Friday, September 20, 2013
Source: Caps get 2015 Winter Classic
By Pierre LeBrun
ESPN.com
The Washington Capitals will finally get to host a Winter Classic as promised three years ago by the NHL.
A source confirmed to ESPN.com on Friday what local media first reported, that the Capitals will announce Saturday they are hosting the outdoor game on Jan. 1, 2015.
The source told ESPN.com that no opponent or venue has been chosen. The D.C. area has several potential sites to host the game, including Nationals Park, RFK Stadium and FedEx Field. This season's Winter Classic is Jan. 1 at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Mich., between Detroit and Toronto.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, in announcing the 2011 Winter Classic game between the Capitals and Penguins in Pittsburgh, promised during his state of the union address before the 2010 Stanley Cup finals in Chicago that in exchange for participating, Washington would also get to host a game within two or three years.
Last year's lockout postponed the Winter Classic in Detroit by a year, which obviously pushed Washington's plans a year ahead as well.
Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, who has lobbied to host the game for several years, is expected to make a formal announcement Saturday, according to The Associated Press.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
