Washington is a better sports town than visitors expect. In the space of seven years it won a Stanley Cup, a World Series and a WNBA title, and on most nights of the year some team is playing within a short Metro ride of the monuments. This guide to Washington DC sports is for visitors who want to catch a game: every major team, when they play, how to get tickets without overpaying, and how to get to each stadium, including the one that isn’t in DC at all.

Quick answer: The easiest game for a visitor is a Nationals baseball game from late March to late September, a block from Navy Yard-Ballpark station. From October to April, the Capitals (hockey) and Wizards (basketball) play at Capital One Arena, directly above Gallery Place-Chinatown station. Soccer fans can see the Washington Spirit or D.C. United at Audi Field most of the year. The Commanders play football in Landover, Maryland, until their new DC stadium opens around 2030.

Last updated September 24, 2026. Seasons, venues, bag rules and construction timelines were checked that day against the teams’ and venues’ own sites and recent reporting. Schedules for 2027 were not all out yet, so check the team’s site before you plan a trip around a game.

• Pro teams: Nationals (MLB), Capitals (NHL), Wizards (NBA), Mystics (WNBA), Commanders (NFL), D.C. United (MLS), Washington Spirit (NWSL) and the DC Defenders (UFL spring football).
• Venues on the Metro: Nationals Park, Capital One Arena, Audi Field and CareFirst Arena are all on or near a station. The Commanders’ stadium is a long walk from one.
• Big changes: Capital One Arena is mid-renovation through 2027, the Commanders’ new stadium on the RFK site is due in 2030, and baseball’s labor contract expires December 1, 2026.
• Bags: Nationals Park bans backpacks, and Audi Field caps bags at 14 by 14 by 6 inches. Travel light.

On this page: At a glance | Sports calendar | The teams | Stadiums and arenas | Tickets | Getting there | Tennis | Golf | New Commanders stadium | What’s changed | FAQ

Washington DC sports at a glance

Every team a visitor can realistically see, where they play and how to get there.

Team	League	Season	Venue	Metro
Washington Nationals	MLB (baseball)	Late March to late September	Nationals Park, Navy Yard	Navy Yard-Ballpark (Green)
Washington Capitals	NHL (hockey)	October to April	Capital One Arena, Chinatown	Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow)
Washington Wizards	NBA (basketball)	October to April	Capital One Arena	Gallery Place-Chinatown
Washington Spirit	NWSL (women’s soccer)	March to November	Audi Field, Buzzard Point	Navy Yard-Ballpark or Waterfront (Green)
D.C. United	MLS (soccer)	Late February to October	Audi Field	Navy Yard-Ballpark or Waterfront
Washington Mystics	WNBA (basketball)	May to September	CareFirst Arena, Congress Heights	Congress Heights (Green)
Georgetown Hoyas	College basketball	November to March	Capital One Arena	Gallery Place-Chinatown
Washington Commanders	NFL (football)	September to January	Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland	Morgan Blvd (Blue, Silver), about 20 min on foot
DC Defenders	UFL (spring football)	Spring, home games mostly April and May	Audi Field	Navy Yard-Ballpark or Waterfront

What’s in season when you visit

DC has something on almost every week of the year. Here’s what a visitor can catch by month.

Month	What’s on
January	Capitals, Wizards, Georgetown basketball; late-season Commanders games
February	Capitals, Wizards, Georgetown; D.C. United’s season starts late in the month
March	Capitals, Wizards, Georgetown; Spirit and D.C. United; Nationals Opening Day at month’s end in a normal year
April	Nationals; Spirit; D.C. United; DC Defenders; the end of the hockey and basketball regular seasons
May	Nationals; Mystics begin; Spirit; D.C. United; Defenders; NHL and NBA playoffs if the local teams qualify
June	Nationals, Mystics, Spirit, D.C. United
July	Nationals, Mystics, Spirit, D.C. United; the DC Open tennis tournament starts late in the month
August	Nationals, Mystics, Spirit, D.C. United; the tennis finishes early in the month
September	The last Nationals games; Mystics; Spirit; D.C. United; Commanders begin
October	Capitals and Wizards begin; Commanders; MLS and NWSL season finales and playoffs; the Marine Corps Marathon
November	Capitals, Wizards, Commanders; Georgetown basketball begins; NWSL playoffs
December	Capitals, Wizards, Georgetown, Commanders

The best months for a sports-heavy trip are April, May and September, when baseball overlaps with soccer and, in spring, the end of the hockey season. October is good too: the arena seasons start while football and the soccer playoffs are running.

Washington DC sports teams, ranked for visitors

Ranked by how easy, affordable and enjoyable a game is for someone in town for a few days, not by how good the team is this year.

1. Washington Nationals (MLB)

The easiest big game in town, a block from the Metro. Baseball is the visitor’s best bet: 81 home games a season, a 41,000-seat park where you can almost always find a seat, and a location near the Anacostia River a block from Navy Yard-Ballpark station. The Nationals won the World Series in 2019, and even in rebuilding years the ballpark is the attraction. Watch for the Presidents Race in the middle of the fourth inning, when giant-headed presidents sprint down the warning track, and take a walk up to the upper deck, where parts of the park look out toward the Capitol dome.

One warning for 2027: baseball’s labor contract expires on December 1, 2026, and a lockout is widely expected. A long one could delay Opening Day, as the last one did in 2022, so don’t book a spring trip around a specific game until there’s a deal.

Plan it: games from late March or early April to late September, in the evening on most weeknights and often in the afternoon on weekends; buy through the Nationals or MLB’s own apps. Bags: no backpacks of any kind, and clear bags up to 16 by 16 by 8 inches (September 2026). Metro: Navy Yard-Ballpark (Green line), about a 2-minute walk; the Yellow line doesn’t go there. Allow four hours with the walk. Best for: first-timers, families, budget travelers, summer evenings.

2. Washington Capitals (NHL)

The loudest night in DC in winter. The Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018, and their fans fill Capital One Arena in red. In April 2025 their captain, Alex Ovechkin, passed Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s career goals leader, which made the Caps a national story. Capitals games are usually the toughest ticket among the arena teams, so book further ahead than you would for the Wizards. The arena sits directly on top of Gallery Place-Chinatown station in the middle of Penn Quarter, so dinner, the game and a drink afterward can all happen within a few blocks.

Plan it: season from October to April, with playoffs into spring if the team qualifies; evening games around 7pm. The arena is mid-renovation (see below), and the bag rules are strict, so carry as little as possible. Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow lines), in the building. Allow three hours. Best for: sports fans, couples, groups, a winter night out.

3. Washington Spirit (NWSL)

The best atmosphere in DC sports right now. The Spirit, 2021 NWSL champions, have built one of women’s soccer’s loudest fan bases, and a game at Audi Field is a genuinely fun night: drums, flags and a young, family-friendly crowd. The stadium is small and steep, so every seat is close to the field. The Spirit have played all their home games at Audi Field since 2023.

Plan it: season from March to November, with playoffs in the fall; evening and weekend kickoffs. Bags: no larger than 14 by 14 by 6 inches, no backpacks (cinch bags within the size are allowed). Metro: Navy Yard-Ballpark or Waterfront (Green line), about a 15-minute walk from either. Allow three hours. Best for: families, groups, soccer fans, anyone who wants a crowd.

4. D.C. United (MLS)

One of MLS’s founding clubs, and its most decorated in the early years. D.C. United won four MLS Cups, in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004, and its supporters’ groups still bring the noise at Audi Field, the soccer-specific stadium the club opened at Buzzard Point in 2018. The team has had lean years since, which means tickets are usually easy to find.

Plan it: season from late February to October, with playoffs into the fall; kickoffs are often on Saturday evenings. Bags: the same Audi Field limit of 14 by 14 by 6 inches. Metro: Navy Yard-Ballpark or Waterfront (Green line), about 15 minutes’ walk. Allow three hours. Best for: soccer fans, groups, budget travelers.

5. Washington Wizards (NBA)

An easy ticket for NBA stars. The Wizards have been rebuilding, which is bad news for local fans and good news for visitors: tickets are easier to get than for most NBA teams, and the visiting team often brings a star you’ll want to see. Games share Capital One Arena with the Capitals, so the downtown convenience is the same.

Plan it: season from October to April; evening tip-offs around 7pm. Check the arena’s bag rules before you go. Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow lines), in the building. Allow three hours. Best for: basketball fans, families, budget travelers, a rainy evening.

6. Washington Mystics (WNBA)

Summer basketball in a small, intimate arena. The Mystics, 2019 WNBA champions, play most home games at CareFirst Arena, a 4,200-seat arena in Congress Heights that opened in 2018 and was known as the Entertainment and Sports Arena until its renaming. Almost every seat is close to the court. A few big games move downtown to Capital One Arena; in 2026, that included a September game against Chicago. The WNBA’s new seven-year labor deal, ratified in March 2026, means the 2027 season is on solid ground.

Plan it: season from May to September; evening and weekend games. Metro: Congress Heights (Green line), a short walk. Allow two and a half hours. Best for: basketball fans, families, a summer evening off the tourist track.

7. Georgetown Hoyas basketball

Big East basketball downtown. Georgetown’s men’s basketball team, one of the country’s most famous college programs, plays its home games at Capital One Arena rather than on campus. A Big East game against a rival fills the arena with students and alumni; lesser games are cheap and relaxed.

Plan it: season from November to March. Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow lines), in the building. Allow two and a half hours. Best for: college basketball fans, budget travelers.

8. Washington Commanders (NFL)

The biggest crowds, and the hardest trip. The Commanders, who won three Super Bowls under their former name, play at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, known as FedExField until 2024. It’s a long way from the monuments, with a long walk from the nearest Metro station and heavy traffic on game days. An NFL Sunday is still an experience, but it’s the least visitor-friendly game on this list until the new stadium on the old RFK site opens, targeted for 2030.

Plan it: season from September to January, mostly Sunday afternoons, plus the occasional Monday or Thursday night. Bags: the NFL’s league-wide clear-bag policy applies, so bring a clear bag or a small clutch. Metro: Morgan Boulevard (Blue, Silver lines), about a 20-minute walk; driving means paying for parking and sitting in traffic. Allow six hours door to door. Best for: dedicated football fans.

9. DC Defenders (UFL)

Spring football with a party atmosphere. The Defenders play in the UFL, a spring league, at Audi Field. The games are loose and fun, and the fans are famous for building a “beer snake” of stacked empty cups through the stands. It’s a good option for a spring visit when the NFL is off.

Plan it: home games mostly in April and May, with playoffs in June. Bags: the Audi Field limit of 14 by 14 by 6 inches. Metro: Navy Yard-Ballpark or Waterfront (Green line), about 15 minutes’ walk. Allow three hours. Best for: groups, football fans, spring visitors.

More college sports

Georgetown is the easiest college team to see downtown, but the region has plenty more:

• Maryland Terrapins (Big Ten): football and basketball on the University of Maryland campus in College Park. Take the Green line to College Park-U of Md and allow for a walk across campus.
• George Washington Revolutionaries: GW’s teams, renamed from the Colonials in 2023, play basketball at the Smith Center in Foggy Bottom, a short walk from Foggy Bottom-GWU station.
• Howard University Bison: the famous HBCU’s football and basketball games have a campus atmosphere of their own, and Howard’s fall homecoming is one of the biggest weekends in the city.
• Navy Midshipmen: football in Annapolis, about an hour’s drive away, makes a good day trip with a tour of the Naval Academy.

Stadiums and arenas: what to know before you go

Venue	Teams	Neighborhood	Metro	Bag rule
Nationals Park	Nationals	Navy Yard	Navy Yard-Ballpark, 2 min	No backpacks; clear bags to 16x16x8 in
Capital One Arena	Capitals, Wizards, Georgetown, some Mystics games	Chinatown and Penn Quarter	Gallery Place-Chinatown, in the building	Strict; check the arena’s site
Audi Field	Spirit, D.C. United, Defenders	Buzzard Point	Navy Yard-Ballpark or Waterfront, 15 min	Bags up to 14x14x6 in; no backpacks
CareFirst Arena	Mystics	Congress Heights	Congress Heights, a short walk	Check before you go
Northwest Stadium	Commanders	Landover, Maryland	Morgan Boulevard, about 20 min	NFL clear-bag policy

Nationals Park

Opened in 2008 at 1500 South Capitol Street SE, the park anchors the Navy Yard neighborhood and the riverfront. The concourse wraps the whole park, so you can walk a lap with a beer and watch from different angles. After the final out, Navy Yard-Ballpark station jams; walk 15 to 20 minutes to Waterfront (Green) or Capitol South (Blue, Orange, Silver) and you’ll often beat the crowd home.

Capital One Arena

The arena, at 601 F Street NW, opened in 1997 and helped turn a fading downtown into today’s Penn Quarter. It’s midway through an $800 million renovation due to finish before the 2027-28 seasons, with a new main entrance at 7th and F Streets due this fall. Games continue throughout, but entrances and concourses shift as the work moves, so check the arena’s site for the current entry points. Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Capitals, Wizards and Mystics, runs the arena.

Audi Field

D.C. United’s 20,000-seat stadium opened in 2018 at Buzzard Point, where the Anacostia meets the Washington Channel. It’s a pleasant 15-minute walk from Navy Yard along the river, and there are Capital Bikeshare docks nearby if you’d rather ride: as of September 2026, a classic bike costs $1 to unlock plus 15 cents a minute, and a day pass is $10.

CareFirst Arena

The Mystics’ arena, on the St. Elizabeths East campus in Congress Heights, doubles as the Wizards’ and Mystics’ practice facility. It’s the smallest pro venue in the city and one of the easiest to enjoy, with a short walk from Congress Heights station.

Northwest Stadium

The Commanders’ stadium opened in 1997 in Landover, Prince George’s County, Maryland. It’s a car-oriented venue surrounded by parking lots, and on game days the roads around it back up for hours. If you take Metro, give yourself time for the walk from Morgan Boulevard.

Where to sit

Each sport rewards a different seat. A few rules of thumb that hold at DC’s venues:

• Baseball: lower-level seats along the baselines put you close to the action without the premium of the seats behind home plate. The upper deck is the budget choice, and parts of it look out toward the Capitol dome. For day games, bring sunscreen: many seats sit in full sun.
• Hockey: the first rows of the upper bowl are underrated, because height lets you watch plays develop. Seats against the glass are thrilling but expensive, and you’ll see less of the far end.
• Basketball: sideline seats beat end seats at every price level. For value, pick the upper-level sideline over a lower-level corner.
• Soccer: at Audi Field, sideline seats near midfield give the best view of the game, and the supporters’ end behind the goal is where fans stand and sing all match. Choose based on the night you want.
• Football: lower-level sideline seats between the 20-yard lines are the classic choice; the top rows of a big NFL stadium are a long way from the field.

How to get tickets without overpaying

Buy from the team first. Every team sells through its own website and app, and most have an official resale marketplace where season-ticket holders list seats. Search results are full of resale sites with inflated fees; if it isn’t the team’s own site or its official partner, compare before you buy.

Choose the game. Weeknight games, early-season games and games against less popular opponents are cheaper. For the Nationals, a Tuesday night in April costs a fraction of a Saturday in July. For the Capitals, a game against a rival or a star will cost more than a midweek game against a small-market team.

Expect dynamic pricing. Most teams now change prices with demand, so the same seat can cost different amounts on different days. Buying early helps for high-demand games; for low-demand ones, prices sometimes fall close to game day.

Use your phone. Tickets are mobile at nearly every venue now. Download the team’s app and add your tickets before you leave the hotel, because stadium Wi-Fi and cell service can be slow at the gates.

Watch the extras. Service fees add a lot at checkout, and food and drink at every venue is priced for a captive audience. Eating before the game, in Navy Yard or Penn Quarter, saves money.

What a game costs

Prices move with demand, so there’s no fixed ticket price for any team, but the relative costs are fairly stable. From cheapest to most expensive, roughly: a Georgetown, Mystics or D.C. United game, a weeknight Nationals game, a Spirit or Wizards game, a Capitals game and, at the top, a Commanders game once you add parking. On top of the ticket, budget for:

• Getting there: Metro fares ran from $2.25 to $6.75 a ride on weekdays before 9:30pm and $2.25 to $2.50 at other times as of September 2026, so a round trip from downtown costs a few dollars. Driving to any venue means paying for parking.
• Food and drink: stadium prices are high everywhere. Eat beforehand in Navy Yard or Penn Quarter and budget for one drink inside.
• Fees: service fees on tickets can add a surprising amount at checkout, especially on resale sites.

Getting to the game on the Metro

Four of DC’s five main venues are on or near a Metro station, and the Metro is almost always the right way to get there. Some tips:

• Nationals Park and Audi Field are on the Green line. The Yellow line ends at Mt Vernon Sq, so it doesn’t reach Navy Yard-Ballpark or Waterfront; from Reagan National Airport, change at L’Enfant Plaza.
• Capital One Arena is on three lines, Red, Green and Yellow, at Gallery Place-Chinatown.
• Plan the ride home around closing time. As of September 2026, stations close at midnight Sunday to Thursday and 2am on Friday and Saturday. Extra-innings games and overtime can run late, so know your last train.
• Expect crowds. Trains before and after big games are packed. Walking to the next station, or waiting 20 minutes over a drink, often beats the crush.
• Tap to pay. Metro accepts contactless cards and phones at the fare gates, so you don’t need to buy a card first.

Weather at the game

Nationals Park, Audi Field and Northwest Stadium are open-air, so the weather is part of the ticket. Based on the 1991-2020 climate normals at Reagan National:

• Spring baseball is chilly at night. April averages a high of 68°F and a low of about 48°F, so bring a jacket to an evening game early in the season.
• Summer day games are hot. July averages a high of almost 90°F and is the city’s wettest month, with 4.33 inches of rain, mostly from afternoon thunderstorms. Rain delays happen, and shade matters, so pick an evening game if you can.
• Winter football is cold. January averages a high of about 45°F and a low near 30°F. Dress in layers for a Commanders game in December or January.

The two arenas, Capital One Arena and CareFirst Arena, are indoors, so hockey and basketball are the weatherproof options.

Before and after the game

The neighborhoods around the venues are part of the fun. Navy Yard, around Nationals Park, is full of bars and restaurants: Bluejacket, a three-story brewery in a converted 1919 naval factory, and Dacha’s beer garden are both a short walk from the ballpark. Around Capital One Arena, Penn Quarter’s restaurants are steps from the doors. For where to watch a game you’re not attending, and the rest of the bar scene, see our guide to DC nightlife; our overview of Washington DC neighborhoods explains what Navy Yard and Chinatown are like on non-game days.

Sights near the venues

A game pairs easily with sightseeing, because the main venues sit close to museums and landmarks:

• Near Capital One Arena: the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery share a building a block away, and both are free. The National Building Museum, two blocks east on F Street at Judiciary Square, is open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5pm (closed Tuesday and Wednesday), with a free Great Hall and $10 adult tickets for the exhibitions as of September 2026. Chinatown’s Friendship Archway is two blocks north on H Street.
• Near Nationals Park and Audi Field: the Capitol is about a mile north, Yards Park runs along the river, and the International Spy Museum at L’Enfant Plaza is two stops away on the Green line.
• Near CareFirst Arena: Anacostia, one stop up the Green line, is home to Cedar Hill, the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. Check the National Park Service’s tour hours before you go.

Tennis: the Mubadala DC Open

Every summer, top men’s and women’s players come to Rock Creek Park for the Mubadala DC Open, a combined ATP and WTA 500 event at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center. The tournament, long known as the Citi Open and more recently as the Mubadala Citi DC Open, ran from July 25 to August 2 in 2026; 2027 dates hadn’t been announced as of September 2026. Early-round sessions are the best value, when you can wander between the outer courts and watch big names up close. The tennis center sits in Rock Creek Park near 16th Street NW with no Metro station nearby, so plan on a rideshare or a Metrobus ride.

Golf in Washington DC

DC has three historic public golf courses on National Park Service land, and they’ve been in the news. Since 2020 the nonprofit National Links Trust has run all three. In May 2026, the Interior Department took over the renovation of East Potomac Golf Links, the course on the peninsula south of the Tidal Basin, to a design by Tom Fazio, and the course closed after its final tee times that month. Under a May 8, 2026 agreement, National Links Trust got new long-term leases at the other two courses, which stay open and affordable:

• Langston Golf Course in Northeast DC, near the Anacostia River, one of the first courses in the region open to Black golfers when it opened in 1939.
• Rock Creek Park Golf Course in the hilly northern stretch of the park, a shorter, quieter course.

For a visitor, Langston is the easier one to reach and play. Book tee times through National Links Trust, and check East Potomac’s status before you plan around it. No reopening date had been confirmed as of September 2026.

Running, biking and paddling on your trip

You don’t have to watch sports to get some in. The National Mall is the city’s favorite running loop, open around the clock: from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and back is about four miles, and early morning is the time to go before the crowds and the heat. The Mount Vernon Trail along the Virginia bank of the Potomac and the trails in Rock Creek Park give you longer, greener routes.

Capital Bikeshare’s red bikes are everywhere, and as of September 2026 a day pass is $10. On the water, you can rent kayaks and paddleboards on the Potomac and Anacostia from Adventures Unbound’s Capital Collection, the successor to Boating in DC. The Marine Corps Marathon, which starts in Arlington and loops through DC, is on Sunday, October 25, 2026; roads close along the course, so plan around it if you’re in town that weekend.

The Commanders’ new stadium at the RFK site

The Commanders are coming back to DC. Their new stadium, on the site of RFK Stadium by the Anacostia River in Northeast DC, is designed by HKS, will hold up to about 70,000 fans and is projected to cost about $3.7 billion. RFK Stadium, home to the team from 1961 to 1996 and later to the Nationals and D.C. United, closed in 2019, and its demolition began in 2025. Infrastructure work was slated to start in 2026, with structural work from early 2027 and an opening targeted for 2030.

Until then, the team plays in Landover. If you’re in DC for a game before 2030, you’re going to Maryland.

Capital One Arena’s renovation

In 2024, a plan to move the Capitals and Wizards to a new arena in Alexandria, Virginia, collapsed, and the teams agreed to stay downtown instead, backed by an $800 million renovation of Capital One Arena. The work runs until before the 2027-28 seasons, with games continuing throughout. The biggest visible change for fans this fall is a new main entrance at 7th and F Streets. Expect construction walls and changing entrances through 2027, and check the arena’s own site for where to go in.

A short history of DC sports

For a long time, Washington was better known for losing teams than for winning ones. The old Senators baseball team left for Minnesota in 1960, and the replacement Senators left for Texas in 1971, leaving DC without baseball until the Montreal Expos moved here and became the Nationals in 2005. Football was the constant: the team won three Super Bowls in the 1980s and early 1990s, played at RFK Stadium until 1996, and took the Commanders name in 2022.

Then came the run. The Capitals won their first Stanley Cup in 2018. In 2019, the Nationals won the World Series and the Mystics won the WNBA title. The Spirit won the NWSL championship in 2021, and D.C. United’s four MLS Cups from the league’s early years are still among the most in the league. For a city that went decades between championships, it was quite a stretch.

Taking kids to a game

Baseball is the easiest sport for families: long games you can drift in and out of, a big concourse to walk and the Presidents Race to watch for. Soccer at Audi Field is a close second, with a lively crowd and a short game. Some tips:

• Check the bag rules before packing the diaper bag. Nationals Park bans backpacks of any kind, and Audi Field caps bags at 14 by 14 by 6 inches.
• Kids ride Metro free: up to two children age 4 and under ride free with each paying adult.
• Go for a weekend afternoon game to avoid late nights, and pick seats near an aisle.
• Bring ear protection for small children at hockey, which gets very loud.

Accessibility

All of DC’s pro venues sell wheelchair-accessible and companion seating, and every Metro station has elevators. The easiest venue for anyone with limited mobility is Capital One Arena, which is directly above its station. Nationals Park is a short, flat walk from its station. Audi Field and CareFirst Arena involve longer walks, and Northwest Stadium is the hardest to reach without a car. Contact the team’s ticket office for accessible seating and drop-off points.

A sports weekend, planned

A spring Saturday: baseball and the Navy Yard

Spend the morning at the International Spy Museum at L’Enfant Plaza, then ride two stops on the Green line to Navy Yard for lunch by the river. Catch a Nationals afternoon game, or a Spirit or D.C. United match at Audi Field that evening, and finish with a beer at Bluejacket. Everything is within a mile, and the Metro gets you home.

A winter weeknight: museums and hockey

Spend the afternoon at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, eat an early dinner in Penn Quarter, and walk a block to Capital One Arena for a Capitals game at 7pm. You’re back on the Metro directly under the arena by 10pm. Swap in the National Building Museum if it’s Thursday to Monday.

A summer evening: a run, a ballgame, a nightcap

Run the National Mall at dawn before the heat, spend the middle of the day in an air-conditioned museum, and head to an evening Nationals or Mystics game once it cools off. Navy Yard’s beer gardens stay busy after the last out.

A fall Sunday: football in Landover

For a 1pm Commanders kickoff, leave downtown by about 10:30am on the Blue or Silver line to Morgan Boulevard, allow 20 minutes for the walk, and plan on getting back to the city in the early evening. Pack a clear bag and layers for the cold.

What’s changed in Washington DC sports

As of September 2026, here’s what older guides get wrong:

• RFK Stadium is gone. Demolition began in 2025, and the Commanders’ new stadium is due on the site in 2030.
• The football stadium has a new name. FedExField has been Northwest Stadium since 2024.
• Capital One Arena is being renovated through 2027 after the plan to move the Capitals and Wizards to Alexandria fell through.
• The Mystics’ arena was renamed: the Entertainment and Sports Arena is now CareFirst Arena.
• The tennis tournament has a new name: the Citi Open became the Mubadala Citi DC Open and is now billed as the Mubadala DC Open.
• East Potomac Golf Links closed in May 2026 for a federal renovation.
• Baseball’s labor deal expires December 1, 2026, and a lockout could affect the start of the 2027 season.
• The WNBA signed a new seven-year labor deal in March 2026.

What to skip

• Don’t drive to Nationals Park or Capital One Arena. Parking is expensive and the Metro stops at the door.
• Don’t buy from the first resale site in your search results. Start with the team’s own site.
• Don’t bring a backpack to Nationals Park. Even clear ones are turned away.
• Don’t book a spring 2027 trip around a Nationals game until baseball’s labor talks are settled.
• Don’t try to see the Commanders on a tight schedule. The trip to Landover and back takes most of a day.
• Don’t plan a round at East Potomac without checking whether it has reopened.

Washington DC sports FAQ

What pro sports teams are in Washington DC?

The Nationals (MLB), Capitals (NHL), Wizards (NBA), Mystics (WNBA), Commanders (NFL), D.C. United (MLS), Washington Spirit (NWSL) and DC Defenders (UFL spring football). All play in DC except the Commanders, whose stadium is in Landover, Maryland, until a new stadium on the RFK site opens, targeted for 2030.

Who plays at Capital One Arena?

The Capitals (NHL) and Wizards (NBA) play at Capital One Arena, along with Georgetown’s men’s basketball team and a few Mystics games. Monumental Sports & Entertainment runs the arena and owns the three pro teams. It sits directly above Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station and is mid-renovation through 2027, with games continuing.

What is the best game to see in DC as a tourist?

A Nationals baseball game is the easiest: 81 home games from late March to late September, plenty of seats, and a ballpark a block from Navy Yard-Ballpark station. In winter, a Capitals hockey game at Capital One Arena is the best atmosphere, and a Washington Spirit soccer game at Audi Field is a great family night.

Where do the Commanders play?

At Northwest Stadium, formerly FedExField, in Landover, Maryland. The nearest Metro station is Morgan Boulevard (Blue and Silver lines), about a 20-minute walk. A new stadium on the old RFK Stadium site in Northeast DC is targeted to open in 2030.

Can you take the Metro to Nationals Park?

Yes. Navy Yard-Ballpark station on the Green line is about a block from the ballpark’s gates. The Yellow line doesn’t go there, so change to the Green line at L’Enfant Plaza or Gallery Place. After the game, walking 15 to 20 minutes to Waterfront or Capitol South station can beat the crowd.

When is baseball season in DC?

The Nationals play from late March or early April to late September, with 81 home games. For 2027, check before you book: baseball’s labor contract expires December 1, 2026, and a lockout could delay the start of the season, as the last one did in 2022.

What sports can I see in DC in winter?

Hockey and basketball. The Capitals and Wizards play at Capital One Arena from October to April, and Georgetown’s basketball team plays there from November to March. The Commanders play in Landover through the fall and into January.

Can I play golf in Washington DC?

Yes, at two public courses run by National Links Trust: Langston Golf Course in Northeast DC and Rock Creek Park Golf Course. East Potomac Golf Links, the third, closed in May 2026 for a federal renovation, and no reopening date had been confirmed as of September 2026.

Related Washington DC Guides

• DC Nightlife: sports bars, beer gardens and where to go after the game.
• Washington DC Neighborhoods: Navy Yard, Chinatown and the other areas around the venues.
• Theaters in Washington DC: concerts and shows for the nights without a game.

Sources and How We Checked

We checked seasons, venues, bag rules and construction timelines on this page on September 24, 2026, against the teams’ and venues’ own sites and recent news reports, and compiled the page from them. We didn’t attend games for this page, and we don’t claim to have.

• Washington Nationals: Nationals Park
• Washington Spirit: matchday guide for Audi Field
• Washington Mystics: 2026 schedule
• Washington Commanders: new stadium
• Mubadala DC Open: event information
• National Links Trust
• WMATA: fares and service

We also used Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s renovation announcements for Capital One Arena, the WNBA’s announcement of its new labor agreement, reporting on MLB’s labor talks and the East Potomac agreement (Golf Digest, WTOP), and Capital Bikeshare’s and the Marine Corps Marathon’s own sites.

Washington DC Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with Destination DC, the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution or any attraction listed here, and no one paid to be included.

Photo Credits

• Nationals Park at night: photo by Something Original (talk), via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• Audi Field: photo by Rainclaw7, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• CareFirst Arena (Entertainment and Sports Arena): photo by Antony-22, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• Stadium in Landover, Maryland: photo by Staff Sgt. Patrick Evenson, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
• Capital One Arena: photo by APK, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
• DC Open stadium court, Rock Creek Park: photo by Hameltion, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• East Potomac Golf Course: photo by Tim Evanson, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
• Langston Golf Course: photo by Farragutful, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• RFK Stadium in 2015: photo by Duane Lempke, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0)