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Capitals’ practice facility set to open in Ballston
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Chair of the Arlington County Board Chris Zimmerman, right discusses the new Washington Capitals Iceplex with Tobin Smith, Chair of the Arlington Parks and Recreation Commission on Friday in Arlington.
Arlington County (Map, News) - The Washington Capitals’ new practice facility and corporate headquarters set on top of the Ballston Commons Mall parking lot is set to open in the next two weeks, much to the delight of Arlington County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman.
“This has got to be in the too-good-to-be-true category,” Zimmerman said of the $42 million facility, sitting eight stories above Arlington. “It has the potential to really inject some life into this mall and this downtown area.”
The county paid the full $42 million price tag for the facility but will be paid back by the Capitals during the course of a 30-year lease agreement the team has signed with the county, said Tom Newman, a commercial development specialist with the Arlington Economic Development office and project leader.
The new facility has two ice rinks, one for public use and one for the Capitals to conduct practice. The public rink has seating for 250 people, while the Capitals’ rink can seat about 1,200 people.
There will also be a pro shop, a party rooms, an arcade and a concession stand. The public rink is expected to be open 360 days per year, 18 hours a day.
High school, college and minor league teams are also expected to practice at the rink, which is the only one inside the Beltway.
Capitals public relations manager Nate Ewell said this is the first time the Capitals’ corporate offices and practice facility will be under the same roof. The team is expected to start practicing in Ballston in early December.
The Capitals have traditionally practiced in Maryland but this year have been practicing in a rink in Ashburn. Ewell said weekday practices currently draw about 100 spectators, while weekend practices draw more than 1,000.
“We expect those numbers to go well up” now that the practice rink is Metro accessible, he said.
dfrancis@dcexaminer.com
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Examiner Reader said:
Backstom was the 4th overall pick not the 6th.
3 agree | 3 disagree
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The Caps are coming!!! beware said:
They will win their last two games, count on it.
8 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Yes, the Caps did play a heck of a game, and they DID win in OT picking up 2 huge points. After such a horrible start it is truly amazing how they have rebounded to be in this position under Coach Boudreau. Let's Go Caps!!
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Photo Caption said:
Since when did Alex Ovechkin change his number to #15 and drop his visor?!?! That's Boyd Gordon in that photo, numbnuts.
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Examiner Reader said:
Heck of a game, shame they didn't win in overtime. A point is a point though. Chris
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