Capital One Arena settlement: $4.5M venue fee fund, due Dec 4

What the Capital One Arena settlement is about

The case is Alexander Garner v. Aramark Management Services LP, No. 2025 CAB 007444, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Civil Division. Aramark runs the food and beverage concessions at Capital One Arena. The lawsuit says Aramark added a 3% venue fee to food and beverage purchases there, allegedly without disclosing it, in violation of the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act.

Aramark denies any wrongdoing, fault or liability, and the court has not decided the case for either side. The "Capital One" in the name is the arena's naming sponsor; this is not a Capital One bank case, which we cover separately in our Capital One settlement post. Fee cases like this one are explained in our hidden fee settlements guide.

Who qualifies for the Capital One Arena settlement

The class is individuals in the United States who made a purchase from Aramark at Capital One Arena and paid a venue fee between October 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025. Only that arena is covered. Purchases elsewhere, even from Aramark, are not part of this class.

The notice is sent to people the administrator can identify, and ClaimDepot reports that the claim needs the claim ID printed on it. If you think you bought concessions during the window but have no notice, call the administrator at (844) 659-2531 or use the contact options on the settlement site. The paper claim form can also be downloaded from the site. See claim ID vs. notice ID for general tips.

How much you could get

There is no per-person figure. Each valid claimant gets a pro rata share of the net settlement fund: the $4,500,000 minus court-approved costs, attorneys' fees and expenses, and any service award. The more valid claims come in, the smaller each payment. Administration is expected to cost about $74,985, and class lawyers will ask for up to one-third of the fund, plus expenses, and a service award of up to $5,000 for the named plaintiff. Anything left after claims goes to a nonprofit, Public Justice.

Because a 3% fee on a typical concession order is small, expect a modest check rather than a windfall. See why settlement checks are so small and the guide to no-proof settlements.

How to file a Capital One Arena settlement claim

You can file online or download a paper form from VenueFeeSettlement.com and mail it. It costs nothing, and you submit the claim yourself. Payment can be by Venmo, PayPal, direct deposit, Zelle or paper check. More general steps are in how to file a class action claim.

1. Find your settlement notice and your claim ID.
2. Type venuefeesettlement.com into your browser yourself and open the claim form.
3. Enter your details and choose how you want to be paid.
4. Submit by December 4, 2026, or mail the paper form to the Venue Fee Settlement Administrator, PO Box 1268, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.

Key dates

One date covers three actions: the claim, opt-out and objection deadline is December 4, 2026. An opt-out request must be postmarked by then. If you opt out you get no payment but keep any right to sue; see how to opt out. If you do nothing, you get no money and are still bound by the release. The approval hearing is open to the public, though attendance is not required.

Is the Capital One Arena settlement legit?

Yes. The notice is authorized by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and the settlement site is VenueFeeSettlement.com. If a message asks you to pay, or for your bank password or Social Security number, it is not real. The official site was slow to respond when we checked, so type the address carefully rather than clicking a search ad. Our scam checklist explains what to watch for, and what a settlement administrator does shows who legitimately contacts you.

What happens after you file

The judge decides at the January 15, 2027 hearing whether to approve the settlement. If approved, ClaimDepot reports payments go out about 45 days later. If the court rejects it or the parties end the deal, the case continues and nothing is paid.

Owed can help you find settlements like this one, explain them, open the official claim form, remind you before deadlines and track your claim; you still submit it yourself. Owed Pro is $2 for the first week, then $49 per year — one flat membership. Owed never takes a percentage of any payout. This is general information, not legal advice; the court and administrator decide eligibility and amounts.

Glossary

Venue fee

An extra charge added to purchases at a venue; here a 3% fee on Aramark concessions at Capital One Arena.

Pro rata

A proportional share of the net fund, which shrinks as more valid claims are filed.

Non-reversionary fund

A fund where unclaimed money does not go back to the company.

Cy pres

A nonprofit that receives leftover money; here, Public Justice.

Class representative

The person who sued on behalf of everyone; here, Alexander Garner.

FAQ