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Washington Capitals will host Maple Leafs in 2018 Stadium Series

By Dave Stevenson

Nov 5, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The United States Naval Academy Brigade of Midshipmen stand on the field for pregame ceremonies before the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; The United States Naval Academy Brigade of Midshipmen stand on the field for pregame ceremonies before the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Capitals will be hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2018 Stadium Series at the Naval Academy. 

Reports of the Washington Capitals hosting an outdoor game at the Naval Academy have been surfacing over the past year. The speculation is over, as the NHL has officially announced the Caps will be hosting their second outdoor game, after hosting the 2015 Winter Classic. This will be their third outdoor game overall, with their first being the 2011 Winter Classic.

“We look forward to welcoming the Toronto Maple Leafs and their fans to beautiful Annapolis next March for the first-ever outdoor hockey game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium,” Capitals majority owner Ted Leonsis said, via NHL.com. “Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium will be a unique and historic setting for fans from all across our region to experience what promises to be a great hockey game. We are honored to have the opportunity to play at one of the very best institutions our region, and our country, have to offer – the United States Naval Academy.”

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Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium only seats around 35,000 people, so tickets will be limited. Full season ticket holders will get first dibs at the tickets. Ticket information will be released at a later date. The game will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018. This will be the first of what the NHL hopes to be a series of games at military academies. Reports of the Army getting an outdoor game and having it occur on the same day as the Naval Academy game were out initially, but it was logistically impossible.

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It’s interesting the Leafs will be the opponent, but it should help increase the ratings. To be fair, the NHL needs ratings since the stadium doesn’t fit many people. Ergo, the league and the Capitals can’t rely on tickets to make a huge profit.

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