Qatar Pays $100K Fee to Keep DC Metro Open Late for Lightning vs. Capitals Game 4

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistMay 15, 2018

TAMPA, FL - MAY 13: Ryan Callahan #24 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shoots past the check of Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals during the first period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 13, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Mike Carlson/Getty Images

The public transportation system in Washington, D.C., normally only runs until 11:30 p.m. ET on weeknights, posing a potential problem for fans leaving Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, which doesn't begin until 8 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena.

But thanks to Qatar, fans won't have to worry about getting home.

According to Scott Allen and Matt Bonesteel of the Washington Post: "On Tuesday, [D.C. Council member Jack] Evans told the Washington Post that the tiny, wealthy nation of Qatar has agreed to pay the $100,000 fee to keep [the] Metro open until 12:30 a.m. on Thursday."

Exelon and Pepco had already chipped in to delay the Metro's closing time by an hour for Tuesday night's Game 3.

Per that report, "Evans led a delegation of D.C. government officials and private business representatives to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates last April in hopes of getting foreign investors interested D.C. projects."

The visit apparently worked.

The country has invested in development projects in the District in the past, and apparently, the Capitals vs. Lightning was another D.C. project Qatar could get behind.