History of the Bullets

After that 1973 – 1974 season, the Capital Bullets changed their name to the Washington Bullets.

In November 1973, while waiting for the completion of their new arena in Landover, the Bullets played their home games at Cole Field House on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park. The Capital Centre (later known as the USAir/US Airways Arena) opened on December 2, 1973, with the Bullets defeating the SuperSonics. Through the mid-1990s, the Bullets still played a few games per season in Baltimore.

Established
1961

City
Chicago – Baltimore – Washington D.C.

League History
1961 – Present / National Basketball Association

Team History
1997 – Present / Washington Wizards
1974 – 1997 / Washington Bullets
1973 – 1974 / Capital Bullets
1963 – 1973 / Baltimore Bullets
1962 – 1963 / Chicago Zephyrs
1961 – 1962 / Chicago Packers

Nickname
Bullets – Heading to Baltimore where they paid tribute to the city’s first NBA team named the Bullets, who got their name because they played in an armory. The name carried over to Washington.

Championship
NBA Championships 1
1978

Arena
2018 - Present / Capital One Arena
2007 – 2017 / Verizon Center
1997 – 2006 / MCI Center
1994 – 1997 / US Airways Arena
1973 – 1993 / Capital Centre

*Baltimore*
1963 – 1973 / Baltimore Civic Center

*Chicago*
1962 – 1963 / Chicago Coliseum
1961 – 1962 / International Amphitheatre

Owner
2010 – Present / Ted Leonsis
2009 – 2010 / Estate of Abe Pollin and Ted Leonsis
1999 – 2009 / Abe Pollin and Ted Leonsis
1964 – 1999 / Abe Pollin
1961 – 1964 / David Trager

Retired Number
10 / Earl “The Pearl” Monroe
11 / Elvin Hayes
25 / Gus Johnson
41 / Wes Unseld
45 / Phil Chenier

*Blue is this team’s history