From the Caps Website:
For the past two seasons, the Washington Capitals have kicked off the NHL’s regular season with the Caps Convention, a day-long interactive and informational celebration of the Capitals. The event has been a tremendous success, attracting sold-out crowds of more than 6,500 fans eager to meet both current and former players.
Perhaps one of the biggest and most exciting reasons for this success comes from the numerous panel discussions that fill the agenda. Each discussion is designed to offer Caps fans an inside look into a specific area of hockey. The 2011 Capitals Convention presented by GEICO will feature some of the most anticipated panel discussions to date and include:
Giving Back – Caps players discuss the different community programs that they are a part of and how much they enjoy getting involved.
24/7 Behind the Scenes – A chance for fans to go behind the scenes and see how HBO produced, edited, and aired their ground-breaking show.
Coming to America – Players discuss the difficulties and challenges involved in coming to a new country to live and work.
Goalies and Their Odd Ways – Step into the minds of some NHL netminders and learn about how they prepare for battle on a daily basis.
20 Questions with Ted – Caps majority owner Ted Leonsis will answer questions from fans in this interactive panel.
Embracing Your New Teammates presented by Coors Light - Hear from some of the newest members of the team about what it’s like to walk into a locker room for the first time, meet new teammates and listen to their thoughts on coming to Washington.
Kids Press Conference presented by Dasani - Kids 14 and under have the opportunity to ask questions to players on the panel.
I Made it to the NHL - Players discuss what it's like to realize their lifelong dream of playing in the NHL.
From the Ice to the Booth presented by Outback Steakhouse – The panel will talk about how a career in the NHL prepared them for their current broadcasting careers.
The Pain From Last Night - Hear from Caps alumni about the Alumni Game from the night before and how they are feeling the morning after.
Coach’s Corner - Hear what the Caps' coaching staff has to say about getting the team ready to play on a daily basis.
Equipment – The Capitals equipment staff displays various articles of equipment and explains how each piece if kept in playing condition.
NBC Sports Contract and Scheduling - Learn about the ongoing dynamic between a league and a network and what goes into being good partners as well as how the league and the network work on scheduling and showing games.
Ask the GM - Listen to vice president and general manager George McPhee talk about the team's preparation for the draft and how the team integrates the opinions of its scouts in a process that spans the entire 12 months of the calendar.
Capology III: Three Capitals, Three Contracts - Capitals Assistant General Manager/Director of Legal Affairs Don Fishman walks the audience through contract negotiations with three current Capitals players.
The support it takes to make it to the NHL - Players and family members sit on this panel to discuss the sacrifices every family made for the ultimate payoff of watching them play in the NHL.
On The Road Again – Learn about what life is like on the road from the hotels to the pranks, players will share their experiences traveling with the team.
Rules, Officiating and Discipline - Listen to former NHL referee Bill McCreary and NHL Senior V.P. of Hockey Operations and Player Safety Brendan Shanahan discuss the ins and outs of officiating the game on the ice and adjudicating it off the ice.
The 2011 Capitals Convention presented by GEICO will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at the Walter E Washington Convention Center. There are fewer than 1,000 convention tickets available so act fast.
Saturday, June 25 2011 NHL Draft (second through seventh rounds, NHL Network)
Thursday, July 1 First day of NHL free agency
Monday, July 11 Capitals Development Camp begins
Saturday, July 16 Fan Fest; Capitals Development Camp scrimmage, camp concludes
Tuesday, Sep. 20 Baltimore Hockey Classic at 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, Md.
Saturday, Sep. 24 2011 Capitals Convention presented by GEICO
Caps Press Release:
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will host the 2011 Capitals Convention at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, September 24, 2011.
The third annual Capitals Convention will return to the Washington Convention Center for the second straight year. The event has been a tremendous success in its first two years, attracting sold-out crowds of more than 6,500 to the day-long interactive and informational celebration of the Capitals, which features the entire roster of current players and a number of prominent alumni.
Tickets go on sale Monday, March 28 at 10 am, to season-ticket holders and Tuesday, March 29 at 10 a.m. to the general public at WashingtonCaps.com. Ticket prices are $40 for adults and $25 for children 14 and younger if purchased by May 31 (adult price increases to $45 on June 1). Two other ticket options are available: a $600 golden ticket with special access to every autograph session and VIP room and a $30 ticket without autograph access.
The day will include player autographs and photos with fans. There will be a wide array of activities on hand such as hockey interactives, panel sessions, hockey displays and much more.
Panel discussions will feature Capitals front office personnel and will focus on the behind-the-scenes, day-to-day responsibilities of operating a professional hockey club. Additionally, current and former Capitals players will participate in discussions that provide a glimpse of a professional athlete’s life and what they experience during the season.
For more information about the 2011 Capitals Convention, please visit WashingtonCaps.com.
The second annual Capitals Convention moves downtown this year to the Washington Convention Center on Saturday, Oct. 2. **Capitals to Unveil 2011 Winter Classic Uniform at 2010 Capitals Convention
First Capitals Convention at Gaylord Convention Center Sept. 26
Current and former players highlight this daylong interactive experience
Jul 8, 2009, 2:22 PM EDT
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will hold their first Capitals Convention on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Gaylord Convention Center at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. The all-day event will feature the entire 2009-10 Capitals team as well as Capitals alumni, who along with radio and TV personalities, coaches, and team executives will participate in a variety of breakout sessions and panel discussions that will give fans a first-time look at behind-the-scenes operations as well as an insight into the lives of NHL players. There also will be interactive activities for adults and children, a display containing many of the NHL’s most prominent trophies, a locker-room store featuring game-used authentic memorabilia and the team’s annual equipment sale.
“This is a unique opportunity for our organization to engage our fans on a variety of levels,” said Capitals majority owner Ted Leonsis. “It’s an opportunity for our players, coaches, alumni and front office to provide insights as well as the intricacies of our organization and our great sport.”
This will be the first chance for fans to meet the 2009-10 Capitals players as a group. The Sept. 26 festivities begin at 9 a.m. for season-ticket holders and 10 a.m. for the general public and will conclude at 8 p.m. Tickets, priced at $40 for adults and $25 for children 14 and younger, go on sale July 9 to season-ticket holders and July 14 to the general public. There are a limited number of “Golden Tickets” available for $350, which guarantees all player autographs with access to a special fast-pass autograph line and priority seating for panel discussions. Tickets will be available at WashingtonCaps.com.
Panel discussions will feature Leonsis, general manager George McPhee and head coach Bruce Boudreau and will focus on the behind-the-scenes, day-to-day responsibilities of operating a professional hockey club. Additionally, current and former Capitals players will participate in discussions that provide a glimpse of a professional athlete’s life and what they experience during the season.
There will be more than a dozen panel discussions at the convention, and in the near future fans also will be given an opportunity to vote at WashingtonCaps.com on other panels that they would like to see. Current panel discussions, which are subject to change, include:
·Ask the Coaches – Sit down with members of the coaching staff and pick their brains. See what differentiates their roles and responsibilities and how that impacts the team.
·Covering the Caps – Ever wondered what it was like to be a reporter covering the Capitals? This session will let fans see what it is like to be a member of the media. Learn what transpires before, during and after games.
·Managing the Salary Cap – Negotiating player contracts and managing the nuances of the NHL’s salary cap have profound impacts on every team. Get a look into how assistant general manager Don Fishman deals with these issues.
•Caps on the Rise – The Washington Capitals swiftly have ascended to one of the elite teams in the NHL and the architect is general manager George McPhee. Hear the firsthand account from the GM on how the plan came together and what is on the horizon.
•Kids-Only Press Conference – Players have to deal with media every day during the season, but this time the Caps are shaking things up and turning the mics over to the kids. In this press-conference atmosphere, kids have free reign to ask Caps players today’s burning questions.
•Work in Sports – Panelists from the area’s sports teams will discuss their career paths and advice for those looking to break into the sports business.
The day will include player autographs and photos with fans. Breakout sessions will be conducted throughout the day and will demonstrate a variety of hockey skills. The site will feature four interactive rinks, an interactive shooting game, two junior interactive rinks, a convention photo booth where fans can take pictures in a Caps-specific cutout and a penalty box game zone where fans can enjoy bubble hockey, air hockey and hockey video games. Highlights and feature videos will be shown on screens throughout the convention. A silent auction featuring jerseys, pucks and sticks also will be conducted. This will be fans’ first opportunity to purchase 2009-10 merchandise and special Capitals Convention merchandise. Comcast SportsNet is an official media partner of the Capitals Convention.
The convention will also include five hockey-related displays for fans to enjoy: a history of the Capitals timeline, a salute to the Original Six clubs, an NHL dressing room, prominent NHL trophies and a timeline of the evolution of hockey equipment.
The Chicago Cubs and later the Blackhawks introduced the convention concept to professional sports and they were met with overwhelming success as fans enjoyed a new and exciting way to interact with the players and organizations. Now the Capitals will provide their unique twist and give fans a full day to immerse themselves in a variety of topics and interactive exhibits.
