Best way to go about attending practice at Kettler?

by alright alright alright on Mar 9, 2010 3:17 PM EST

First of all, sorry if this is a terribly obvious question, I'm from Blacksburg (SW Va) and have never attended a Capitals practice. I'm going up to DC on thursday with my dad and we will be staying in Manassass on Thurs night...We have tickets for Friday's game against TB, but I'd really like to take my dad to the practice on Fri. morning...I'm assuming it's an optional skate, so I had two questions.

Firstly, do many players show up for the optional morning skates the day of games? I wouldn't even mind seeing 5 players out there, both my dad and I are pretty avid hockey/Caps fans so the whole experience would be a treat.

Secondly, is it difficult to get into the Caps practice? Are they very crowded/should I get there early? I was just planning on driving to the Ballston mall and finding my way to Kettler from there.

Again, sorry if these are obvious questions, I just wanted to make sure I can pull this off on Fri morning and figured you guys would know for sure!

Thanks

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You might see about half the team on the morning skate. It’s free, it shouldn’t be overly crowded on a week day, and you might consider getting there a little early just to make sure you don’t miss anything if only a few guys decide to skate.

If you go to the Ballston mall, you’re there. The rink is on the 8th (top) floor of the mall. It sits atop the parking garage for the building.

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by jordanDC on Mar 9, 2010 3:36 PM EST reply actions

Bet the optional skates feel a lot less optional for everyone not named Alex or Nicky or Knuble.

Go to the mall, go to the rink, enjoy.

It’s just that easy!

Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.

by EmilyB on Mar 9, 2010 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

You will most likely see a decent amount of the players even though it’s an optional skate.

I suggest taking the orange line Metro to the Ballston stop and then walking over. You can actually get all the way from the Metro stop to Kettler completely indoors. Just use the sky bridges to get between buildings (there are two of them).

If you really want drive, then just park in the garage and take the elevator to the top floor and then you are there. You can even park on the top level of the garage where some of the players (Ovie, Green, Laich to name a few) always park. Be sure to check out Green’s Lamborghini. It’s always parked right up front.

It shouldn’t be too busy on a Friday. That’s when I normally go and it usually isn’t bad. If you are seeking autographs, after practice just go stand outside by the large glass entrance. A decent amount of players exit that way and most of them are more than willing to sign.

"We are such fans of your music and all of your records. I'm not speaking of yours personally, but the whole genre of the rock and roll."

by Laich It Or Lump It on Mar 9, 2010 4:11 PM EST reply actions

From Manassas I would recommend driving because parking at the outer orange line stations is a pain during work days, plus parking at Ballston is only a dollar. I like parking on the top level and seeing how many players cars I can recognize in the lot.

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by Doncosmic on Mar 9, 2010 4:59 PM EST up reply actions

Ah, good point. I come down from MD so it makes more sense for me to metro in. Plus I never drive if the metro is an option.

"We are such fans of your music and all of your records. I'm not speaking of yours personally, but the whole genre of the rock and roll."

by Laich It Or Lump It on Mar 9, 2010 5:04 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t either, but trying to park at a virginia metro station on a weekday is almost pointless after 8 am

Aim for the head baby Jesus

by Doncosmic on Mar 9, 2010 5:28 PM EST up reply actions

I was at practice yesterday. Mike Green was incognito in a very sporty black Bentley. Well, as incognito as Green gets anyway.

by luv4mycaps on Mar 10, 2010 11:33 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, “sporty black Bentley” isn’t exactly incognito :)

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by RedBirdie on Mar 11, 2010 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

On Monday most of the guys were at Morning Skate and were on the ice for 20-30 minutes. Ovie was only out for the first 5-10 minutes. The healthy scratches remained on the ice with the coaches for another 30 minutes.

No need to go too early, just leave enough time to find the mall, park, get coffee, etc. As jordan posted, Kettler is on the 8th level of the Ballston Mall parking garage. If you park on the top, enter the rink through the Kettler/public doors, not the Capitals entrance. If you arrive via the mall elevators then the first rink is the public rink. Walk around it, go through the doors to the atrium, and straight ahead you’ll see the doors to the Caps’ rink.

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by oldemystix on Mar 9, 2010 4:15 PM EST reply actions

I’d recommend getting there about 10 minutes in advance. A lot of guys are on the ice before the “advertised” time.

That gives time to park and walk up. I recommend park on the top level, if possible, but you might have to go down a level if crowded, as it tends to be on the weekend.

Rocking the Red since 1975

by CapsFan75 on Mar 13, 2010 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

If you take the elevators — they are SLOW. I’ve waited five minutes for them up and down.

by miseenjeu on Mar 10, 2010 7:53 PM EST reply actions

How long does practice generally last?

by Adam Banks on Mar 11, 2010 8:31 AM EST reply actions

Practices can range from 40 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. The longer practices are usually at the beginning of the season, after a long-ish break from playing, or if the coaches are working the team hard due to sloppy play.

Morning skates are shorter.

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by oldemystix on Mar 11, 2010 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

The practices I have attended run about an hour. If you plan on waiting outside for autographs after practice you could be there for several hours. The players roll out very leisurely.

by luv4mycaps on Mar 11, 2010 9:41 AM EST reply actions

They’re doing video work and stuff, probably.

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by jordanDC on Mar 12, 2010 9:52 AM EST up reply actions

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