United Airlines is bringing its lounge concept out of the airport and into the sports arena with an ambitious new project in Washington, DC.
Inside United’s New “Globe Club” And Lounge At Capital One Arena
United Airlines is taking its lounge play beyond airports with a new in-arena concept inside Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena. The two-level United Globe Club and the more exclusive United Globe Lounge will span roughly 24,000 square feet and are slated to open this fall as part of Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s multi-year arena transformation.
“Teaming up with Monumental, we’ve designed a best-in-class fan experience — one that showcases a uniquely elevated design and culinary elements that bring the hometown-yet-global feel of the DMV to life,” said Jennifer Entenman, United’s Global Sponsorships Managing Director. “As the D.C. region’s largest airline, serving more than 100 destinations worldwide, I can confidently say the United Globe Club and Lounge will be destinations in and of themselves. Whether you’re there to catch a buzzer-beating finish or the encore of a world-class performance, the experiences will be incredible.”
United describes the spaces as VIP environments that blend aviation cues with hospitality: interactive engagement walls, original artwork, historic artifacts, and travel-inspired design elements. Culinary programs will mix game-day comfort food with locally inspired dishes and tapas-style plates, plus activation stations in collaboration with D.C. restaurants and chefs. Signature touches from United’s airport lounges will carry over, including chef-driven seasonal menus and cocktails inspired by the Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles.
What Guests Can Expect
Renderings show aviation details at the forefront. A flowing ceiling treatment and sunrise-style lighting are intended to “transport guests into the clouds,” while a suspended United Airlines model airplane is positioned above a central bar. An engagement wall will reproduce United ticket stubs tied to Monumental teams and global icons, and a feature wall built from suitcases will showcase items from the Capitals and Wizards. LED departure and arrival boards will display upcoming game schedules.
United Globe Club
The larger of the two spaces will accommodate more than 800 guests across two levels. United says the Globe Club will be roughly 30% larger than any existing hospitality area at the current arena. Capitals and Wizards VIP seat holders will have access to a new dining program here, with complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks included.
United Globe Lounge
The Globe Lounge is the ultra-premium tier, limited to about 150 guests per event. Access will be exclusive to Wizards Courtside Row AAA ticket holders and Capitals Row A seats on the glass. The design aims to immerse guests “under the stars” using motion-activated fiber optics and high-end visual installations.
Access And Timeline
United will offer MileagePlus members special access opportunities via select game ticket packages sold through MileagePlus Exclusives. A member-only executive entrance on 6th Street is planned for 2026 to provide a dedicated point of entry to the new clubs. VIP arrivals will be met by a concierge team, and programming will include show kitchens, curated food and beverage displays, and occasional chef experiences. United notes that these clubs are part of a broader effort to set a new standard for premium sports hospitality in the District.
“It is a monumental time to be a D.C. sports fan and United is thrilled to continue our journey to transform and shape the next chapter of the District’s sports and entertainment scene with the United Globe Club and Lounge,” added Entenman. “Together we set out to reimagine an enhanced in-arena experience, and we’re thrilled to create not one but two unique and unparalleled premium destinations for fans, with more excitement to come.”
CONCLUSION
With the United Globe Club and Lounge at Capital One Arena, United is extending its brand far beyond the airport, creating VIP spaces that merge aviation themes with premium sports hospitality. For D.C. sports fans, and MileagePlus members looking for unique access, these new venues look very nice…I’m not much of a sports fan anymore, but it would be fun to visit these lounges. Maybe these will give us a taste of what future airport lounges may look like, too?
should have special access for united club members as well, not all MP members
IIRC DELTA has a similar concept in ATL and maybe NY.
this is not a new lounge concept. I was just at the Delta 360 lounge at MSG and they have areas in Yankee Stadium I believe. this is also irrelevant to your blog I feel
So , in this how they spend the profits from the fees and high prices ? Junky private clubs ?
How about reducing the prices of tickets ?
I wish they invest in upgrading their bus.class cabins on their aircraft, AND give raises
to their FA’s who haven’t had a raise in 4 years; thats pathetic.
Wasn’t aware Delta had other facilities. This was new for me and I feel it is relevant for this blog.
The Delta Sky360 Lounge at Madison Square Garden is awesome. I have access with my Rangers season tickets. It’s been around for many years. Rotating, gourmet food each game, Delta branding, and even a large (but not real) tail fin of a delta plane. Only thing that’s not complimentary is alcohol, which is to be expected at a stadium.
So as a IK on a $300 Caps ticket, I don’t get access to a lounge to spend $20 on draft Bud?
or do I need to spend $500 on a “VIP ticket” (whatever that is) to get free draft Bud or 2 buck Chuck?
Hard Pass.
AA and DL also have co-branded club lounges at arenas and stadiums in hub markets. UA already does as well (United Center, Soldier Field, Levi’s Stadium come to mind) but for the most part those consist of basic branding of an existing club/suite level lounge. There’s absolutely no reciprocity for anything airline-related. This is probably going to be similar, but adopting some more of the United “brand language.”
Either way, cool to see. It’ll still require an expensive game ticket or MP Exclusives package to enter… United Club members, GS/1k, million milers, etc. need not apply!
“Signature touches from United’s airport lounges will carry over, including chef-driven seasonal menus and cocktails inspired by the Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles.”
The Polaris lounge at IAD is nice but the food selection is hardly inspiring, especially if you remember Polaris lounges when they first rolled out. There’s a lot of empty, unused space in the buffet serving area.
Delta Sky360 lounge is at quite a few ballparks these days, as well as a couple NBA arenas too. Makes sense as a marketing tactic give it’s an easy hospitality connection point and can give a bit of a teaser into the actual airport clubs.
Maybe AA can get into sponsor hospital waiting rooms given their hospital chic design scheme
Cool design and interesting but it doesn’t make Dulles any closer from this arena or less of a trailer park. You’d think United would put their money like this in a market like LAX, NYC, (sounds like DL already did though) or Chicago.
Overpriced branded nonsense.
Exactly .
Ambivalent feelings . We received corporate glass tickets. Love the Caps, and used to admire Alex Ovechkin My children were introduced ( and impressed when they were. ” smol ” . ) Unfortunately he is a friend and now a staunch supporter of Putin and his invasion of Ukraine. While I will still rock the red, and the lounge looks great, we have to make our own choices.
This isn’t a new thing in the sports world and just a branding opportunity. Many companies, including other airlines, pay for naming rights for these lounges for those with certain seats. Aside from the special entrance for MP members, there’s nothing really to connect it to the MP program, elite status, or even the United Club.