Kennedy Center Honors moved to Capital One Arena amid row over Trump name outside building

The annual Kennedy Center Honors will be held at Washington's Capital One Arena, rather than the traditional location inside the center's riverfront building. 

The 49th awards are scheduled at the downtown arena, a Kennedy Center spokesperson told the Associated Press on Friday. 

The Kennedy Center Honors recognize people for lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts. The event began in 1978. This year's event will take place on December 7.

No explanation for the change of venue was given, but it comes a little more than two weeks after a federal judge ruled the board of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts could not add President Donald Trump's name to the facility to secure his personal financial support. The board voted to close the center for renovations right after the ruling. 

The vote marked the third time the board voted to close the venue. After Trump returned to the White House, he replaced the members of the board and overhauled its performance list. The board previously voted to name the opera house after first lady Melania Trump and later added the president's name to the venue, prompting legal action.

Earlier on Tuesday, a federal judge ruled there was no way to add Trump's name without Congress' approval. The board had argued that securing Trump's personal support was the only way to stave off financial collapse as the facility struggled to maintain itself.

A partial ceiling collapse made headlines earlier this year and renewed Trump's efforts.