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Posted on May 31, 2019July 30, 2020

## Night Time at Navy Yard – Nationals Park: Washington, D.C

1500 S Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C. 20003 (8/3/2018) – CB

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!

The eyes always have it, no matter the color. (4/26/2019) – CB

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.

Coming in for a little relief, by beverage. (4/26/2019) – CB

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.

And somewhere beyond that building, is Congress being Congress…yeah. (4/26/2019) – CB

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.

Apparently, not enough umbrellas for tonight. (4/26/2019) – CB

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.

Posted on August 9, 2018May 10, 2019

## Fathers’ Day Fan Trip – Rogers Centre: Toronto, ON

1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON (6/17/2018) – CB

My next stop: the only active major league ball park of the Great White North. But just because this was in Canada, it wasn’t exactly a frigid experience. If I had predicted that I would have got my first solid tan of the summer, I should have also bet some of my hard-earned Canadian money at the casinos of Niagara…and still would have lost it all, but at least I’d be rich in Vitamin D, for whatever that is worth. Here’s to baseball in my mind, Canada in my heart and poutine in my stomach!

A Futures’ Game of sorts. (6/17/2018) – CB

Game Time! (vs. Mont… ehem, Washington Nationals – 6/17/2018): Fresh off of my visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame and the CN Tower in the previous afternoon, I psyched myself up for the main event of my Ontario trip. The place where Joe Carter did indeed hit the biggest home run in his life. Before the game, I took a journey to the upper deck in left field to get a good view of the diamond, as well as to be in the presence of where the ‘Sky’ in SkyDome came from, thanks to a few majestic home runs that have been hit. With a few of these, I can safely assume that some chemical assistance was required. By the time I got to my seat in the other end of the park, the clear Toronto sky replaced the concrete sunblock above. With the sudden splash of heat, I had a hunch that more beer was in my future, maybe even sneaking in a few before I got to relish in the sounds of two national anthems. I admired the sections of fans (I assume were from Quebec) that were donning their dusty Expos gear and grasping on to “Welcome Expos” signs as they watched the more Americanized, and arguably the more underachieving version of their old team. A fun part of this ballpark adventure is learning about the teams I am watching, and a Fathers’ Day game gave me a nice window into some of the players. For example, I learned that the song that reminds Aaron Sanchez of his dad was ‘Cats in the Cradle‘, which is undoubtedly the most ironic song for Fathers’ Day. Although, ‘Father of Mine’ gives it a run for its money. A nice touch was in the 7th inning stretch, where this Randy Newman-esque rally song blasted through the speakers, and perhaps powered the Jays to victory, with the 3 homers they hit in the 7th and 8th innings. I may not have had as good of a day as Randal Grichuk, but I felt joyful that I was able to enjoy a ballgame in a different nation with some like-minded fans of this grand ole’ game. Also, Mexico defeated Germany that day in the World Cup, so that was a plus. Just don’t remind of the recent USMNT qualifiers, and we’ll be good friends!

Home Runs: The presence of the dome guarantees at least a comfortable environment every game. Although on a sunny day, the Field Level seats are possibly the premier place in the city for a good sun bathing session! In addition, Rogers Centre is well-positioned, being about a 10-minute walk from just about everything you want to see in a dynamic and alluring city like Toronto, with places like Ripley’s Museum, Chinatown, Air Canada Centre, Toronto Harbour and about 27 fine Tim Horton’s establishments. I’m kidding… I think. It’s something about watching my beloved game in a locale with the metric measurements on the walls that gives me hope the baseball will still have a strong presence in the North American sports scene for years to come. Although known for it’s lagging attendance numbers for about the past 2 decades, this park drew the most fans out of any American League ball park for 2 consecutive years in 2016 and 2017 while the team was a solid contender in the American League. As a result, I imagine that many games created a sound wall that only a roadie for a death metal band could be accustomed to. I could only envision how lit this place gets indoors when the dome is closed, and the leaves turn colors outside.

Flyouts: Even though it does not produce the same wacky bounces as the old stuff, I still can’t get used to baseball on an artificial grass. Probably helped accelerate my burn by a shade or two, as well. With a near Fenway-sized crowd of 35,000+, I witnessed an engaged crowd peppered with jerseys of Donaldson, Stroman and Pillar to name a few favorites of the local 25. However, just like with the Trop, I felt like I was in a more unique situation with the crowd of the game in that it was a Fathers’ Day game, which generally brings in more fans due to summer-like temps and sentimentality. Like with other parks in striking distance of the powerhouses in the AL East, the larger crowds for this park will generally appear when the Red Sox and Yankees come into town, and overthrows the ratio of home and away supporters. I’m guessing that a Blue Jays – Mariners contest in August won’t generate the same buzz, unless Toronto is firmly in contention. It’s a shame, because from their recent playoff appearances, one could argue that a game at The Rogers Centre has one of the more insane environments for a baseball game in the optimal situation.

Safe to say, no gloves needed here. (6/16/2018) – CB

Around the Diamond: If you want to feel on top of the world in a touristy way, you are only a few paces to the CN Tower, where you can get a bird’s eye view of the game (An open-domed game, of course), while getting a solid view of Toronto and the many blues-and-greens from the glass of their tall buildings. A personal favorite spot of mine was Hunters Landing, which is situated a little over a half-mile (1.1 km for you internationals) away from the stadium. You have to praise a place that provides an outdoor bar on a nice day, along with a 30 oz. stein of grog before a game. Not a bad place to watch a World Cup, too! For a little fun of the electronic variety, located a line drive over the fence is the The Rec Room, which is basically a Canadian version of Dave & Buster’s. The scene around the Rogers Centre is a little more spread out, but there seems to be enough out there if you’re a professional tourist, or one of the dedicated barroom warriors looking to be boisterous.

Well, if I have to…(6/17/2018) – CB

My Final Play: Even though Rogers Centre is a couple decades away from receiving their AARP card, the park is a bit of an historical relic, in that it was the first motorized retractable roof stadium built. That alone is worth a trip to this crown jewel of The Six. However, you can argue that a lot of the park’s natural character literally comes from up top. Like with Tropicana Field in Florida, the drab concrete exterior doesn’t exactly draw eyeballs. As you can imagine with a team that had a significant playoff drought (At least until a couple of years ago), and a recent regression from the club, the crowds may not be as consistently electric as they were for…let’s say an ALDS game against Texas. As talk of expansion becomes louder within Major League Baseball, my thoughts linger over to the return of baseball in French Canada. With a starving fan base, and hopefully with a stadium that’s actually made for baseball, the presence of a Montreal team could generate an inter-divisional, regional rival (in the new AL North, perhaps?), which could potentially generate increased crowds for both of ‘international’ cities in the biggest league in the sport. While there, I sensed an enormous pride among the fans for representing the one team up north of the border. A national team, of sorts. The Expos Part II strategy definitely won’t be the singular move to boost attendance numbers for all parks, but maybe it may take a two-team rivalry up north to create more Canadian clout, and more importantly generate more decibels on a regular basis in the future. After all, it’s the only way to have Toronto baseball.

Well, now you know!: Wanna watch baseball, but don’t feel like getting out of bed? The Rogers Centre has the only hotel located in a major league sports stadium. The Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel has 70 rooms with a stadium view (348 total), all located within Justin Smoak-home run distance over the wall in center field. The hotel’s greatest contribution to history is that it helped give this ballpark the colorful moniker of The SexDome. If your imagination is a bit slow, let’s just say the fans were not looking at the scoreboard.

Wanna see what Toronto is all about? How about getting up close and personal with a somewhat popular waterfall 130 km south? Check out my Toronto gallery here for more pictures.

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