National Spelling Bee Moves to Constitution Hall in Washington

The Scripps National Spelling Bee shifted this year from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, to Constitution Hall in Washington after 15 years at the suburban site. The move placed the competition at the Daughters of the American Revolution venue built in 1929, located a few blocks from the Washington Monument and the White House.

Spellers stayed at the nearby J.W. Marriott hotel.

Venue logistics and security Participants reported crowded hallways, limited dining options, and required shuttle bus rides between the hotel and the hall. The quickest walking route across the Ellipse was blocked by temporary fencing and security checkpoints.

Security at Constitution Hall included guards and metal detectors at every entrance along with explosive-sniffing dogs in the hallways. Three days earlier, a man opened fire at a White House security checkpoint three blocks away, injuring a bystander before being fatally shot by officers.

Reactions from competitors Fourteen-year-old Yahya Mohammed of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, said the previous venue was more spacious and required less travel. Arpit Aggarwal of Columbia, Missouri, whose daughter Ananya is competing for the second time, said last year's setup kept everything in one place.

Other spellers welcomed the downtown location. Fourteen-year-old Oliver Halkett of Los Angeles said he enjoyed being near the National Mall and visiting museums and memorials. Speller Andie Seavey of Fairbanks, Alaska, and her mother attended a performance of the musical "The Great Gatsby" at the National Theater.

Competition schedule and rules Tuesday's preliminary rounds eliminated 80 spellers. The remaining 167 took a written test at the hotel that advanced roughly 100 competitors to Wednesday morning's quarterfinals. The event concludes Thursday night. Spellers noted that a single misspelling does not always end participation.

Last year's champion continued after ringing the elimination bell himself. Regional competitor Kushi Gottimukkala of Morrisville, North Carolina, advanced after two other finalists also misspelled following her error. Fourteen-year-old Oliver Halkett described closing his eyes, breathing deeply, and visualizing each word as a method for maintaining focus after earlier mistakes.