Overview:

Nationals Park - Washington, DC

As a season ticket holder, I’ve made about a dozen visits to Nationals Park since it opened on March 31^st, 2008. The Park is located in Washington, DC and is situated on the bank of the Anacostia River. The specific location was selected as a compromise reached between MLB and the DC Council during negotiations to relocate the Montreal Expos to Washington. The DC Council wanted to build a new stadium in the parking lot next to RFK Stadium to take advantage of land already owned by the city; MLB wanted to use a site called the Benjamin Banneker Overlook which would have taken advantage of the views of the Washington Monument and other DC landmarks. Both sides agreed to the current site and the DC government hopes to be able to use the ballpark as a focal point to revitalize the area around the ballpark. Currently, there is little besides the ballpark to draw people to that neighborhood.

Nationals Park - Home Plate Entrance

Depending on how you arrive and where you arrive from, Nationals Park has a number of gates from which to enter (look ma, no dangling participle). If you arrive via boat or water taxi, you can enter via the grand staircase and come in at First Base. If you arrive via Metro – as many fans do – you’ll arrive via the Centerfield Gate. Entering via the Centerfield Gate allows fans the opportunity to enjoy the large plaza area. The Nats pregame show is broadcast from a tent in the plaza, and there are often bands playing out there to create a party-like atmosphere. You’ll also find the two tiered Red Porch/Red Loft restaurant and bar.

Food and Beverages:
Being a new stadium, there are a multitude of choices for food and beverages. The most popular place in Nats Park is the Red Loft. It is a bar located high in the centerfield area and is the place to be for the young fans of the Nationals. The Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk is located on the same level as the Red Loft and is a good place to catch a pregame beverage. Adjacent to the Scoreboard Walk is Five Guys Burgers and Fries which always seems to have a long line of people. The signature item in the ballpark is the Chili Cheese Half Smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl. Ben’s is a DC institution and has several locations within the ballpark.

There are food stands throughout the stadium; besides what I have already mentioned, there are all of the ballpark staples sold here: hot dogs, sausages, pizza, ice cream, soft pretzels, you name it. There are also several full service bars through the stadium – so, if a cold beer is not your thing, you can grab a gin and tonic to cool you down.

Two things to be forewarned about, the vendors that you see in the stands will not likely have much more than beer, soda, water, peanuts and crackerjack. I see a hot dog vendor in my section, maybe, every third game. Secondly, the quality of the food service is wildly inconsistent. Food stands open and close from game to game without reason, some stands open late, the sausage stands never seem to have brats or kielbasa, and when they do, they are “not ready yet.” Frustratingly, the past two games that I have been to, the beer stands that I was at had to “cash out” their register – so, everyone had to wait while the cashier emptied the register, counted out a set sum of money, and handed it over to a waiting supervisor. The supervisor was escorted by an armed DC Metro police officer.

The Mascots

Shortly after the Nationals moved to DC, they announced “Screech” the baby bald eagle as their mascot. Apparently, he (she?) is popular with the kids, but the costume made Screech look like a fat chicken. In 2009, the second year in Nationals Park, they re-outfitted Screech and the mascot is now leaner and intended to look like a “teenaged” bald eagle. To me, it still looks like a chicken – just a skinnier one. As long as the kids like the mascot, I really don’t care much either way.

Nationals President Mascots on the White House Lawn

The Nats also have 4 other mascots: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt. In the middle of the 4th inning, the Presidents enter from a gate in centerfield and race around the warning track to a finish line near first base. Initially, the Nationals made an effort to find new and creative ways to keep Teddy from winning. Lately, it seems like they even try any more and Teddy just loses; he has yet to win a race.

Gear:
The Nats have a large team store in centerfield that is accessible from outside the ballpark, and is open during non-game days and of course, during games. They also have a second smaller store behind home plate within the ballpark that is open during games. There are also stands throughout the stadium – there is even a merchandise stand in the club level. There are plenty of opportunities to separate fans from their dollars at Nationals Park. However, the prices at Nationals Park include a 10% ballpark tax that the DC Government collects to help pay for the construction of the ballpark.

The Game:
As far as Nationals Park goes – there are no unique architectural features like Baltimore’s Warehouse, of the Western Metals Building in San Diego. Nevertheless, it is a very solid ballpark. It has plenty of openness in the concourses – in fact, you will almost always feel outside. In the lower bowl of seating, you can maintain your view of the game while getting your concessions as the concourses are open to the playing field side. And when they are now – as is the case behind home plate – you’ll have a view outside of the stadium.

When it was installed, the video screen was the largest HD screen in the USA. The HD screen is 47 high by 101 wide and is situated in right center field. Seating in right center field will not have a view of the scoreboard, but the ballpark is ringed with 600 feet of electronic ribbon boards that provide the basic needed information. The ballpark also features an electronic out of town scoreboard on the fence in right field.

The Ballpark has very nice sightlines.  The lower seating bowl is rather flat and deep. Much of the second and upper levels are set back from the field. This distance is mitigated by the small amount of foul territory. So, the upper levels still offer an excellent view of the game. Despite the small amount of foul territory, the outfield distances are not extreme in either side of the spectrum, and in the first one and a half seasons, Nationals Park has played fairly neutral – favoring neither hitters nor pitchers.

Atmosphere:
The seats are your basic plastic ballpark seat and don’t offer a lot of extra leg or shoulder room. In the club level and in the preferred seating areas, seats are padded and more comfortable. The sections are wide and the aisles are not moderated by the ushers, so, it seems like there are always fans standing up for one reason or another.

Washington, DC went 33 years without a baseball team to call their own, so, there are a lot of new fans and a lot of other team’s fans depending on the opponent. Washington DC’s allure as a tourist site and its proximity to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston mean that it seems like a road game for the Nats on many nights. Over time, the Nats will build a tradition and a fan base – just as soon as they can win some games. When you win, attendance spikes.

The Verdict:

Washington Nationals Inaugural Logo

Honestly, I cannot think of anything that I would change. Sure, the DC Government (responsible for the design and construction of the ballpark) could have made the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building more visible from the ballpark, but the reality is that if the area gets revitalized, those views would eventually be blocked by new construction. Some folks complain about the parking garages that surround the Centerfield Gate, DC was committed to providing a specific number of covered parking spaces, and those needed to be built in time for the stadium’s opening. In my opinion, the parking garages are preferred compared to one developer’s preference to build 9 stories of condos and mixed use retail on top of underground parking.

This a very solid new-school park. It has great sightlines, There are lots of food and beverage choices. You can enjoy the game as a hard core baseball fan, or as a family seeking more of an entertainment experience.

And if anyone knows what order the teams are displayed on the banners that drape the garages, drop me a note.

91/100

Calvin Falwell Field, Lynchburg, VA

Calvin Falwell Field in Lynchburg, VA is the home of the Lynchburg Hillcats. Appropriately, the field is set on a hill, with a view down to some of the surrounding manufacturing. The stadium and adjacent football field stand on the former Lynchburg fairgounds. It’s basically the same park as constructed in 1939 as part of the Works Progress Administration.  The old City Stadium received upgrades in 1978 and 1982, but received a major facelift from 2002-2004 that modernized the park, and give it its new name. Cal Falwell is the “king of Baseball” in Lynchburg, and is responsible for helping this small town retain a team for more than 70 years.

The Carolina League team has been affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, and has seen 5 postseason appearances and 2 Carolina League titles in those 15 years. Recently, Lynchburg and Pittsburgh signed an additional agreement to keep the affiliation going through 2010.

It’s a classic A-Ball setup, no seats beyond the bases, witha  little covered space behind th eplate – even a couple of skyboxes – and classic local advertising on the OF wall.  On our last visit to Lynchburg, we actually tailgated in the parking lot, which brought the GM out to meet with us, and let us borrow a screwdriver to finish our grill setup.  It’s not often you get a group to a Carolina League game who wants to tailgate, so we were a bit of a curiosity.

Lynchburg at bat

Lynchburg is a great place to see the game…  Nice sightlines, and cheap front row seats right along the baselines are readily available.  There really isn’t a bad seat in the house. Concessions are pedestrian – no one food item stands out, really.  But that’s OK.  If you’re a Lynchburg local, the ballpark could be a regular hangout spot.  Small cover charge, reasonably priced drinks, a wide open concourse where you’re sure to meet some people you either want to know, or already know. Just for an added benefit, there’s a ballgame going on just beyond those seats… enjoy!