Attendee Information

Graduates who are academically and financially cleared for participation by the University and participating faculty may enter the venue without a ticket only if they are in full academic regalia. 

Graduates and Faculty Entry: 

Graduates and faculty should enter Capital One Arena through the G Street Alley/ Gallery Place Entrance (Entrance #5 on the exterior map) located next to Clyde’s Restaurant. 703 7th Street, NW is the adjacent address.  

Volunteer Entry: 

Howard University staff that have signed up to volunteer will enter through the Admin Entrance (#1 on the map, located at 7th and G Streets, NW, next to the Signature Club). 

Staff Entry: 

Only staff who are credentialed to work the ceremony in an official capacity may utilize the staff entrance during their designated arrival time and entrance. Staff should enter through the Employee Entrance (#7 on the map, located on 6th Street between F & G Streets, NW). 

All other Howard University students, faculty and staff must have a ticket to be admitted to the Capital One Arena. 

The 156th Commencement will celebrate the largest graduating class yet at Howard University. Each graduate received five (5) tickets for guests.

No. Due to limited space, all guests will be offered general admission seating; available on a first-come first-served basis. Please do not leave empty seats as you take your seat in the arena.

No. All graduates, faculty, and guests must report directly to the Capital One Arena for the commencement convocation. Please do not report to campus first. Howard University will not be providing transportation for graduates, faculty, staff, or guests from The Yard to Capital One Arena. 

All commencement participants (faculty, staff, and prospective graduates) should report directly to Capital One Arena, located at G Street Alley entrance (midway on Seventh Street NW, between F and G Streets NW), to be seated.  

Graduates must arrive at the Capital One Arena by 7 a.m. Arena doors will open to all guests at 7:30 a.m. The processional will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. We cannot guarantee that graduates will process with their school or college if they arrive after 8:00 a.m. 

Arena doors will open to all guests at 7:30 a.m. The processional will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. 

Guests attending the Commencement Convocation must enter through the doors on F Street NW, between 6th and 7th Streets NW. Guests MUST have a ticket to enter the arena. 

No. The University will not offer satellite viewing locations on campus for the event. 

We encourage everyone to consider available options for public transportation, taxi, or ride-share service to avoid traffic delays which may impact your ability to enter the venue. Details on transportation directly to the arena are available here.  

The Commencement ceremony will be livestreamed and will air live on WHUR 96.3 FM and WHUT-TV, Howard University’s public broadcast channel. The ceremony will be rebroadcast at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 12. 

Please note the following details for arena access:   

For faculty and graduates in full academic regalia:
Gallery Place Entrance: G Street Alley entrance (on 7th Street NW; midway between G and F Streets NW) 

• All graduates and faculty must be in full academic regalia to enter.   
• Upon arrival, graduates will be directed to the appropriate section to gather and be seated prior to the processional. 
• Faculty will be directed to their assembly location.  
• Due to space constraints, all graduate meet-ups will take place outside of the facility immediately following the recessional. The recessional will lead graduates out of the arena to 6th Street and families are encouraged to meet the graduates outside of the building on F Street at the close of the commencement ceremony. 

For guests and non-participating faculty and staff: Main entrance: 601 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20004   

• Tickets will be required at this point. 

Capital One Arena partners with SpotHero to provide access to nearby parking lots and garages within easy walking distance of Capital One Arena. Once purchased, parking passes are emailed instantly and can be printed at home or redeemed by mobile phone, and entry to your selected location is 100% guaranteed.  

• To reserve your parking spot, visit the Capital One Arena SpotHero Parking page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up.  
• To view real-time parking options and prices, click to download the SpotHero app.   

Please pay close attention to the Arena’s bag and prohibited items policies. We ask all graduates and guests to specifically note the section on allowed cameras and filming equipment. Balloons and large umbrellas are also prohibited, but entrants are allowed to carry small, collapsible umbrellas. 

Capital One Arena has implemented a strict no bag policy. Bags, backpacks, and purses will not be permitted inside the arena. Only wallet-size clutches, no larger than 5” x 7”, will be permitted into the arena. 
 
Small medical and parenting bags will be permitted on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to increased security screening. If you are bringing a medical or parenting bag, please use the entrance on the corner of 6th and F Street. 
  
Prohibited Items 
Capital One Arena Management reserves the right to refuse items deemed unsafe, inappropriate, or that violate other arena policies. Prohibited items cannot be checked or stored inside the arena.  Prohibited items lists may be modified in connection with specific events. 
 
Prohibited items at Capital One Arena include, but are not limited to: 

• Weapons (guns, knives, chains, spikes, projectiles, tasers, mace/pepper spray); 
• Balloons; 
• Signs or posters larger than 8.5 x 11;
• Cans, bottles, or coolers; 
• Outside food and beverages; 
• Metal or glass reusable water bottles; 
• Illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia; 
• Laser pointers/pens; 
• Monopods, tripods, selfie sticks or poles; 
• Noisemakers such as air horns, sirens, kazoos, whistles; 
• Animals (except service animals); 
• Wrapped gifts or packages; 
• Video and audio recording devices (except cell phones and small point & shoot cameras); 
• Non-collapsible umbrellas; and 
• Any other item deemed inappropriate by Capital One Arena Management. 

Entry Inspections: 

• All guests and their belongings are subject to search prior to entry. 
• All vehicles parking within Capital One Arena’s Lexus Parking Garage are subject to search prior to entry. 
• Staff will visually conduct bag and metal detection inspections to detect prohibited items to ensure the safety of all guests. 
• Any guest who declines to be searched or is in possession of prohibited items may be denied entry. 
• Capital One Arena also recommends the following tips to help expedite entry into the venue: 
• Guests are encouraged to arrive early. 
• Please follow our event staff’s directions on which items need to be removed or divested prior to passing through magnetometers. 

Capital One Arena does allow one empty refillable water bottle per guest. This water bottle must be made of plastic. Water bottles made of hard materials such as glass or metal will not be permitted. Guests with special dietary restrictions may contact the Guest Relations department at coaguestrelations@monumentalsports.com prior to their visit for assistance.

Howard University and Capital One Arena are committed to supporting our guests requiring ADA access and assistance. You may contact Paris Adon, Howard University’s director of student services if any queries arise. 

Mobility Devices  

Howard University does not explicitly provide mobility devices to individual guests or employees for Commencement. However, Capital One Arena is happy to provide escorts/transports with wheelchairs inside the arena for guests in need.  This service can be requested at Guest Services or as you enter the building (by speaking with any Capital One Arena team member) at all entry points. (Guest services 1 is located across from section 101-102 and Guest services 2 is located across from section 401-402). 

Capital One Arena offers accessible seating in an integrated setting on all levels. Such accessible seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Prior to visiting Capital One Arena, feel free to contact Capital One’s Accessible Seating specialists at 202-661-5065 or by email at boxoffice@monumentalsports.com for additional information. 

Restrooms  

All Capital One Arena restrooms are accessible to patrons with disabilities. Capital One Arena also has family bathrooms on each level across from section 114, section 215, and section 400 (at the top of the F street escalator).   

Service Animals  

Capital One Arena welcomes guests who need a dog as a service animal when the dog has been individually trained or is in training to do work or perform tasks for the guest. Comfort animals are prohibited in Capital One Arena for Howard University’s commencement.   

Per Capital One Arena’s policy, “Guests using a service animal will be responsible for the animal’s care and supervision when present at Capital One Arena.” We recommend that the Office of Student Accessibility be notified before Commencement via email at OSS.disabilityservices@howard.edu if special accommodation is needed for service animals.   

Sign Language Interpreters  

American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters will be provided for Howard University’s Commencement ceremonies.