Saxophonist Mark Rivera Plays National Anthem at Caps Game
Rivera played with Billy Joel and Ringo Starr
Caps fans are used to national anthem mainstays Caleb Green and Bob McDonald bringing everyone to their feet before games to salute the flag, but once in a blue moon, a guest stops by to change things up.
Before Saturday’s game against the Devils, longtime Billy Joel saxophonist Mark Rivera had the honors.
Caps fans did their thing, yelling out ‘RED’ and ‘OH’ during the anthem (because, rock the RED, and Oh! because the Baltimore Orioles fans had been doing it for decades and it worked its way to D.C.), which seemed to throw Rivera off a bit but the anthem ended on a high note and the fans cheered.
Rivera wasn’t just randomly picked, however, as he grew up with Caps owner Ted Leonsis in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park. They used to listen to records together after school, according to The Washington Post.
“What a moment!”, Leonsis wrote on X. “My good friend Mark Rivera kicked off tonight’s
Capitals game with an incredible performance of the national anthem.”
Great to see Rivera at Capital One Arena, playing for his old friend.
What a moment! 🙌 My good friend Mark Rivera kicked off tonight’s @Capitals game with an incredible performance of the national anthem.
Sports have a special way of bringing people together and reminding us we’re part of something bigger. Thank you, Mark! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/C4q0T6hBkm
— Ted Leonsis (@TedLeonsis) November 16, 2025
Mark Rivera, Ringo Starr’s musical director, is performing the National Anthem on the saxophone before Caps-Devils pic.twitter.com/c7KoJcmlQs
— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) November 16, 2025
