Nationals Park To Host 2015 Winter Classic

Nationals Park will serve as the site of the 2015 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks, sources confirmed to News4.

The Washington Post was the first to report the news.

The NHL formally awarded the annual outdoor spectacle to the Capitals last September, marking the franchise's second appearance in the game; Washington defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins by a 3-1 score in the 2011 edition at Heinz Field.

Nationals Park had been seen as the frontrunner throughout the process, though the NHL also surveyed RFK Stadium and FedEx Field as potential hosts. The league also informally inquired about the availability of the National Mall, according to The Washington Post.

The paper also reported that the official announcement will be made "before the end of the month." As a point of comparison, Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the most recent ballpark to host the Winter Classic in 2012 between the Flyers and New York Rangers, was not revealed as the site until Sept. 26, 2011.

The Capitals open training camp on Sept. 19. Their season opener is Oct. 9 against the Montreal Canadiens at Verizon Center.


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