I’m getting pretty excited for the Winter Classic. While the game itself promises to be a lot of fun, I’m especially excited for the pregame introductions, when players will skate from a miniature replica of the Capitol, across a frozen “reflecting pool” and onto the ice that was carefully crafted by Mike and Dan Craig.

Look at that beautiful mini Capitol. I cannot overstate the awesomeness of the mini Capitol.

#CapitalsTalk: players will skate from "Capitol" on "reflecting pool" to main ice when introduced. #WinterClassic pic.twitter.com/6x7Rf5b8f8 — Jill Sorenson (@JillSorenson17) December 29, 2014

They make Pierre stay in the little Capitol Building right? Or Denard Span? pic.twitter.com/RpAg9pkcsW — Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) December 29, 2014

I’m generally not one for #hottakes, but allow me this #hottake about what figures to be one of the coldest D.C. sporting events of the year: The mini Capitol is the greatest Winter Classic design feature of all-time and the mini Capitol — or perhaps a slightly larger mini Capitol — should remain in Nationals Park after New Year’s Day. I know just the place for it.

Remember the early renderings of Nationals Park? Remember the giant baseball above the circular scoreboard atop the Red Loft?

That giant baseball was never installed, though it was part of Ted Lerner’s plans.



(The Washington Post)

From a March 2007 article by the Post’s Thomas Heath:

Team owner Theodore N. Lerner has said he will spend tens of millions to upgrade many of the stadium’s amenities, including an outfield restaurant plaza, stone finishes behind home plate, bathrooms and glass partitions in the luxury suites, and the installation of a high-definition scoreboard. One goal is to have a giant baseball above the two-story outfield sports bar capable of projecting 360-degree replays of home runs and other highlights.

Sounds fancy, right? I have long thought that the circular scoreboard would make an excellent base for a mini Capitol dome, considering, you know, you can’t see the real thing from most seats in the stadium.

Kitschy? Most definitely, especially if it’s designed to shoot fireworks or house the Racing Presidents. But if done well, like the mini Capitol at the Winter Classic, it could help establish a sense of place, however artificial, that Nationals Park has always lacked. Sure, a replica Capitol might invite jokes about stalled progress, but it’s no worse to look at than a parking garage.