Caps Fans Will Get Late Night Metro Service For Game 4

UPDATE 1:59 p.m.: As it turns out, there will be late night Metro service for Game 4 of the Washington Capitals-Tampa Bay Lightning series, thanks to the government of Qatar and the Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District.

Metro announces extended late-night service for Capitals Game 4, sponsored by @DowntownDCBID | Info: https://t.co/xjyRx0vZ9q #wmata #ALLCAPS
— Metro (@wmata) May 17, 2018

Original story:

WASHINGTON, DC -- Unfortunately, the government of Qatar is not going to step in after all to help people get home from Thursday night's Washington Capitals playoff game at Capital One Arena.

WMATA allowed Exelon, the owner of local utility Pepco, to pony up the $100,000 to keep Metro open an hour later than the usual 11:30 p.m. close time on Tuesday so Caps fans could get home. But a deal that would involve the Qatar government picking up the tab on Thursday apparently fell through.

NBC Washington transportation reporter Adam Tuss tweeted that Metro's deal with the country of Qatar was off, and no money had exchanged hands.

Metro confirmed there would be no extended service Thursday, so Caps fans who don't hurry out of the arena will be left stranded.

Heading to #Caps Game 4 (Thursday night)? Please note that, unfortunately, there is no sponsorship/funding agreement to extend Metrorail service later than regular closing time. Please take note of last train times from Gallery Place Station #wmata pic.twitter.com/HHFeoalKlo
— Metro (@wmata) May 16, 2018

Tuesday's game ended at around 11 p.m., which means if Thursday's game ends in regulation, fans will have just 30 minutes to get from their seats to the Metro.

The fact that Metro was unable to get fans home from a major sporting event in downtown without money from foreign governments or private corporations did not sit well with customers.

"Hilariously bush league," wrote @PeterJM831.

"Man, even I'm not as despised as you," joked local radio host Chad Dukes.

"It’s wild that it would have taken only 100k to save them from this PR disaster, and they still chose not to provide this service," added @pollywrx. "No wonder everybody in DC would rather pay uber prices than ride your system."

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)