the Game® as part of its District of Play youth sports initiative. The company also became an early investor in women’s sports platforms The IX and The Next  in 2025. 

Today’s announcement comes as Phase Two of Capital One Arena’s transformation is underway, a key part of MSE’s broader efforts to revitalize downtown Washington, D.C., and reinforce the District’s status as a global sports and entertainment capital, in partnership with the District. By taking a 360-degree approach to reimagining the fan experience—blending cutting-edge technology, immersive design, and community impact—MSE is creating a high-tech, high-touch venue designed to inspire millions of visitors annually for the next 25 years.

Additional information about MSE’s brand-new arena is available HERE.

VenuWorks, the new management company for the historic Paramount Arts Center, is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Hammond as the venue’s new Executive Director. This selection highlights VenuWorks’ commitment to identifying and empowering the best talent in the industry to drive venue success. In this instance, the perfect candidate was found right here in the community, reflecting the “Acres of Diamonds” philosophy that exceptional value often lies in one’s own backyard.

As VenuWorks takes the helm of the iconic downtown theater, the company remains dedicated to preserving the Paramount’s legacy while ushering in a new era of efficiency and growth. Hammond brings both professional experience and a lifelong personal connection to the venue, marking him as a standout representative of the next generation of arts and venue leadership.

A tireless advocate for arts education in the tri-state region, Hammond grew up in Louisa, KY, and first stepped onto the Paramount stage at age fourteen. He has since performed more than 80 times at the theater—an experience that solidified his bond with the venue and the community it serves.

Hammond holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Morehead State University and a Master of Arts in Arts Administration with an emphasis on managing theatrical organizations from the University of Kentucky. His professional background includes serving as Director of Choirs at Lawrence County High School from 2018 to 2021 and as Director of Education at the Paramount Arts Center from 2021 to 2025. During his tenure as Education Director, he oversaw programs that brought over 200,000 students to the Youth Education Series shows.

His leadership style, community engagement and positive attitude have earned him wide recognition, including two nominations for the Best Music Educator Grammy Award. Beyond his work at the Paramount, Hammond serves as the Director of Choirs at Ashland First United Methodist Church and is an executive board member for the Kentucky Theatre Association, where he conducts workshops to foster creativity across the Commonwealth. “I could not be more humbled and excited to be leading The Paramount Theatre into the future,” said Hammond. “This venue shaped my life, and I am honored to help steward it for the next generation.”

“Matt Hammond truly represents the future of venue leadership” said Steve Peters, CEO and Founder of VenuWorks. “His passion for the arts, deep ties to the community, and impressive track record  make him the ideal choice for this pivotal role. We are excited to see the energy and vision Matt brings to the Paramount, and he has the full support and confidence of the entire VenuWorks team as he leads this iconic venue forward.”

Longtime IAVM member, venue manager, and family show executive Dale Adams, CVE, assumes a new role as Executive Director of the Arizona Exposition & State Fair in Phoenix on Tuesday, Jan. 20. He takes over for the retiring Wanell Costello, who has served the Arizona Exposition & State Fair for 35 years.

Adams, who joined IAVM in 1985 when he was Assistant Director at the Lakeland (Fla.) Civic Center, had been at Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Ariz., as GM, where he also acted as VP of Event Development for ASM Global. He has lived in the Phoenix area for a decade now.

Serving the nation’s fourth largest fair (based on attendance of 1.4 million annually) and managing Veterans Memorial Coliseum (nicknamed “The Madhouse on McDowell” when the Phoenix Suns played there) are a welcome new challenge for Adams. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to drive ancillary revenues. There are so many opportunities,” Adams said.

The Fairgrounds feature numerous exhibit buildings, extensive parking lots and an outdoor stage. The Coliseum hosts concerts during the fair and is relatively busy with trade and consumer shows during the “off-season.”

“Dale brings a clear vision for the Arizona State Fair enterprise that aligns closely with the Board,” said Joanne Keene, Chair of the Arizona Exposition and State Fair Board, in a press release. “We look forward to working with Dale to unlock the full potential of the Arizona State Fairgrounds as a year-round, revenue-generating asset for the State of Arizona.”

The Arizona Exposition & State Fair is a self-enterprising state agency that hosts more than 50 events annually, ranging from the Arizona National Livestock Show to community service events, such as the Volunteer Nonprofit Service Association (VNSA) Book Sale and Arizona Veterans StandDown. Its signature event, the annual Arizona State Fair, welcomes over one million visitors each fall.

This will be the first fairgrounds Adams has managed, but he has extensive experience and contacts in the business from his years with Feld Entertainment’s Disney on Ice and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, along with managing various venues for the old Leisure Management International (LMI), Ogden Entertainment, and AEG Facilities, which became ASM Global and is now Legends Global.

Venues he has managed include Prudential Center, Newark, N.J., and Coliseo de Puerto Rico, San Juan.

His ties to IAVM include teaching a variety of topics, like General Revenue, Box Office, and Dealing with Unions at Venue Management School when it was held at Oglebay in West Virginia. He attained his CVE while working at Mullins Center at UMass, Boston, in 1996.

He’s looking forward to making a difference with such an iconic brand as the Arizona State Fair.

Rendering of the OKC Multipurpose Stadium. Photo courtesy OKC.gov

The Oklahoma City Council voted today to approve a construction management services contract with Lingo Construction for the new MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium, set to anchor a future sports and entertainment district just south of Bricktown.

“Selecting a construction management firm is a significant step forward for the multipurpose stadium project,” said MAPS Program Manager David Todd. “The Lingo team brings valuable local expertise and a strong track record delivering complex venues and community spaces.”

Construction is expected to begin this spring, with the stadium scheduled to open in early 2028.

“Lingo is excited to be part of this significant project that will serve the community in many ways,” said Stan Lingo, President. “The stadium is designed to be more than a sports venue—it will serve as a gathering place that welcomes visitors from across the nation, supports local teams and events, and creates lasting memories for generations to come. We’re honored to work alongside the City and our project partners to help bring this vision to life.”

The multipurpose stadium was designed by Populous and will be operated by Echo Investment Capital. A first look at the stadium design was announced in December.

The project is funded by MAPS 4, the 2025 OKC Bond, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), private contributions and other economic development sources.

Multipurpose stadium features

The site is located east of the Oklahoma City Convention Center and south of Bricktown near I-40. The stadium will feature a United States Soccer Federation (USSF)-approved field and serve as the future home to both women’s and men’s teams. The venue will also feature a club section, supporters’ section, locker rooms and suites.

While soccer will be its primary function, the stadium is poised to host football, youth sports, concerts and community events.

Learn more at okc.gov/MAPS4.

The Raleigh Convention Center is excited to announce its reopening to events this week following the Dec. 1 fire. The four events set to take place at the venue this week include software company Prometheus Group’s Sales Kickoff, the CHG Roadshow, Smartsheet user group, and City of Oaks Challenge Volleyball tournament. Reaching this reopening milestone quickly is a result of the tireless work by convention center leadership and staff, staff from across all departments of the City of Raleigh, contractors, and community partners. The convention center was able to retain approximately $4 million in revenue and 28,000 hotel room nights by reopening this week.

While the convention center’s kitchen is under repair, a temporary mobile kitchen has been set up in Red Hat Amphitheater. Construction on the temporary facility began on Wed. Jan. 7, and finished on Sun. Jan. 11. The mobile kitchen is approximately the same size as the permanent kitchen and features all the same equipment to ensure no gaps in functionality. The kitchen will be set up as long as needed, but it will be out before the beginning of concert season at the amphitheater.

“We’re so thrilled to have guests back in our building and thankful for all the planners who we’ve gotten to work with this past month to make sure their events can still happen. City of Oaks Volleyball was our first large scale event following the COVID-19 pandemic, so to have them in right now after this is special, that they’ve been part of several great comebacks with us,” said Kerry Painter, Executive Director of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex. “We know how crucial these events are not only to us and our clients, but also to our partners at hotels and restaurants here in downtown Raleigh as well. Our team, other city departments, and our contractors have worked day and night for the last month to get here, and it’s incredible to see where we were on Dec. 1 and where we are today. We’re able to provide the same excellent service our clients expect with an innovative mobile kitchen setup in Red Hat Amphitheater. This is the same mobile kitchen used for incredibly large-scale, high-end events like Formula One racing, so we’re not just making do but continuing to operate at a really high level while our permanent kitchen undergoes repairs.”

The Raleigh Convention Center is bringing in a crane to help remove equipment from the roof following the fire. Two lanes of McDowell St. between Lenoir St. and Cabarrus St. will be used for crane work starting Thursday, Jan. 15, and ending on Sunday, Jan. 18. Officials at the convention center and the City of Raleigh have worked together to carefully plan this closure maximize safety for drivers and crews working to remove the equipment from the building. Traffic will quickly be restored to its regular pattern following the work at the facility.
For a full list of upcoming events, facility updates, and other information, please visit RaleighConvention.com.