My Experiences at Nationals Park

by cubs2234 on Jul 19, 2009 7:01 PM CDT

That was my view from today's Cubs-Nats game. I'm good friends with the guy who ended up second to the Lerners in the bidding for the Nats ownership (not a bad guy to know, by the way). When that sun was out today, dear lord that was hot. And this is coming from someone who works as a golf caddy every day.

Anyway, I'm not the biggest Nats fan in the world. I grew up an Orioles fan, and obviously, Cal Ripken was my role model. I still am a fan of the O's, though it's tough. Last year I played my senior night baseball game at Nationals Park, and to this day, has been the best night of my life.

That being said, great field, TERRIBLE stadium. Al is absolutely right when he says it feels like a shopping mall. Very generic feel to it, and everything is crazy overpriced. You'd think that after spending so much time at RFK stadium they would at least TRY and get a view of the Capital or the Washington Monument. Inside, you have no feeling you're in Washington DC (well, with everything so expensive, I guess you do). I've been going to a couple games there, but only when I get free tickets. There's no way in hell I'm going to give my own money to this horrendous organization (I won't even buy food unless that's free too). What makes me even madder are the fans, who are brainwashed into believing that this team has hope this year, when we very well could be looking at the worst team (record-wise) of all time. The whole place to me, with the promotions and everything, feels so cheaply run; almost like the Nationals are trying to push this garbage on their naive fans.

This organization is already the worst in baseball and in no way is headed in the right direction. The Cubs swept them in four games relatively easy, and I can say from reading the Washington Post sports section every morning that Chicago isn't the only team to do it. I'm well aware you need to be bad before you get good (ex. Tampa Bay), but it will take a miracle and a half to fix this sinking ship in our nation's capital.

One final note to Al, I was looking for you in the Diamond Club seats to maybe go an say hi and thank you for all you do, thinking there wouldn't be TOO many Cubs fans there, but I got to my seats in section 129 and gave up right there. But thanks so much for these game recaps and in-depth pieces--it's really great to read them and know they're from a die-hard Cub fan.

Sorry for ranting, and go Cubs.

-Jason

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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it will take a miracle and a half to fix this sinking ship in our nation’s capital.

Sounds like the Nationals organization is a perfect fit for the city.

"I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said." ~William F. Buckley, Jr.

by Goodie1969 on Jul 19, 2009 7:54 PM CDT reply actions

Well...

Strasburg might be 3/4 of a miracle and Bryce Harper could be that other 3/4 so they might get there quicker than you’d think.

by CubFan81 on Jul 20, 2009 6:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Wow, have to disagree about many things you said

Most importantly, never criticize the fans for believing in their team no matter how bad they play. Being Cubs fans, you almost have to have pity for them at some point but we’ve been in the same boat many seasons. We’ll stop having pity if the Nationals make it to a World Series before we do :)

You cheer for your favorite players, you cheer for your team for getting hits, and you cheer because it’s fun to possibly see them get an upset win. There’s nothing wrong with going to a baseball game on a beautiful weekend. Plus ticket prices are reasonable there.

They’ve also lost about 35 games by 1 or 2 runs. If they won maybe half of those, they’d potentially still be in the race.

Also, Cubs did not have an easy time sweeping this series. I was at last nights game. There was NOTHING easy about that win for them.

Now in regards to the actual park:

I’m in CT and I find that the prices at National’s Park was cheaper than both Yankee Stadium and Citi Field by a few dollars for everything.

Also, I understand the comment about it looking like a mall. I saw that from the outside and actually said the same thing to my friends but it actually felt more like a Jersey Shore or Atlantic City board walk from the inside (concession stands at least).

But I do completely agree you forget you are in DC once you’re inside the park and that’s not really a bad thing. I think the area around the park is going to be built up in the next 5 years. Plus you’re practically in VA. That’s an entire market to try and get people to come to games.

I drove 12 hours roundtrip yesterday to see the Cubs, had a great time, talked to really nice people there (Cubs and Nats fans) and I recommend anyone to visit the park if you’re in the area.

by ak123 on Jul 19, 2009 8:26 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Agreed on the fans.

There aren’t many of them, but they do want to support their team and have hope. Maybe they don’t this year, but those who stick around will someday be rewarded.

You know, kind of like we will one day.

I was in section 110L the last three days. Glad to have met those who stopped by — for everyone else, next time or in Philly.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 19, 2009 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

Obviously, not the worst team of all time. Some comments in this post completely unjustified. You are entitled to your opinion, and there are teams I dislike. But these points, as stated are unwarranted. This team had its’ hands tied by MLB after moving to DC. Now that the organization is on its’ own, it’s like it is an expansion team back in the 1960’s when a new franchise was given nothing to work with.

Of course, the team was a 1960’s expansion franchise…..as the Montreal Expos.

They are starting over. Give them time. I, for one would like to see some of that division’s teams have a fight on their hands from the Nationals.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 20, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions

well said

and true on so many points

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 20, 2009 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Then rec me!

I’ve never gone green :)

by ak123 on Jul 20, 2009 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I rec'd you - because everyone should go green at least once.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 21, 2009 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Wow

Naive fans? Sounds a bit arrogant to me. I know several people with partial seasons tickets. No one expects this team to win. They go because they love baseball.

Cubs fans should be the last to complain about fans blindly rooting for a team.

by rlpete on Jul 19, 2009 10:03 PM CDT reply actions

By the way...

you can see the Washington Monument, Old Post Office Building, National Cathedral, etc. from the cheap seats. You just can’t see them from close to the field.

by Texas Wahoo on Jul 20, 2009 9:06 AM CDT reply actions

I was in the same section, 129, Saturday night...

I agree they could have either put the ballpark in a better area with a more scenic backdrop. The lack of things to do outside the park was kind of disappointing. They did all the promotions/advertisements like all the other modern ballparks do, but I did not feel they went overboard like some places. I really didn’t encounter very many of their fans, it was almost entirely Cub fans sitting around us. They seemed a little under staffed in the concessions/vendor areas, but they probably are not used to having big crowds. I did like their jumbotron and scoreboard. It was very well layed out and gave a lot more information on each matchup than most places I have been. I also liked that it was easy to get in and out of, with many gates and located close to the metro. Overall, I would say the experience there was slightly above average…comparing it to other parks I’ve been to, it was better than Atlanta and LA, but behind San Diego, Colorado, NYY, etc.

by CrimsonCub on Jul 20, 2009 9:34 AM CDT reply actions

The location could be worse, however...

Northern Virginia was under serious consideration for the stadium. Though, the Rosslyn site that was discussed would’ve been within walking distance for me…which would beat taking Metro, especially heading home.

Metro was an absolute disaster on Saturday night, as there was a soccer game that ended at roughly the same time as baseball.

Visit bloggingthebracket.com, SBNation's bracketology/hoops rambling site!

by Chris Dobbertean on Jul 20, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions

So THAT explains why it took 75 minutes to get back to Franconia/Springfield station.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 20, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions

That would be it...

Normally, the WMATA does a decent job of running trains on the Orange and Blue lines on game nights. They dropped the ball Saturday.

It’s too bad I didn’t guess that they were going to drop the ball like that. I would’ve met up with you and taken you my way, walking to Capital South to catch an Orange or Blue train directly.

Visit bloggingthebracket.com, SBNation's bracketology/hoops rambling site!

by Chris Dobbertean on Jul 20, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow.

What makes me even madder are the fans, who are brainwashed into believing that this team has hope this year…

I’d really, really, really like to meet a fan who genuinely believes a team with a .286 winning percentage has a shot this year. To be honest, I’d really like to meet a Nationals fan. I think it would be kinda like meeting a unicorn.

All that said, any team with several/many years of high draft picks should have a decent shot at righting the ship at some point. With Strasburg (and, presumably, others) on the way, the Nats’ pitching could perk up considerably in the next few years. If they can keep scoring runs and solidify their defense, we could see them pulling a Tampa Bay Rays sooner rather than later.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 20, 2009 10:31 AM CDT reply actions

this presumes

their front office pulls their head out of their orifice.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 20, 2009 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, the automatic retort to any "high draft picks" argument is one word: Pittsburgh.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 20, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

oooh

we should do that with other things.

“Kosike is bad!” Pittsburgh.
“We don’t get enough hits with RISP!” Pittsburgh.
“Lou uses the bullpen like his own private dog-track!” Pittsburgh.
“Stop being a thread cop!” Pittsburgh. And pull over, citizen.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 20, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Fritos

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jul 20, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Or perhaps "Pittsburgh: This Ain't."

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 20, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Blou, is that you?

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 20, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll say this about Nationals' fans...

…they sure do love The Wave. I was at the game on Saturday, and I can’t even begin to count the number of times they tried to get that thing started.

I’m all for fun at the old ballpark, and, if you want to get The Wave rolling around during an 11-3 blowout, knock yourself out. But when it’s a 5-4 game in the seventh inning and your team has the bases loaded with 1 out, you may want to at least pretend to pay attention to the game.

I thought Nationals Park was fine… about what I’ve come to expect in the newer ballparks. Somebody (Al maybe) compared it to Great American Ballpark, and I think that’s about right. Solid but not spectacular.

by hokie316 on Jul 20, 2009 10:37 AM CDT reply actions

I said the same thing that night about the wave!

by ak123 on Jul 20, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions

I hate the wave.

I’m so glad that fans in Chicago knock it down every time someone tries to start one.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 20, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions

I used to like it

But I was 8 years old.

by ak123 on Jul 20, 2009 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

It's huge in B-more too...

As a team’s winning percentage decreases, the likelihood of the fans doing the Wave increases.

Visit bloggingthebracket.com, SBNation's bracketology/hoops rambling site!

by Chris Dobbertean on Jul 20, 2009 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions

I met a Pirates fan the other day

Almost couldn’t believe my eyes.

by Hilary Lee on Jul 20, 2009 12:57 PM CDT reply actions

This sounds like the beginning of a poem. You should continue.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jul 20, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Scenic View

The problem is there isn’t really a way to get a scenic view so that the people at ground level can see anything unless you leave a part of the stadium open. Because of the height restrictions, everying in DC is the same height except the memorials/capital, and there is no place to put the stadium close enough to the memorials (unless they decided to put it on the national mall…).

by Texas Wahoo on Jul 20, 2009 1:31 PM CDT reply actions

That's an excellent point...

The fact is that DC’s skyline just isn’t that interesting aside from right around the Mall, and all that real estate is already taken up by a little thing called the Federal Government (and friends).

Apart from putting the stadium down by the river (in a van?) near Reagan or something, I’m not sure they had many options to have a cool backdrop.

All in all, I actually enjoy the park. And once they develop around the area with restaurants/bars, it’ll help with ambience…

by CubsWin!Oregon on Jul 20, 2009 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Nats future

As a transplanted Cubs fan who shares season tickets to the Nats, I can tell you Nats fans are what you expect in DC. It took Ovechikin and 25+ years for the Caps to build a fan base and since so many people in DC are from elsewhere, its going to take a star and a few generations to build a real base. The team has a decent farm system now (it helps to draft high every year) and I think they are building the right way, it remains to be seen how many fans are still there when they finally get competitive. Also, the changes in lobbying laws KILLED the Nats. Most of the expensive seats were bought by lobbying firms to entertain, something they can no longer do.

Lets Play Two Today

by RTGrules on Jul 21, 2009 7:36 AM CDT reply actions