Capital One Arena Aramark Settlement: $4.5 Million Over the 3% Venue Fee
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File by December 4, 2026 · 51 days left · as of Oct 14, 2026
If you bought food or drinks at Capital One Arena and paid Aramark’s 3% “venue fee” between October 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025, you are in the class. Aramark agreed to a $4.5 million fund to end the case. The claim deadline is December 4, 2026. You do not need a receipt, but you do have to file a claim to be paid.
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The claim deadline, what the settlement pays and where to file — plus other settlements still taking claims.
File by Dec 4 · 51 days left
Capital One Arena Aramark Settlement
Fund: $4.5M
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We are not a claims administrator and not affiliated with any settlement. File only at the official settlement website — filing is always free.
What the Lawsuit Says Happened
Aramark runs the food and beverage stands at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The lawsuit alleges that Aramark added a mandatory 3% “venue fee” at checkout that was not in the menu prices.
According to the complaint, the fee only showed up on the payment screen as a line reading “3% Venue Fee,” with an “i” button for details. Aramark said the money went to “ongoing maintenance and administrative costs” and was not a tip. The complaint also alleges that fans were not offered a printed receipt.
The legal claim is under the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act. Aramark denies any wrongdoing, fault or liability. It settled without admitting anything, and the court has not decided who was right.
Case details
The case is Alexander Garner v. Aramark Management Services LP, Case No. 2025-CAB-007444, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Civil Division. That is a local D.C. court, not a federal court.
The nonprofit Travelers United, Inc. filed the original complaint on November 7, 2025, under the caption Travelers United, Inc. v. Aramark Management Services LP. As part of the settlement, Alexander Garner replaced Travelers United as class representative. Associate Judge Shana Frost Matini signed the preliminary approval order on September 14, 2026.
Class counsel are Tycko & Zavareei LLP and Almeida Law Group. Aramark is represented by Morgan Lewis. The administrator is EisnerAmper. Its official site is VenueFeeSettlement.com.
Status: Preliminarily Approved, Claims Open Until December 4, 2026
Claims, opt-outs and objections are all due December 4, 2026. The final approval hearing is set for January 15, 2027 at 10:00 a.m. ET in Courtroom 130. Nothing is paid until the court gives final approval, and as of October 2026 no payment date has been announced.
We also covered the opening of claims in our news story: equal shares, not refunds, and no receipt needed.
Don't miss the claim deadline
Claims are due by December 4, 2026. We'll email you 7 days and 1 day before the deadline.
Who Can Claim
The class is all 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. It covers any purchase from Aramark at Capital One Arena where the venue fee was paid during that period, whatever the event.
You do not need a receipt. On the claim form you confirm, with your initials, that you made a qualifying purchase and paid the fee. The settlement agreement says you sign under penalty of perjury and that the administrator can check claims against Aramark’s own class list.
If you got the email notice, it has a Claimant ID. Put it on the form. If you got no email, you can still file at the official site if the class definition fits you.
How Much the Capital One Arena Aramark Settlement Pays
Whatever is left is split in equal shares among valid claims, so the more people file, the less each person gets. Leftover money goes to the nonprofit Public Justice.
Payment options are Venmo, PayPal, direct deposit, Zelle or paper check. Direct deposit, PayPal and Venmo work only if you file online. Under the agreement, payments go out no later than 14 days after the settlement becomes effective, which happens after final approval and any appeals. Checks expire 120 days after they are issued.
Capital One Arena Aramark Settlement Timeline
October 1, 2024 — Class Period Begins
Concession purchases at Capital One Arena where the 3% venue fee was paid count from this date.
November 7, 2025 — Travelers United Sues
The nonprofit files Case No. 2025-CAB-007444 in D.C. Superior Court under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
December 31, 2025 — Class Period Ends
Purchases after this date are not covered by the settlement.
September 14, 2026 — Preliminary Approval
Judge Shana Frost Matini approves the $4.5 million settlement for notice and appoints EisnerAmper as administrator.
October 5, 2026 — Email Notice Deadline
Class notices are due to go out by email. Class counsel’s fee request is due November 5, 2026.
December 4, 2026 and January 15, 2027 — Deadline, Then Hearing
Claims, opt-outs and objections are due December 4, 2026. The court decides on final approval at the January 15, 2027 hearing.
Three Things to Watch For
Notice for this case went out by email, and the arena carries a bank’s name. Scammers use both:
Lookalike “venue fee refund” emails
The real notice comes from the Venue Fee Settlement Administrator and points to VenueFeeSettlement.com. The claim form asks for your name, address, email and how you want to be paid. It does not ask for a fee, a Social Security number or a card number. If an email asks for any of those, it is not from the administrator.
Sites that mix up the arena and Capital One the bank
This settlement is against Aramark, the concessions company. It has nothing to do with Capital One bank accounts or cards. A page asking for your Capital One login to “verify” your arena claim is phishing.
“We’ll file it for you” offers
Filing is free and takes a few minutes, with no receipt needed. Class counsel’s fees come out of the fund if the court approves them. You never pay anyone to file. Questions go to the administrator at 1-844-659-2531 or info@VenueFeeSettlement.com.
Capital One Arena Aramark Settlement — Questions People Actually Ask
Short answers to the questions people ask most about this case.
Who can claim the Capital One Arena Aramark settlement?
Anyone in the U.S. who bought food, drinks or other items from Aramark at Capital One Arena and paid the 3% venue fee between October 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025. The claim deadline is December 4, 2026.
Do I need a receipt?
No. You confirm on the claim form that you made a qualifying purchase and paid the fee. The administrator can check claims against Aramark’s class list. The complaint itself alleges that no printed receipts were offered at the stands.
How much will I get?
Nobody knows yet. The $4.5 million fund is reduced by court-approved fees, costs and a service award, and the rest is split equally among valid claims. The more people file, the smaller each share is.
When will I be paid?
Not before the court gives final approval. The hearing is January 15, 2027. Under the agreement, payments go out within 14 days after the settlement becomes effective, which is after any appeals. As of October 2026 no payment date has been announced.
Is the VenueFeeSettlement.com email real?
The court ordered notice by email, and VenueFeeSettlement.com is the administrator’s site for Garner v. Aramark, No. 2025-CAB-007444. To be safe, type the address yourself instead of clicking links. You can also call 1-844-659-2531.
How do I know if I am part of the Capital One settlement?
The arena settlement is with Aramark, not Capital One. Capital One only has its name on the building. If you mean a case about Capital One bank accounts or cards, see our Capital One data breach settlement page or the Capital One settlement calculator.
What are the lawsuits filed against Aramark?
This page covers only the Capital One Arena venue-fee case in D.C. Superior Court, which settled for $4.5 million. Any other case against Aramark is separate, and a claim here does not cover it. We have not reviewed those cases.
What if I don’t want to be part of it?
You can opt out by mailing a written request, postmarked by December 4, 2026, to Venue Fee Settlement Administrator, PO Box 1268, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. If you opt out, you get no payment but keep your right to sue on your own. If you do nothing, you get no money and still give up your claims.
About This Information
- Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology. Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
- $236 billion in real payouts analyzed · See what we found
This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Lawsuit status, eligibility, and compensation can change. Settlement Insight is not a law firm and does not represent any party. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.
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