If you bought concessions at Capital One Arena last year, you could be entitled to a share of a $4.5 million settlement over a tucked-away “venue fee.”
The settlement stems from a lawsuit filed last November accusing Aramark, which manages most of the arena’s restaurants, of “systematically cheating” customers by charging a 3% venue fee not displayed on menus, in violation of D.C.’s consumer protection laws. The lawsuit was filed by Travelers United, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group based in the District.
“Travelers United brought this case because consumers should know the real price of what they are buying,” Lauren Wolfe, Travelers United lead counsel, told The Washington Sun. “Travelers United does not believe consumers should be subject to hidden fees.”
Photos presented in the lawsuit showed that customers could see details about the fee during the concessions check-out process only if they clicked a small information button. The resulting pop-up said the fee was added to all transactions for “ongoing maintenance and administrative costs” and that it was “not a tip or gratuity, and no portion of the venue fee is distributed to the team members serving our guests.”
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Aramark denied any wrongdoing and settled the class action in order to avoid ongoing litigation costs, distractions from daily business operations and the uncertainty of litigation, according to the settlement.
Customers who purchased food or beverages from Aramark-operated vendors at the arena between Oct. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2025, could be entitled to compensation and can file a claim online. The deadline to file a claim is Dec. 4.
Aramark didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns and operates the arena, didn’t respond to a request for comment.
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