Report: Washington Capitals Likely to Host 2011 Winter Classic at Nationals Park

by Daniel Rathman on Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 4:03PM

There’s excitement in the air at Nationals Park — about Stephen Strasburg's impending arrival and, now, about the 2011 Winter Classic.

According to DCist.com, the Washington Capitals, led by superstar Alex Ovechkin, are favored to host the event next New Year's Day, at the home of the city's baseball team.

It's not yet known who the Capitals would face in the Winter Classic, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to get significant consideration because of the rivalry between Ovechkin and fellow phenom Sidney Crosby.

Nationals Park, which opened in March of 2008, has already enjoyed its fair share of history. Pope Benedict XVI visited the stadium on Apr. 17, 2008, to deliver Mass to a crowd of 47,000. On June 4, 2009, future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson earned his 300th career victory in a 5-1 San Francisco Giants victory.

Assuming the nation's capital is awarded the 2011 Winter Classic, Nationals Park would be the third baseball venue to host the event, following Wrigley Field in 2009 and Fenway Park in 2010.