"We filed our application for the site plan and it's in the 90-day review period," Capitals Director of Operations George Parr explains to GlobeSt.com. "There is a site plan review hearing on Jan. 28 with the planning commission and [if a recommendation is made], the board will vote on our application in February." Arlington County owns the Ballston Garage and plans to fund the additional floor to the seven-story building, and rent it to the Capitals for use as their practice facility. The community would benefit as well, with the opportunity to use the two rinks for figure skating, local hockey team games and other ice sports. Neither side is talking numbers. "I'm not going to say [what the cost is] at this point," Parr adds. However, he did note that Board approval means that construction would likely begin this summer and last for about 12 to 13 months.

Located on Glebe Road, the public parking structure--which can accommodate 2,950 vehicles--is near the Ballston Common Mall and is also close a Metro station. According to the plan, another 200 spaces would be added to the structure in addition to the skating rinks. The new facility was tentatively named the Arlington Ice Skating Center in zoning applications that were filed in 2001. As for area residents and officials, the new rinks would be most welcomed in the area. "We're very excited that the Caps have chosen Arlington," says Arlington County Spokesman Richard Bridges. He adds that the facility will provide the county with the status that comes with having the Capitals on site and with community access to a local ice rink. "We're very much looking forward to them coming," Bridges says. "It's something we do not have, so for us, it's a win-win situation."