Nationals Park, Round 2. After a damp and unsuccessful attempt last summer to view Bryce Harper’s unceremonious farewell tour playing for The District’s nine, I returned and was greeted by a few cherry blossoms, and not surprisingly, more precipitation. But rain, wind or shine, absolutely nothing will stop my tour. Umm, well a hurricane may do the trick. A tornado, definitely. I mean, the flights are only an hour away from home, so I could come back anytime. To an enjoyable, and hopefully drier experience this time around!
Game Time! (vs. San Diego Padres – 4/26/2019): Fun to arrive 8 months after my previous attempt at viewing D.C. baseball, only to fall right into the middle of a midday torrential downpour, with a tornado warning being the cherry on top. The thunderbolts in traffic didn’t exactly dial up the optimism. However, it appeared that my two Whiskey Punches at The Bullpen became the anti-rain dance that partly cleared the evening sky for baseball. Just in time to fill the skyline with cranes-on-cranes! One unforgettable moment was the Presidential Race in the middle of the 4th. While a tacky tradition to many, it is a bit less depressing and exhausting than the actual presidential race. And no one, and I mean no one should ever forget the bullpen cart! The action in between the lines didn’t disappoint either. With a 10-strikeout game from Scherzer and a down-to-the-wire contest that unfortunately ended in defeat for the home club, robbing us of a sending-off via submarine horn. Even though first time major leaguer Carter Kieboom whiffed to end the game, the top infield prospect for the Nationals did shine bright in his debut, with his first ever hit being a game-tying home run in the 8th inning. But even with the loss of that night’s game (still capped by fireworks), and their ‘chosen one‘ signing a contract with a division rival at the value of Micronesia’s GDP this past off-season, I sensed an excitement from the crowd for some of the young talent they have on the club, possibly hopeful that their team is on the graceful end of the Ewing Theory. Although, in looking at tonight’s standings, the franchise surge is in a bit of a delay.
Around the Diamond: Walking under the cranes and wrecking balls that surround Nationals Park, you will notice a site in transition, morphing into D.C.’s place to be in future years. In recognition of the constant construction that has been present since Nationals Park opened its doors, The Bullpen is an establishment literally built of shipping containers, with bars in between. In the greatest of ironies, with the frequent renovation projects of the Navy Yard area surrounding the park, there have been constant rumors of The Bullpen going by the wayside for an office complex. The post-recession construction continues to develop the identity of the surrounding space, with fresh new areas from penthouses to boathouses. And you know your ballpark has made it when it has a Buffalo Wild Wings in close proximity. With all this development between two sporting venues (Audi Field being the other) within walking distance, this particular spot on the banks of the Anacostia are set to rival the neighborhoods that surround parks like Wrigley and Fenway.
Home Runs: Always taking note from the area where it is situated, Nationals Park decided to add new attractions for 2019, with the newest being PenFed Park, a play area for children 10 and under. The concourse flow was also impressive, as there were many accessible vendors. Although, it never hurts to go with a Nats Dog + Devils Backbone combo. Within reach of the stadium lies the Navy Yard-Ballpark Green Line Metro station, which is great if you would like to tour landmarks in the afternoon, then literally roll into the shadows of the ball yard in 30 minutes or less. Or if there aren’t flesh-melting temperatures, a D.C. feature from May until early September, you can take a half-hour stroll from the Capitol building to the ball yard spectacle that awaits. Nationals Park also does an exceptional job in paying homage to its baseball roots, while still letting you know that this place has #Natitude…well, unless the Phillies are in town. From the statues of legends such as Walter Johnson and Josh Gibson to the split upper deck that pays homage to the old National Park (later rebuilt as Griffith Stadium), Nationals Park effectively incorporates Washington’s baseball past through sculptures and subtleties.
Flyouts: Even with the presence of the Bullpen, the area around Nationals Park and Audi Field is still in the midst of rejuvenation mode, creating a feel of an unfinished product. Although, with the apparent presence of cranes and cement trucks, this neighborhood will be in full-economic strength sooner rather than later. In fact, there are an extensive selection of restaurants popping up, offering tasty treats from Bavarian sausages to gelatos. There are some fans that don’t exactly revel in its nondescript exterior. But one point of view I took away after my visit is that Nationals Park missed out on some prime sight line opportunities. For example, if you sit in the upper levels, towards the 1st base side behind home plate, you can see the dome of the Capitol and the Washington Monument. However, your view will be in competition with a condo building, a parking garage and possibly a cloudy day like I have experienced on a couple of occasions. As well, once deep within the walls, you will not even be aware of the existence of the Anacostia River. If the park was positioned differently, it may have provided scenery similar to PNC Park.
The Final Play: From my memories being in the area when the ballpark opened in the late aughts, it is clear-cut that the construction of Nationals Park succeeded in transforming Navy Yard’s semi-abandoned layout and seedy reputation. Furthermore, the grand opening of Audi Field, DC United’s new home a couple of blocks away, adds new opportunity for the development of Southwest and Southeast D.C. The presence of a soccer stadium nearby also creates a demographic blend, which has been pivotal in making the area between Buzzard Point and Navy Yard as a D.C. sports epicenter for the next generation. The neighborhood revitalization, along with the Nationals consistent, yet sometimes frustrating performances, has brought an average of about 31,600 fans per game from 2013-2018. Yet through all of this growth, one can’t avoid the smell of new steel and gentrification as you step in the most overhauled area in the most gentrified city in the country. Fresh from watching the debut of a potential future star, it made me see an equivalency between Mr. Kieboom and a few of the other recent prospects-turned-pros for the Nats with their current major league home: a ballpark community with a solid foundation and crane-high upside. Here’s to baseball helping to grow the city, hopefully in a positive manner. Also, to avoiding painful first-round playoff exits!
Well, now you know!: As many baseball fans know, the sport has been a part of D.C.’s history about as long as professional baseball has been around. However, our favorite glorified version of stick ball had a 34-year hiatus in the capital until the Expos updated their address in search for larger crowds in 2005. Nationals Park has played its part in being an important driver in Washington baseball’s revival, even on its first night hosting Major League Baseball. On March 30, 2008, Nationals Park opened up the baseball season in front of almost 40,000 spectators with a presidential first pitch by Bush Jr., and ended on a walk-off home run by Virginia’s own Ryan Zimmerman against the Atlanta Braves. To this day, this game remains the most watched MLB opening contest in ESPN broadcast history. And if you have followed the themes of this blog enough, of course this seat is commemorated!
Would you like to get more of a feel of Southeast D.C. and beyond? Take a look at the Washington D.C. gallery here for more sights.