1. Citi Open
#1 Sports Event (up from #2)
The 2018 tournament marked 50 years of professional tennis in Washington, and to celebrate the milestone, legends like Jimmy Connors attended a reception held on-site at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Title sponsor Citibank commissioned a custom mural in honor of the anniversary, while the tournament introduced new dining options with a Food Truck Alley. Spectatorship rose from last year, peaking at 74,000 spectators throughout the nine-day tournament to see players like Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Sloane Stephens, Kei Nishikori, and Naomi Osaka in the draw. Rising star Alexander Zverev successfully defended his 2017 Citi Open championship title, while two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova won her first WTA tour title since undergoing wrist surgery. Next: July 27-August 4, 2019
The 2018 tournament marked 50 years of professional tennis in Washington, and to celebrate the milestone, legends like Jimmy Connors attended a reception held on-site at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Title sponsor Citibank commissioned a custom mural in honor of the anniversary, while the tournament introduced new dining options with a Food Truck Alley. Spectatorship rose from last year, peaking at 74,000 spectators throughout the nine-day tournament to see players like Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Sloane Stephens, Kei Nishikori, and Naomi Osaka in the draw. Rising star Alexander Zverev successfully defended his 2017 Citi Open championship title, while two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova won her first WTA tour title since undergoing wrist surgery. Next: July 27-August 4, 2019
Photo: Courtesy of Citi Open
2. Preakness Stakes
#2 Sports Event
Racing fans in 2018 celebrated a Triple Crown win for Justify, whose road to the historic title included a win at Preakness Stakes' foggy, muddy track. The wet weather might have deterred spectators: 134,487 came to the course in May, down from last year's more than 140,000 attendees. This ended a four-year stretch of record-breaking attendance, but the 2018 race still proved to be the third-largest crowd in Preakness history. Television ratings went up slightly over last year, and it ranked as the weekend's most-watched sporting event. Preakness Village added new glass chalets instead of vinyl tents for its luxury accommodations. Meanwhile, Under Armor skipped out this year as a Preakness party sponsor, choosing not to host a finish-line hospitality tent. Next: May 18, 2019
Racing fans in 2018 celebrated a Triple Crown win for Justify, whose road to the historic title included a win at Preakness Stakes' foggy, muddy track. The wet weather might have deterred spectators: 134,487 came to the course in May, down from last year's more than 140,000 attendees. This ended a four-year stretch of record-breaking attendance, but the 2018 race still proved to be the third-largest crowd in Preakness history. Television ratings went up slightly over last year, and it ranked as the weekend's most-watched sporting event. Preakness Village added new glass chalets instead of vinyl tents for its luxury accommodations. Meanwhile, Under Armor skipped out this year as a Preakness party sponsor, choosing not to host a finish-line hospitality tent. Next: May 18, 2019
Photo: Jon Kral
3. Marine Corps Marathon
#3 Sports Event
Washington resident Jeffrey Stein led a pack of 20,700 finishers and won the 43rd Marine Corps Marathon. The top female finisher was Jenny Mendez of Costa Rica, who logged her second MCM victory. Runners hailed from 64 countries, including 14 countries newly represented in 2019. The race on October 28 began with a skydive presented by Leidos and a Marine Corps Osprey flyover. The weekend included the MCM Health & Fitness Expo presented by Cigna, with a lineup of speakers for the MCM Runners Conference, all held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. The marathon's efforts to go green included new "water monsters" or self-serve water stations. Next: October 27, 2019
Washington resident Jeffrey Stein led a pack of 20,700 finishers and won the 43rd Marine Corps Marathon. The top female finisher was Jenny Mendez of Costa Rica, who logged her second MCM victory. Runners hailed from 64 countries, including 14 countries newly represented in 2019. The race on October 28 began with a skydive presented by Leidos and a Marine Corps Osprey flyover. The weekend included the MCM Health & Fitness Expo presented by Cigna, with a lineup of speakers for the MCM Runners Conference, all held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. The marathon's efforts to go green included new "water monsters" or self-serve water stations. Next: October 27, 2019
Photo: Courtesy of Marine Corps Marathon
4. Congressional Baseball Game for Charity
#4 Sports Event (up from #7)
For the second year in a row, this long-standing bipartisan tradition raised more than $1 million for local charities. The game marked the return of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who was among those injured in 2017 after a gunman opened fire at a Republican practice right before that year's matchup. In years prior to the shooting, around 10,000 fans typically attended the game, but the event’s outpouring of support after 2017's shooting continued this year, drawing 21,000 fans to Nationals Park. At this year's game, Scalise started at second base and made the first out of the game. The Democrats won the game 21-5. Next: June 2019
For the second year in a row, this long-standing bipartisan tradition raised more than $1 million for local charities. The game marked the return of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who was among those injured in 2017 after a gunman opened fire at a Republican practice right before that year's matchup. In years prior to the shooting, around 10,000 fans typically attended the game, but the event’s outpouring of support after 2017's shooting continued this year, drawing 21,000 fans to Nationals Park. At this year's game, Scalise started at second base and made the first out of the game. The Democrats won the game 21-5. Next: June 2019
Photo: Paul Kim/Washington Nationals
5. Military Bowl
#5 Sports Event (up from #6)
The 2017 Military Bowl celebrated the game's 10th anniversary as Navy beat Virginia, 49-7, before a sellout crowd of 35,921. It was the third sellout in the five years that the game has been played in Annapolis. For the eighth consecutive year, the Military Bowl donated at least $100,000 to the U.S.O. and provided complimentary tickets for service members. The Military Bowl Parade before the game featured the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, as well as marching bands, cheerleaders, youth groups, military groups, and community groups, in addition to 13 Medal of Honor Recipients. Next: December 31, 2018
The 2017 Military Bowl celebrated the game's 10th anniversary as Navy beat Virginia, 49-7, before a sellout crowd of 35,921. It was the third sellout in the five years that the game has been played in Annapolis. For the eighth consecutive year, the Military Bowl donated at least $100,000 to the U.S.O. and provided complimentary tickets for service members. The Military Bowl Parade before the game featured the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, as well as marching bands, cheerleaders, youth groups, military groups, and community groups, in addition to 13 Medal of Honor Recipients. Next: December 31, 2018
Photo:Â Marcus Summers Photography
6. Armed Forces Cycling Classic
#6 Sports Event (new to the list)
Part of the USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar, the Armed Forces Cycling Classic stages races for the nation's top pro men and women, along with races for amateurs of all abilities. The race, now in its 21st year, takes over Arlington: it features the Clarendon Cup, Challenge Ride, Crystal City Cup, and Kids Races on both days. The Clarendon Cup is known as one of the nation’s most difficult criterium races in terms of the technical demands of the course and the competition of racers. In 2018, the Boeing Company served as presenting sponsor for the Armed Forces Cycling Classic, along with supporting sponsors Lockheed Martin, Navy Federal Credit Union, Warner Construction Consultants, Clark Construction, Thales, Altamira, and Crystal City. Next: Summer 2019
Part of the USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar, the Armed Forces Cycling Classic stages races for the nation's top pro men and women, along with races for amateurs of all abilities. The race, now in its 21st year, takes over Arlington: it features the Clarendon Cup, Challenge Ride, Crystal City Cup, and Kids Races on both days. The Clarendon Cup is known as one of the nation’s most difficult criterium races in terms of the technical demands of the course and the competition of racers. In 2018, the Boeing Company served as presenting sponsor for the Armed Forces Cycling Classic, along with supporting sponsors Lockheed Martin, Navy Federal Credit Union, Warner Construction Consultants, Clark Construction, Thales, Altamira, and Crystal City. Next: Summer 2019
Photo:Â Wild Light Photos
