The Capital Centre (later USAir Arena and US Airways Arena) was an indoor arena in the eastern United States, located in Landover, Maryland, a suburb east of Washington, D.C. Opened in late 1973, it closed in March 2002, and was demolished that December. The seating capacity was 18,756 for basketball and 18,130 for hockey. The elevation at street level was approximately above sea level. The U.S. Census Bureau defined the land, later occupied by The Boulevard at the Capital Centre, as being in the Mitchellville census-designated place as of the 1990 U.S. Census, while in the 2000 U.S. Census the area was placed in the Lake Arbor CDP. History In 1964, Abe Pollin became the owner of the National Basketball Association's Baltimore Bullets and wanted to reconnect the sport to the DC region. In 1972, Pollin announced plans to build a $18 million multi-purpose sports arena in the Beltway of Maryland. Ground-breaking of the arena took place on August 24th of that year. The construction lasted for 15 months before the arena finally opened on December 2, 1973. It was located just outside (east) of the Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) at exit 16, less than a mile (1.6 km) southeast of FedExField, the home of the Washington Commanders of the National Football League, which opened in 1997. In 1993, the air carrier USAir purchased the naming rights for the building and the arena became known as USAir Arena. The rename was initially not popular with Washington-area residents. When the airline went through its 1996 rebranding and became US Airways, the name of the arena accordingly changed to US Airways Arena. In 1997, US Airways' naming rights deal came to an end after the now-Wizards and Capitals moved to a new arena, MCI Center (now Capital One Arena) in downtown Washington, and the arena once again became known as Capital Centre. Most TV and radio crews broadcasting from the venue referred to it by its nickname "Cap Centre." Sports venue Capital Centre was the primary home of the Washington Bullets of the NBA from 1973 to 1997, the Washington Capitals of the NHL from 1974 to 1997, and Georgetown University men's basketball from 1981 to 1997. All three teams departed for the MCI Center (now Capital One Arena), just north of the National Mall in D.C., when it opened on Tuesday, December 2. Basketball NBA Capital Centre hosted its first NBA