| Nationals Park Washington, D.C. |
Tenants: Washinton Nationals (NL 2008-present)
Groundbreaking: May 4, 2006
1st National League Game: March 30, 2008
Surface: Natural Grass
Architect: HOK Sport; Devrouax & Purnell Architects-Planners
Cost: $611 million
Seating capacity: 41,888
Owner: D.C. Sports & Entertainment Commission
Playing Field Dimensions:
LF foul line: 336 ft
Left Field alley: 377 ft
Center Field: 402 ft
Right Field alley: 370 ft
RF foul line: 335 ft
Outfield Wall Height:
LF: 8 ft
CF & RF: 12 ft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Groundbreaking: May 4, 2006
1st National League Game: March 30, 2008
Surface: Natural Grass
Architect: HOK Sport; Devrouax & Purnell Architects-Planners
Cost: $611 million
Seating capacity: 41,888
Owner: D.C. Sports & Entertainment Commission
Playing Field Dimensions:
LF foul line: 336 ft
Left Field alley: 377 ft
Center Field: 402 ft
Right Field alley: 370 ft
RF foul line: 335 ft
Outfield Wall Height:
LF: 8 ft
CF & RF: 12 ft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Construction
Financing for the new D.C. ballpark was expected to be provided by
a banking syndicate led by Deutsche Bank. However, finalization of
the financing deal stalled due to complex negotiations among the
city government, MLB as owner of the team, and the bank. The
bank requested a letter of credit or comparable financial guarantee
against stadium rent to cover risks such as poor attendance or
terrorism. The requested guarantee was $24 million, with the city
requesting that MLB provide the guarantee. The financing situation
was since solved and construction began in May 2006.
The site of Nationals Park was chosen by Mayor Anthony Williams as
the most viable of four possibilities for a ballpark. The ballpark's
design was released to the public at a press conference on March
14, 2006. Ground breaking was in early 2006. With an ambitious
construction schedule of fewer than two years to complete the
stadium, a design-build approach was selected to allow the
architects and builders to work in concert with one another.
Ronnie Strompf, the project superintendent, coordinated the
efforts of numerous subcontractors on a daily basis.
Financing for the new D.C. ballpark was expected to be provided by
a banking syndicate led by Deutsche Bank. However, finalization of
the financing deal stalled due to complex negotiations among the
city government, MLB as owner of the team, and the bank. The
bank requested a letter of credit or comparable financial guarantee
against stadium rent to cover risks such as poor attendance or
terrorism. The requested guarantee was $24 million, with the city
requesting that MLB provide the guarantee. The financing situation
was since solved and construction began in May 2006.
The site of Nationals Park was chosen by Mayor Anthony Williams as
the most viable of four possibilities for a ballpark. The ballpark's
design was released to the public at a press conference on March
14, 2006. Ground breaking was in early 2006. With an ambitious
construction schedule of fewer than two years to complete the
stadium, a design-build approach was selected to allow the
architects and builders to work in concert with one another.
Ronnie Strompf, the project superintendent, coordinated the
efforts of numerous subcontractors on a daily basis.
2009 season
Several ballpark improvement projects were completed by the
Nationals during the off-season, including:
* Expansion of the Red Porch restaurant in center field to include
additional tables on both the concourse and field side. Glass
windows on the concourse side were replaced with slidable garage
doors, opening to a fenced outdoor patio. On the field side, the
rear-most row of Center Field Lounge seats were removed, with an
outdoor deck featuring tables and chairs installed in its place. New
signage was added on the concourse side.
* Installation of three statues in the ballpark honoring Walter
Johnson of the original Washington Senators, Frank Howard of the
expansion Senators, and Josh Gibson of the Negro League
Homestead Grays, which played many of its games in Washington.
* A large Washington Nationals hat was added above the entrance
to the team store near the center field plaza.
* New LED message boards were added over the roof of the Center
Field gate, providing information and instructions to fans entering
the ballpark.
* New advertisement panels were attached to the face of the two
garages in center field, with green panels being replaced by white
panels. Additional panels showing the team's 2009 promotions and
the current lineup were added to the western garage, facing the
plaza.
Several ballpark improvement projects were completed by the
Nationals during the off-season, including:
* Expansion of the Red Porch restaurant in center field to include
additional tables on both the concourse and field side. Glass
windows on the concourse side were replaced with slidable garage
doors, opening to a fenced outdoor patio. On the field side, the
rear-most row of Center Field Lounge seats were removed, with an
outdoor deck featuring tables and chairs installed in its place. New
signage was added on the concourse side.
* Installation of three statues in the ballpark honoring Walter
Johnson of the original Washington Senators, Frank Howard of the
expansion Senators, and Josh Gibson of the Negro League
Homestead Grays, which played many of its games in Washington.
* A large Washington Nationals hat was added above the entrance
to the team store near the center field plaza.
* New LED message boards were added over the roof of the Center
Field gate, providing information and instructions to fans entering
the ballpark.
* New advertisement panels were attached to the face of the two
garages in center field, with green panels being replaced by white
panels. Additional panels showing the team's 2009 promotions and
the current lineup were added to the western garage, facing the
plaza.
Features
The ballpark has 41,000 seats and features 66 suites, all around the
infield. Team President Stan Kasten also said that the team might
sell the naming rights to the levels of the luxury suites, which
currently bear the names of presidents Washington, Jefferson and
Lincoln. While the city agreed to spend up to $611 million, Kasten
has stated that the principal owners, the Lerner family, spent tens
of millions of dollars more on "jazzing up the park". The park has an
out-of-town scoreboard, which is 102 feet long, installed in the
right field wall. The main scoreboard, at 101 feet long and 47 feet
high, is more than 5 times bigger than the one at RFK Stadium.
On March 13, 2007, Kasten announced that not only was the
Nationals new ballpark on schedule to be ready by Opening Day
2008, but that there would be a grove of cherry blossoms located
just beyond the left field bleachers. Kasten stated that the cherry
blossoms will provide a look that Americans associate with the
nation's capital.
Other distinctive features of the ballpark are the views of the U.S.
Capitol from the upper deck and the curly "W" logo mowed into the
outfield. Several area-based food establishments have concession
stands: Five Guys hamburgers, Ben's Chili Bowl hot dogs, and
Dogfish Head and Flying Dog Brewery beer.
The ballpark has 41,000 seats and features 66 suites, all around the
infield. Team President Stan Kasten also said that the team might
sell the naming rights to the levels of the luxury suites, which
currently bear the names of presidents Washington, Jefferson and
Lincoln. While the city agreed to spend up to $611 million, Kasten
has stated that the principal owners, the Lerner family, spent tens
of millions of dollars more on "jazzing up the park". The park has an
out-of-town scoreboard, which is 102 feet long, installed in the
right field wall. The main scoreboard, at 101 feet long and 47 feet
high, is more than 5 times bigger than the one at RFK Stadium.
On March 13, 2007, Kasten announced that not only was the
Nationals new ballpark on schedule to be ready by Opening Day
2008, but that there would be a grove of cherry blossoms located
just beyond the left field bleachers. Kasten stated that the cherry
blossoms will provide a look that Americans associate with the
nation's capital.
Other distinctive features of the ballpark are the views of the U.S.
Capitol from the upper deck and the curly "W" logo mowed into the
outfield. Several area-based food establishments have concession
stands: Five Guys hamburgers, Ben's Chili Bowl hot dogs, and
Dogfish Head and Flying Dog Brewery beer.
| ------------------------------------------------------- Source credits MMIV www.ballparktour.com MMX |
Notes:
* Before the Nationals 2009 home opener on April 13, 2009 at 3 PM, longtime Philadelphia Phillies announcer Harry Kalas was found unconscious in
the Nationals Park press box at 12:20 PM. Kalas was rushed to George Washington University Hospital and pronounced dead at 1:20 PM. A moment of
silence was held before the game, followed by both Nationals and Phillies fans applauding Kalas in tribute. The Phillies played with a picture of Kalas
in their dugout.
* On June 4, 2009, Randy Johnson became the twenty-fourth pitcher in MLB history to reach 300 wins when the San Francisco Giants beat the
Nationals 5–1 at Nationals Park.
* On July 4, 2009, Adam Dunn became the 123rd player to hit 300 career home runs. The home run came in the seventh inning in a 5-3 win versus the
Atlanta Braves.
* Before the Nationals 2009 home opener on April 13, 2009 at 3 PM, longtime Philadelphia Phillies announcer Harry Kalas was found unconscious in
the Nationals Park press box at 12:20 PM. Kalas was rushed to George Washington University Hospital and pronounced dead at 1:20 PM. A moment of
silence was held before the game, followed by both Nationals and Phillies fans applauding Kalas in tribute. The Phillies played with a picture of Kalas
in their dugout.
* On June 4, 2009, Randy Johnson became the twenty-fourth pitcher in MLB history to reach 300 wins when the San Francisco Giants beat the
Nationals 5–1 at Nationals Park.
* On July 4, 2009, Adam Dunn became the 123rd player to hit 300 career home runs. The home run came in the seventh inning in a 5-3 win versus the
Atlanta Braves.
Opening Season
The 2008 Washington Nationals season was the team's first in Nationals Park after playing 3 years in RFK Stadium. The George Washington
University (GW) and the Nationals announced in February 2008 that the GW Colonials baseball team would play the first game in Nationals Park on
March 22, 2008. GW played Saint Joseph's University in an afternoon game[1] and the hometown Colonials had a 9–4 victory over Saint Joseph's.
The Washington Nationals defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 3–0, in an exhibition game on March 29, 2008, in their first game in the ballpark.
The Nationals opened the 2008 MLB season in Nationals Park with a rare one-game series against the Atlanta Braves on March 30, which served as
the first official MLB game at the park. True to tradition, President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The Nationals defeated
the Braves 3–2 with a walk-off home run from Ryan Zimmerman, giving the Nationals their first opening day win since moving to Washington.
Chipper Jones of the Braves hit the first batted ball and first home run, while the Nationals' Cristian Guzman got the first base hit. According to
the Elias Sports Bureau, Zimmerman's game-winning home run was the third walk-off home run in major-league history to be hit in the first MLB
game played at a stadium. The game was the most-watched MLB opening night in the history of ESPN.
In their first season at Nationals Park, the Nationals finished with a league-worst record of 59 wins and 102 losses. At home, they drew 29,005 fans
per game, placing their average attendance at 19th in the league.
The 2008 Washington Nationals season was the team's first in Nationals Park after playing 3 years in RFK Stadium. The George Washington
University (GW) and the Nationals announced in February 2008 that the GW Colonials baseball team would play the first game in Nationals Park on
March 22, 2008. GW played Saint Joseph's University in an afternoon game[1] and the hometown Colonials had a 9–4 victory over Saint Joseph's.
The Washington Nationals defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 3–0, in an exhibition game on March 29, 2008, in their first game in the ballpark.
The Nationals opened the 2008 MLB season in Nationals Park with a rare one-game series against the Atlanta Braves on March 30, which served as
the first official MLB game at the park. True to tradition, President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The Nationals defeated
the Braves 3–2 with a walk-off home run from Ryan Zimmerman, giving the Nationals their first opening day win since moving to Washington.
Chipper Jones of the Braves hit the first batted ball and first home run, while the Nationals' Cristian Guzman got the first base hit. According to
the Elias Sports Bureau, Zimmerman's game-winning home run was the third walk-off home run in major-league history to be hit in the first MLB
game played at a stadium. The game was the most-watched MLB opening night in the history of ESPN.
In their first season at Nationals Park, the Nationals finished with a league-worst record of 59 wins and 102 losses. At home, they drew 29,005 fans
per game, placing their average attendance at 19th in the league.
