The Washington Capitals will face-off against the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015 NHL Winter Classic which should be set for New Year's Day, however there is still a bit of mystery surrounding the potential venue.

The idea that the game would be played at Washington Nationals Stadium has been floating around for a while, and that is really the only place that makes sense at this time. The other possibilities are FedEx Field, home of the Redskins, and R.F.K., the Redskins former home which now houses the D.C. United.

The 'Skins, however have a game scheduled a few days before New Year's and it's highly unlikely a rink could be built in time. While I would love to see the game played at historic R.F.K., the building isn't in the best shape - plus, according to Events DC CEO Greg O'Dell the "NHL has not approached Events DC about R.F.K. since talks with the Nationals began" (Washington Post).

Nationals Stadium makes the most sense at this time. It also makes sense for Monumental Sports, Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis' Sports Media Company - Nationals Principal Owner Mark Lerner is part owner of Monumental Sports. However, the idea of having the game at Nationals Stadium may not be what the NHL wants.

It's always "go big or go home" now with the NHL Winter Classic, and with the league possibly only having one other outdoor game in California, they may want to make the Classic even more "special".

And by "special" I mean they probably want to pack in as many people as they can in a football stadium. It's highly doubtful that the league will play the game at Fed Ex Field - it's not in an ideal location anyway for scenic views of the city. One idea is that that may play in Baltimore at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Ravens, but they play a few days before New Year's as well.

One idea, that I heard about last year, makes a little sense to me - Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

While I'm sure the league wants the game set in DC, the idea of having it in Baltimore isn't out of the realm of possibility. In 2011 and 2013, the Caps played two preseason games, called the Baltimore Classic, at the 1st Mariner Arena. The first year was a big success, but the ice conditions were abysmal. The second attempt drew only a few thousand fans, and they scrapped the idea to come back this year.

Maryland hasn't always been known for hockey, but it used to be when the Caps played in Landover, MD at the old Caps Centre, right down the street from where I grew up in Bowie, and the Baltimore Skipjacks were playing in the then-named Baltimore Arena with Barry Trotz as head coach.

If the NHL wants a "big-to-do" nostalgia piece, Baltimore would be a great fit. Get this - the first ever artificial ice-rink was opened in Baltimore in 1894, and the first ever intercollegiate hockey game was played on January 11, 1896 between Johns Hopkins and Yale - Yale won 2-1.

There's so much more hockey history here in Baltimore that I cannot get into now.

Camden Yards is probably the best current ball park in all of baseball - if you've never been, then cannot argue against that - and to have a hockey game played there would be quite a sight.

Baltimore might logistically make more sense as well. D.C. has an awful traffic pattern, and having to close down part of the city for anything is an enormous pain-in-the... you know. The NHL even playfully inquired about have the game at the National Mall (that spot between the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building), but I'm sure that was quickly shot down. While not as picturesque as D.C., Baltimore wouldn't have as much red tape as Washington, and Baltimore's rich history would make great TV fodder.

Wherever the NHL decides to hold the game, D.C. or Baltimore, the NHL Winter Classic is always a fan favorite, and to have it so close to home, for me, is more than I could have wished for - except maybe free tickets.

Where do you think the game should be played?

More to come...

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