Massive Road Closures For Caps Games In Downtown

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Washington Capitals will be playing at Capital One Arena on Saturday and Monday nights, but these will be no ordinary home games. Expecting massive crowds, D.C. officials have opted to shut down or place traffic restrictions on a large section of downtown before and during games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

D.C. has declared a large section of downtown ranging from Eye Street to the north to Pennsylvania Avenue to the south, and from 9th Street to 3rd Street east-west, to be a "restricted traffic area" on June 2 and 4, meaning that for-hire vehicles like Uber and Lyft will not be allowed to pick up fares. Much of the rest of the area will be declared emergency no-parking zones, and a few roads around the arena will be totally closed.

D.C. police may entirely close 7th Street NW from Eye Street down to Constitution Avenue based on pedestrian activity.

Considering the huge crowds that showed up to pack Capital One Arena for watch parties on games 1 and 2, and the large crowds that gathered outside, an actual home game is expected to draw even bigger crowds.

"To maintain a safe and enjoyable experience for District residents, commuters, visitors, and businesses around the Stanley Cup Final in the #SportsCapital, the Bowser Administration has coordinated service and logistical operations across multiple District agencies, with updates and modifications listed below," Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement.

The restrictions will also be in place for Game 6 on Sunday, June 10 "if the Capitals have not beat the Golden Knights by then," the statement adds. The series is currently tied 1-1. Another win by both the Capitals and Vegas would force a Game 6.

The statement lists the following restrictions:

In order to facilitate this event, there will be no vehicular traffic in the blocks around the Capital One Arena listed below. The closures began on May 29 at 11 pm and will stay in place until approximately 3 pm on June 11:

F Street, NW from 5th Street to 7th Street, NW
6th Street, NW from E Street to H Street, NW (accessible only to local residents and monthly parking pass holders)
G Street, NW between 5th Street and 6th Street (accessible only to local residents and monthly parking pass holders)

Traffic Restrictions for Home Games:

On Saturday, June 2, the following streets will be closed:

G Street from 7th Street – 9th Street, NW (6 am – 11 pm)
8th Street from G Street to H Street, NW (6 am – 11 pm)
F Street from 7th Street – 9th Street, NW (3:30 pm – 11 pm)
8th Street from E Street to F Street, NW (3:30 pm – 11 pm)
7th Street from E Street to H Street, NW (3:30 pm – midnight)

For all subsequent home games, the above street closures will be in effect from 3:30 pm until midnight.
Parking Restrictions for Home Games:

From 6 am until midnight:

No parking on G Street, NW between 7th Street and 9th Street
No parking on F Street, NW between 7th Street and 9th Street

From 4 pm until four hours after the game ends:

No parking will be allowed within the following perimeter: Pennsylvania Avenue to the south, I Street, NW to the north, 3rd Street to the east, and 9th Street to the west

Image via Mayor Bowser's office