Capitals Set To Announce Preseason Game in Baltimore

posted on

Apr 8, 2011

Boy did we scoop this story up. I’m gonna pat the BSR staff on the back.

Back on March 1st, BaltimoreSportsReport.com reported a rumor that the Washington Capitals were looking to host a preseason game at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore. On Thursday night, Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post confirmed our report.

The Capitals will host a press conference on Monday at the 1st Mariner Arena to announce the Baltimore Hockey Classic, a preseason game on September 20 against the Nashville Predators in Charm City. City Council President Jack Young and Capitals’ General Manager George McPhee are scheduled to attend the announcement.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post first reported the news after speaking with the Capitals’ vice president and chief marketing officer Joe Dupreist.

“It’s a great hockey market; it’s one that we want to claim as much as we can,” he told me. “I got here in ‘07, and that was one of the first things we started talking about once the team started getting good and selling out games. It was like, which fans haven’t we reached as well as we could have over the last five or 10 years, and that was one [market] that really stood out. I think they’re hungry for the Caps up there.”

As Steinberg points out, Baltimore makes up an estimated 10 percent of the Capitals full plan season ticket holders and used to be home to minor league affiliates the Skipjacks and Bandits.

You can count me in for this one. Hockey returns to Baltimore!

Zach Wilt

Zach Wilt is the Founding Editor of Baltimore Sports Report and lifelong Orioles, Ravens, and Capitals fan. He grew up on Maryland’s eastern shore, graduated from Towson University, and now lives in Central Florida where he roots for his teams from afar. The best sports moment he witnessed live was when he witnessed Delmon Young drive in three on a double down the left field line in game two of the 2012 ALDS.

Previous article The “Y” Factor

Next article Reimold Watch: Nolan Goes Deep in Tides 4-3 Loss

MGW, The Agenda 14 years ago

Nice! Gives us something to do while the jackass NFL owners and players play their silly games.
eric 14 years ago

ive been praying for this for 5 years now! This is our chance to make our voices heard and hopefully grab the attention of the AHL so we can get a team!
Scott 14 years ago

Great news! To the commenter above, Baltimore is not a minor league city thus the AHL would never work. If game sells out look for future pre-season game(s) and maybe if new arena is built a NHL team but even with sell outs probably doubtful.
Brian 14 years ago

Baltimore may not be a minor league city, but they have no chance of reeling in an NHL franchise. This is not the NFL or MLB-and look at how hard it was for the D.C. to get the Nationals. Plus, Baltimore has an esteemed history in the AHL and would join other big league towns like Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, Toronto and Winnipeg. In the mean time, enjoy that exhibtion game and GO CAPS!!
eric 14 years ago

Exactly Brian! Nowadays minor league hockey exists in major league cities such as the ones you just mentioned, and personally, I would prefer to have a more affordable, but still good quality alternative to the NHL anyway. And just one question, if Baltimore is not a minor league city, then who is going to those Blast games?