Is the new DC Park going to be ready?

[RBA]

First game of the season in the US.


http://www.jdland.com/dc/stadium.cfm?tab=no3

Too bad Marvel Comics can't sponsor the name of the DC stadium.

[Chip R]

I didn't think it was supposed to open till next year.

[RBA]

Countdown To New Nationals Park
34 days 09h 10m 06s 2008 Opening Night - Nationals Park
Nationals vs. Braves
March 30, 2008 at 8:05 p.m.

[Ravenlord]

didn't Bowden cite the new park as one of the biggest reasons he offered Kearns his current contract?

[macro]

That's a beautiful ballpark! Too bad it didn't have the capitol building or something as a backdrop. Of course, I'm sure building it on the National Mall wasn't an option. :P

Hey, look, there's a gap in the seating...



Hasn't that been done before at some other ballpark?

[icehole3]

there was a special on discovery channel a few weeks ago, theyre pretty much done with it.

[George Anderson]

That's a beautiful ballpark! Too bad it didn't have the capitol building or something as a backdrop. Of course, I'm sure building it on the National Mall wasn't an option. :P

Hey, look, there's a gap in the seating...



Hasn't that been done before at some other ballpark?

I wouldn't be suprised if Jimbo had smoke stacks put in the outfield.

[Heath]

When the Pilots started in Seattle, there were workers installing seats, then they'd let a row of fans in the park on opening day.

For argumental purposes, the "gap" can also be found in Detroit and a lesser extent, St. Louis.

[RBA]

But isn't he 'gap' on the wrong side?

[redsfan30]

I see alot of PNC Park and Citizens Bank Park in that park.

[Strikes Out Looking]

The park will be done. Parking near the park...now that's another question.

[registerthis]

Parking's going to be a disaster. There is a Metro station just outside the stadium which team officials are hoping (emphasis on hoping) that at least half the fans who show up for a game will use.

That's still 10-20,000 people driving down to the park to an area of town that has essentially no parking, aside from the occasional on-street spaces. As an indication of how desperate the parking situation is, they're floating a proposal to have people park in the RFK Stadium parking lot and shuttle them down to the new ballpark. (RFK is several miles from the new park and on different Metro lines...)

It is a beaut of a stadium though. 'Tis a shame that it'll be so hard to get to. (Of course, my office is on the same Metro line as the stadium, exactly 6 stops away. So it won't be my problem. )

[MrCinatit]

Hey, look, there's a gap in the seating...

Since Jim is collecting all things Reds, perhaps we can help him put a Gapper in the seats.

[KronoRed]

Looks like a nice place, I like how the press box is Red vs the blue seats

[Blitz Dorsey]

Even with a new park, the Nationals' franchise is bound to fail IMO. Although D.C. has grown immensely since the Senators left, there is still not a big enough fanbase to support the team since so many in the area will ALWAYS root for the Orioles (well, maybe not if the O's suck for another 30 years... which is very possible).

Of course, the Nats can't do any worse than Tampa Bay, Florida/Miami and some other places in terms of attendance, so who knows. The new park will help, I'm just saying long-term I just don't see the Nationals ever having much of a fanbase.