Fredericksburg In Talks To Make Caps Promotion An Annual Event

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The city of Fredericksburg is in discussions with the Washington Capitals to make "Fredericksburg Spirit Day" an annual event at Capital One Arena in Washington after this year's inaugural event turned out to be a big success. Two "spirit buses" transported 96 fans from Fredericksburg to see the Capitals play the San Jose Sharks at Sunday afternoon's game. A total of 162 of the available 170 reserved Fredericksburg Spirit Day tickets were purchased.

All the fans were seated together in designated sections and the tickets included a Capitals t-shirt. The special Fredericksburg day in Washington built on a successful collaboration between the city and the Capitals on the opening of a roller-hockey rink at Dixon Park in Fredericksburg, according to Fredericksburg Economic Development & Tourism.

"There has already been preliminary discussion about making this an annual event," the department said in a blog post.

Fredericksburg officials view the day as a way to promote what the city offers to residents, tourists and businesses and to build stronger ties with the Capitals organization. This spring, the city will be hosting the first baseball game of the Fredericksburg Nationals, the Washington Nationals' new Class A Advanced affiliate, at a new stadium under construction on Carl D. Silver Parkway near the Fredericksburg Expo & Convention Center.

Prior to the hockey game's faceoff, the Capitals played a one-minute tourism video created by the city of Fredericksburg on the Capital One Arena Jumbotron. Before the start, Jane Shelhorse, the city's director of Parks, Recreation and Events, had a live interview. Following the second period, Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw was invited to take a Zamboni ride on center ice.

The two buses were sponsored by Exterior Medics, a residential and commercial exterior home improvement and roofing contractor with an office in Fredericksburg. As they waited for the buses, the fans met at the Dorothy Hart Community Center and got to eat free donuts and coffee, also provided by Exterior Medics.

A portion of all ticket proceeds went toward Fredericksburg's Department of Parks, Recreation, and Events.

After the Capitals won the Jan. 5 game 5-4 in overtime, everyone enjoyed the bus ride home to Fredericksburg.