PHOTOS: Abandoned bags outside Capital One Arena on Inauguration Day

Thousands of people were seen outside the arena on Monday morning, hoping to get inside.

WASHINGTON — Dozens of bags were seen outside Capital One Arena on Monday ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The inauguration was held inside for the first time since 1985 due to below-freezing temperatures in the nation’s capital. With wind chill, the temperatures are as low as the teens. The arena has a capacity of 20,000 people — but there have been many more tickets distributed than that, meaning not everyone lined up will be able to get inside.

Many people lined up overnight in hopes of securing spots. One woman and her sister told WUSA they had gotten to the line at 5 a.m.

The line stretched across multiple blocks across downtown D.C.

Many of those who did get through the doors appear to have ditched their bags in order to do so. WUSA9’s John Doran snapped photos of backpacks, bags and purses littering the ground outside the arena on Inauguration Day.

A Secret Service agent Doran spoke to estimates some of the bags seen left on the ground had a price tag of more than $6,000. The agent said some of the abandoned bags still had cash and credit cards inside.

This is wild. A pile of abandoned bags and purses from people entering the area around Capital One Arena. A Secret Service Agent I talked to estimates some of the bags are worth north of $6,000. Some still had cash and credit cards in them @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/shYHaGXMa3

— John Doran (@JohnDoranTV) January 20, 2025

Capital One Arena has the following bag policy posted on its website:

Capital One Arena has implemented a strict no bag policy. Bags, backpacks and purses will not be permitted inside the Arena. Wallet-size clutches no larger than 5” x 7”, medical bags and parenting bags no larger than 14” x 14” x 6” will be permitted and subject to security screening.  

If you are bringing a medical or parenting bag, please use the entrance on the corner of 6th and F Street. 

Capital One Arena reserves the right to refuse items which may cause a danger or disruption to the event or to other guests, or which are in breach of building policies and/or the list of prohibited items. 

Capital One Arena will not check or store any of the listed prohibited items.

It’s not clear what will happen to the bags or if the people they belong to will try to get them back. If no one claims the bags, it is possible they will be thrown out.

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