The Washington Commanders saw huge support from fellow DC sports teams for their home opener against the New York Giants on Sunday. The game marked the Commanders’ first at their renamed Northwest Stadium and the home debut of quarterback Jayden Daniels, the team’s second-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Washington Capitals had a large contingent at the game, days before the start of their NHL Training Camp. Alex Ovechkin attended the team’s last-second win and met with Commanders ownership, including NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
Johnson wrote on Instagram that “the home opener brought out so many incredible people” and called Ovechkin, “one of the NHL’s greatest goal scorers.”
Ovechkin posed for photos with Johnson, Commanders majority owners Josh and Marjorie Harris, Commanders owners Mark Ein and David Blitzer, Commanders legend Darrell Green, and tennis superstar Frances Tiafoe.
Johnson also posted a photo with Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
Ovechkin first met Johnson at the team’s home opener last year, where, pregame, he took the field and threw around a football. He was joined at the game by his son, Ovi Jr, his Russian Capitals teammates, and some of his close friends.
Last summer in Russia, Ovechkin admitted he had become a huge fan of football.
“When I first came [to DC], I did not understand what baseball, American football is,” Ovechkin said, as translated by Google Translate. ”It took me five to six years to understand at least some rules. And now I really love going to games, I love watching matches. It’s really exciting. They are just machines. They run very fast.”
He added, “I especially love it when we come with a big group before the start of the game kebabs, burgers. They love to do it all.”
Other Capitals who posted publicly they were at Sunday’s game included Connor McMichael, Ethan Bear, Ivan Miroshnichenko, and Martin Fehervary.
“Hey, Commanders fans. Me and Ethan here, ready to go. Let’s go Commanders!” McMichael said on an Instagram Story video posted by the NFL team.
Miroshnichenko even took a photo with Caps’ fan Chris W.
The Capitals’ players saw an exciting game. Newly signed kicker Austin Seibert kicked a franchise-record seven field goals, including a last-second 30-yard dagger, to give the Commanders the victory over their NFC East rival.
Players from DC United (Lucas Bartlett and Mateusz Klich) and the Washington Wizards (Saddiq Bey) made it out to Northwest Stadium. New York Knicks guard and Silver Spring, Maryland native, Josh Hart, was also in attendance.
