I’m also on Verizon in the NYC area and am experiencing this issue.
Instead of setting up a VPN, try this workaround:
Edit C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts using notepad (run as administrator)
Add this line at the bottom:
174.35.56.164 assetcdn.101.arenanetworks.com
Save the file. If Notepad prompts you to save as a new file, you need to start over and run Notepad as administrator.
If you have the GW2 launcher already open, restart it. If this still doesn’t help, you may need to change the address above and try a different number (e.g. assetcdn.102.etc..).
You may want to remove this line later when (if?) they resolve the networking issue.
Good luck!
This worked for me! You guessed it, another Verizon hostage here. Paying for services that they are secretly blocking, wonderful right?