United Airlines Partners with Monumental Sports

Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) has announced United Airlines as the organization’s Official Global Airline Partner. This is a first-of-its-kind title within MSE, and it includes branding and integration opportunities with the NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals, WNBA’s Washington Mystics, Capital One Arena, and Monumental Sports Network (MNMT).

United is the world's largest airline, measured by available seat miles, and the largest carrier in the D.C. metropolitan area. It operates from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), which is one of its seven domestic hubs. The airline employs nearly 8,000 people in the D.C. area and is planning to open a new 400,000-square-foot concourse at Dulles in 2026.

The multi-year, exclusive relationship will span the entire MSE enterprise and help enhance the fan experience in the community. It will also include unique fan activations, such as VIP experiences through United’s MileagePlus Exclusives.

"As we begin to introduce the marquee brands who will join us in shaping the transformation of Capital One Arena into a state-of-the-art entertainment destination, we warmly welcome United Airlines as a founding partner,” said Ted Leonsis, Founder, Chairman, Managing Partner, and CEO at Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “This new collaboration not only links two iconic brands but underscores our shared commitment to connecting people worldwide and enhancing the customer experience – whether in the air, in the arena, or anywhere in between.” 

As part of the deal, MSE also named United the first Founding Partner in the transformation of Capital One Arena. MSE announced an agreement with the District of Columbia in March to completely modernize Capital One Arena and create a revitalized entertainment destination in Downtown D.C.  

“Whether in the skies or on the ground, United’s commitment across the D.C. region runs deep, and we’re thrilled to be the Founding Partner of this exciting transformation to further the District as a world-class sports and entertainment destination for Washingtonians and visitors alike,” said United Airlines President Brett Hart.

“Beyond rooting for the beloved home teams on the court and ice, our partnering with Monumental Sports & Entertainment also unites us in our shared values of deepening community giving, outreach and investment across the Greater Washington region.”  

This integrated multimedia arrangement with Monumental Sports & Entertainment empowers United to engage in a variety of programs that enhance its connection to the global marketplace of Washington, D.C. Through this unique agreement, United can leverage media through MSE’s teams in the NBA, NHL, and WNBA, ensuring an elevated presence in several of the world’s most popular sports leagues including NBA International Team Marketing sponsorship rights for the Washington Wizards. United will also be prominently featured in the current building and the ultra-modernized arena, representing an iconic hub of sports and entertainment in the nation’s capital serving nearly 8 million residents in the Greater Washington region.  

United’s Presence in the D.C. Metro Area 

United has called Washington Dulles International Airport home for nearly four decades serving as a gateway between the nation’s capital and the rest of the world. United offers more than 240 daily flights to almost 100 destinations worldwide, including over a dozen world capitals. 

While United connects the region to the world, its nearly 8,000 D.C. area employees are pillars in the local communities. Year-round United teams volunteer to pack meals for local nonprofits, mentor area students about the breadth of aviation career opportunities, and help raise funds for various local organizations, including nearly $4 million to Washington area non-profits, partners, and organizations in 2023. This new deal between United and MSE will create even more opportunities for the organizations to strengthen their community giving and involvement across the D.C. area.