Capital One Arena fans can claim cash from $4.5M settlement
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Capital One Arena. Photo: Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Check your inbox: Thousands of Capital One Arena customers may be eligible for a payout from a $4.5 million settlement over a 3% "venue fee" tacked onto concessions.
Why it matters: The multimillion-dollar deal raises the stakes in D.C.'s long-running fight over mandatory fees and how they're disclosed.
Driving the news: Settlement notices began landing in customers' inboxes Tuesday — just before the Capitals' home opener Wednesday — telling them they can submit claims for a share of the money.
- The settlement covers people who bought food or drinks from Aramark-operated concessions at the arena and paid the fee between Oct. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2025.
Catch up quick: Consumer advocacy group Travelers United sued Aramark last November, alleging the concession operator advertised one price on arena menus, then added a mandatory 3% fee at checkout.
- The lawsuit called it a deceptive "junk fee" that violated D.C.'s Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
- Photos in the complaint show concession menus without the surcharge listed and checkout screens displaying a separate "3% Venue Fee."
- Clicking an information icon at checkout revealed that the fee covered "ongoing maintenance and administrative costs" and was not a tip or gratuity for employees.
The other side: Aramark denies wrongdoing and says it settled to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation, according to the agreement.
- Monumental Sports & Entertainment "was not a party to this lawsuit" and is deferring to Aramark on the settlement and its terms, a spokesperson tells Axios.
- Aramark, which continues to operate concessions at the arena, didn't respond to a request for comment.
Zoom out: Travelers United has challenged other D.C. businesses over similar fees.
- It sued Clyde's Restaurant Group over a 3.75% surcharge in 2023; the restaurant group later dropped the fee.
Follow the money: Aramark agreed to put $4.5 million into a settlement fund, which will also cover court-approved attorneys' fees, administrative expenses and a potential award to the named plaintiff.
- Class attorneys can seek up to one-third of the fund — about $1.5 million — plus expenses.
- Whatever remains for consumers will be split evenly among people who submit valid claims, so the size of each payout depends on how many people file.
How it works: If you paid the fee during the eligible period, you can file an online claim by Dec. 4.
- You don't need to dig through your junk drawer for an old beer receipt: The claim form asks customers to certify that they made an eligible purchase and paid the fee. Claims may be checked against Aramark's records.
- Payments can come by Venmo, PayPal, direct deposit or check.
What's next: The settlement has received preliminary court approval, but a judge still must give it final approval before payments go out.
- A fairness hearing is scheduled for Jan. 15.
- Customers can also opt out of or object to the settlement by Dec. 4.