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PR26-0585 • 2025

Arena Safety Conformity Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

Arena Safety Conformity Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Pinto
Last action
2026-04-10
Official status
Approved
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the consequences of breaking the new rules or how long these emergency measures will remain in place.

Arena Safety Rules for Emergencies

This resolution declares an emergency to update safety rules at the Downtown Arena and Southeast Arena, making them consistent with other sports venues in Washington D.C.

What This Bill Does

  • Declares that there is an emergency situation regarding safety at two arenas.
  • Adds the Downtown Arena (Capital One Arena) and Southeast Arena (CareFirst Arena) to existing laws about unauthorized entry onto playing surfaces.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who attend events at the Downtown Arena and Southeast Arena
  • Sports teams that play games at these arenas

Terms To Know

Emergency Declaration
A statement by a government body saying there is an urgent situation that needs quick action.
Unauthorized Entry
Going somewhere without permission, like running onto a sports field during a game.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution does not specify what happens if someone breaks the new rules.
  • It is unclear how long these emergency safety measures will stay in place.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-10 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Resolution R26-0374, Effective from Mar 31, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 005890

  2. 2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  3. 2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  4. 2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Approved with Resolution Number R26-0374

  5. 2026-03-30 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    PR26-0585 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Arena Safety Conformity Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

1

A RESOLUTION

26-374

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

March 31, 2026

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Robert F.
Kennedy Memorial Stadium and the District of Columbia National Guard Armory Public
Safety Act to include the Downtown Arena and the Southeast Arena in the prohibition on
unauthorized entry onto a playing surface.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Arena Safety Conformity Emergency Declaration Resolution of
2026”.

Sec. 2. Emergency legislation is necessary to prevent unauthorized individuals from
entering a playing surface at both the Downtown Arena, commonly known as the Capital One
Arena, and the Southeast Arena, commonly known as the CareFirst Arena. On Saturday,
February 28, 2026, a fan ran onto the court of the Downtown Arena during a Wizards game and
disrupted play. Under District law, it is illegal to run onto the playing field at RFK Stadium,
Nationals Park, and Audi Field; however, there is no such law that applies to the Downtown
Arena or Southeast Arena. This legislation is necessary to make the law consistent across all
professional sports venues in the District.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Arena
Safety Conformity Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 be adopted after a single reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.