We have some good news for those of you who have expressed an interest in being able to hear the game broadcasts during home games at Verizon Center. During Tuesday night’s game against Nashville, we ran our final test of our new low-power FM transmitter in the arena bowl, and I’m happy to report that the test was a huge success. We’ve managed to install a transmitter in the rafters that will enable fans to hear the radio play-by-play of the game without a time delay. Starting December 28 against the New York Rangers, you can bring your FM radio to the game and hear the call of the action in your seats. There is no delay to the signal, unlike our internet stream that can sometimes lag behind.
The games can be found on our new FM frequency, at 87.9 FM within the walls of Verizon Center. The signal can be heard within the bowl itself; although out in the concourse it’s likely you will have trouble picking it up on your radio. But the concourses are already covered with our feed via the closed circuit TV monitors, so hopefully that won’t be a huge issue for you. The transmitter is located slightly west of center ice (very close to Wes Unseld’s banner) and in our tests, we believe nearly every corner of the arena bowl can get the signal.
In addition, the signal at 87.9 FM can also be used during Wizards games to hear my good friend Dave Johnson call the action. You’ll be able to hear Dave in the arena as well, starting Monday against New Jersey.
We’d love to hear your feedback about the transmitter moving forward. I hope for both the Capitals and Wizards, having the play-by-play available in your seat makes going to games an even better experience. My thanks to Gordon Armstrong at Verizon Center for doing the heavy lifting to make this happen for us.
This is wonderful news! Can’t wait to try it next week. Thanks!
Awesomesauce!
Now… the question du jour: is there an app for that?
Gotta find an FM radio app for my iPhone!
There is a solid radio app called TuneIn Radio. It’s definitely available for iOS devices if not other mobile platforms.
Thanks for the heads up on TuneIn Radio. Will throw up a post about that to let everyone know.
TuneIn Radio is free in the App Store.
Tune in Radio is NOT an FM app. If your phone doesnt have an FM radio built in (usually requires you to wear headphones), you can’t use it as an FM radio. Tune in Radio just provides access to radio feeds from the internet. It will be significantly delayed.
Note that what is needed is a real FM radio. Most smart phones have FM radio capability built right in, as long as headphones are plugged in to provide an antenna. Internet stuff, which is not frequency-based but packet-based will not get rid of the delay. And AM radio does not get into the building so well, which is why even if WFED had no delay, it is not useful to try to hear that inside the Verizon Center.
You’re right, hopefully most phones can get it directly without the app. Thanks for the clarification.
Great news! Next step please… FM broadcast at least as far out as Warrenton, VA! Come on… You can make it happen! Lots of CAPS Fans out here!
That’s terrific news! Back in days of Capital Centre, arrangements would be made at the start of most seasons to carry Ron Weber’s play by play in the arena! We attended every game in those days, and both carried radios. (1500 AM carried the games then as now, but the signal was MUCH stronger when the station was WTOP.) I was hoping that the powers that be would realize that hearing the radio in the arena, especially when unusual things happen, would add to the fan experience. It will definitely encourage me to attend more games.