Abe Pollin

Life & Legacy

Abraham J. Pollin (December 3, 1923 – November 24, 2009) was a real estate developer, professional sports team owner, and philanthropist in the Washington metropolitan area. He owned the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League (NHL), the Washington Mystics in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the Baltimore / Washington Bullets / Wizards in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Pollin was the longest-tenured owner of an NBA team, holding the Chicago / Baltimore / Washington franchise for 46 years. He also owned the Capital One Arena, which he financed, as well as the Capital Centre.
Pollin is often given credit for revitalizing Downtown Washington, D.C. by building the Capital One Arena.