Nats Stadium

[nbace]

Was great to see the Fish clobber the Nats tonight. I have to say that while the Nationals new stadium is pretty nice, it doesn't compare to several of the other new generation of ballparks that i've seen (Petco in San Diego is the best i've seen). I hope the new Marlins park will be that much more impressive. The Nats park does have a great HD replay screen and a concession stand that sells chili by the bowl, but otherwise nothing spectacular. It was good to see lots of Marlins fans there. I'll be there tomorrow with my broom out :thumbup

[all black marlins hat]

It looks like a nice new-style-traditional baseball stadium. If that makes any sense at all.

[The Marlin Man]

It makes great sense. It has a classical feel and a real "baseball" feel. The seats all have silver baseballs on them with the seat number and when you look across the stadium it looks really cool to see the sun shinning off of those silver baseballs....it gives kind of a mystic feel.

 

It's a great baseball environment and to my surprise; the stadium was half full and most fans stayed until the 8th or so

[pierremvp1]

I haven't been there, but it looks nice enough on TV.

The crowds are small though. I understand there's been some cold weather, but tonite was a nice night, a Saturday, first season in a new stadium. You'd think they would draw more than 50% capacity.

What's the problem, for those members that live up that way. Why the poor attendance?

[The Marlin Man]

Bad Team = Poor Attendance.

 

Besides Zimmerman they don't really have a player the draws anyone....and Zimm barely does. The Stadium is easily accessible by the Metro (which is a superb system in DC) so no transportation excuse. It's really just that, well, they kind of suck.

[Goodfella]

The only thing I wasn't liking was that the main gate was in the outfield. Seeing all the fans walk in on TV while the game was playing just didnt do it for me. Minor detail though.

[Flying_Mollusk]

I've actually been to the stadium. I'm actually going to watch the fish tomorrow. On TV it looks like a mediocre stadium. In person, it's really cool. Amazing view of the capital. Reallty fun place to be.

[mk613]

i'm just hoping Loria and Co don't screw up the design for the new Ballpark. I think he made a comment on the new park having a contemporary design. I know the Marlins aren't that old of a franchise but i really just love the look of the more retro looking parks.

 

 

 

Though they really do need to find a way to include the teal tower and definately after seeing the HD screen in Dolphins stadium they need one of those bad boys.

[Schnellders]

is it just me or is the camera angle at the nats stadium slightly different to the norm?

 

on several fly balls to the outfield my judgement of distance seems to be off

[BroncoBob27]

The only thing I wasn't liking was that the main gate was in the outfield. Seeing all the fans walk in on TV while the game was playing just didnt do it for me. Minor detail though.

 

And that was one of the things I liked. Make the fans walk through the entire ball park to get to their seats. Having to walk past all those concession stands. More bags of peanuts and hot dogs sold equals more $$$ for the team, equals more players signed long term, equals.........

[fishfan97]

Its so weird to watch the game on TV, because the press box is so high, so the camera view is weird when someone hits the ball, the view is so high. But I am willing to get use to it, if the Marlins continue to hit this way.

[pierremvp1]

Bad Team = Poor Attendance.

 

Besides Zimmerman they don't really have a player the draws anyone....and Zimm barely does. The Stadium is easily accessible by the Metro (which is a superb system in DC) so no transportation excuse. It's really just that, well, they kind of suck.

Could be, but that's a pretty pathetic excuse for a team in a NEW STADIUM.

But you may be right. Still I see that you don't live there. Is there anyone that lives in that market that has a thought?

[MarlinsMY]

is it just me or is the camera angle at the nats stadium slightly different to the norm?

 

on several fly balls to the outfield my judgement of distance seems to be off

It's not just you - it looks like the cameras are placed higher up than most stadiums. Maybe they neglected to build camera wells... (In my opinion, it makes the broadcasts look really unprofessional.)

[The Marlin Man]

Bad Team = Poor Attendance.

 

Besides Zimmerman they don't really have a player the draws anyone....and Zimm barely does. The Stadium is easily accessible by the Metro (which is a superb system in DC) so no transportation excuse. It's really just that, well, they kind of suck.

Could be, but that's a pretty pathetic excuse for a team in a NEW STADIUM.

But you may be right. Still I see that you don't live there. Is there anyone that lives in that market that has a thought?

 

I do live there. I live in Arlington, VA which, for all intents and purpuses is SouthWest DC. New Stadium or No, if a team is doing poorly, people will not show up.

[Admin]

Bad Team = Poor Attendance.

That isn't the case.

 

Expensive Stadium = Poor Attendance

 

The team was playing pretty decent baseball until the Marlins came into town. The problem is that everything at the park is so damn expensive and the average fan will drain his savings just to attend a game there. Yes, it would provide more incentive for the fan to spend money on what is in many cases 100%+ increase in ticket prices, but the Nationals are pushing the limits in what they assume the average fan will pay for a stadium that is simply new.

 

It's obvious that the club is aware of it too. They have guys on their staff that are paid just to spot people trying to move up into the field box seats. I actually overheard a conversation on the matter and apparently they are worried that people will be less likely to pay for expensive seats if they watch people move up for free. Obviously it makes sense and it's fair but I've never seen a stadium and the usher staff so anal about it. In all honesty all of the empty seats are probably just corporate season ticket packages where no one really gives a damn.

 

 

On top of this, the months of April/May around these parts have been exceptionally cold. Or at least it feels that way to me.

[champkind]

i'm just hoping Loria and Co don't screw up the design for the new Ballpark. I think he made a comment on the new park having a contemporary design. I know the Marlins aren't that old of a franchise but i really just love the look of the more retro looking parks.

 

 

 

Though they really do need to find a way to include the teal tower and definately after seeing the HD screen in Dolphins stadium they need one of those bad boys.

 

 

Loria has made his money as an art dealer. So hopefully he' got good taste and we'll have something to be proud of. My gut tells me that Loria's art background and Miami's distinction as a "stylish" city will produce a very cool ballpark.

[DelGOT2Rings]

i'm just hoping Loria and Co don't screw up the design for the new Ballpark. I think he made a comment on the new park having a contemporary design. I know the Marlins aren't that old of a franchise but i really just love the look of the more retro looking parks.

 

 

 

Though they really do need to find a way to include the teal tower and definately after seeing the HD screen in Dolphins stadium they need one of those bad boys.

 

 

Loria has made his money as an art dealer. So hopefully he' got good taste and we'll have something to be proud of. My gut tells me that Loria's art background and Miami's distinction as a "stylish" city will produce a very cool ballpark.

Have you seen his 2003 WS Ring?? It's the most overly elaborate, opulent, and tacky championship ring I've ever seen. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love it. But they could have colored a crackerjack ring with teal paint and I would have loved it. As an art dealer with a supposed refined taste for the finer things, Loria's ring choice leads me to believe we're 50/50 on having the world's largest disco ball and/or a 50-foot olympic-esque torch right behind centerfield.

[IrishHarrington]

Bad Team = Poor Attendance.

 

Besides Zimmerman they don't really have a player the draws anyone....and Zimm barely does. The Stadium is easily accessible by the Metro (which is a superb system in DC) so no transportation excuse. It's really just that, well, they kind of suck.

Could be, but that's a pretty pathetic excuse for a team in a NEW STADIUM.

But you may be right. Still I see that you don't live there. Is there anyone that lives in that market that has a thought?

 

 

 

I dont live in DC , but i did live not far from DC for a few years . The problem the Nationals have is the Orioles had the market to themselves for 30 years so I would guess that the majority of baseball fans still support the orioles . Second DC has and will always be a football town first . Third the DC market faces several issues we face as marlin fans as someone mentioned the price of tickets , parking etc there is alot of poverty in DC . Fourth , and baseball is not as popular as it was decades ago among black americans , DC is a predominantly black city . Those would be my four main reasons why I think the new National Stadium isnt filling up .

[Tee Ball Bunt Machine]

Bad Team = Poor Attendance.

That isn't the case.

 

Expensive Stadium = Poor Attendance

 

The team was playing pretty decent baseball until the Marlins came into town. The problem is that everything at the park is so damn expensive and the average fan will drain his savings just to attend a game there. Yes, it would provide more incentive for the fan to spend money on what is in many cases 100%+ increase in ticket prices, but the Nationals are pushing the limits in what they assume the average fan will pay for a stadium that is simply new.The good seats are too expensive, but you can (and I did at the series in April) get decent seats for $10, and I did better for just under $20.

 

I know that you have major issues (you've aid it) about the food prices, but considering that you can bring in (albeit a small amount of) food and drinks to the stadium, I don't think it's that bad. You don't HAVE to pay for anything besides your seats in the stadium, and upper level seats with good views do not cost that much.

 

I think something's to be said about the Nats being a good vs bad team. When they first came to DC I think attendance was better, but since then the Nat's haven't finished better than 4th in the division, they traded away their best pitcher (Livan), and then refused to trade Soriano to get some pitching when they knew they had little chances to resign him. And after you do all that, who's gonna get excited? The baseball fans who get it are going to be frustrated by how they still have no rotation and the casual (bandwagon) fan won't come out for a perrenial loser.

 

I dont live in DC , but i did live not far from DC for a few years . The problem the Nationals have is the Orioles had the market to themselves for 30 years so I would guess that the majority of baseball fans still support the orioles . Second DC has and will always be a football town first . Third the DC market faces several issues we face as marlin fans as someone mentioned the price of tickets , parking etc there is alot of poverty in DC . Fourth , and baseball is not as popular as it was decades ago among black americans , DC is a predominantly black city . Those would be my four main reasons why I think the new National Stadium isnt filling up .

True, they are eating into the Orioles market, but I think one more thing is that aside from the Orioles' market, DC (not unlike Miami) has a lot of transplants living in and around it, so many of those folks who are baseball fans already support other teams. Many do not identify themselves as DC natives.

[pierremvp1]

Bad Team = Poor Attendance.

 

Besides Zimmerman they don't really have a player the draws anyone....and Zimm barely does. The Stadium is easily accessible by the Metro (which is a superb system in DC) so no transportation excuse. It's really just that, well, they kind of suck.

Could be, but that's a pretty pathetic excuse for a team in a NEW STADIUM.

But you may be right. Still I see that you don't live there. Is there anyone that lives in that market that has a thought?

 

 

 

I dont live in DC , but i did live not far from DC for a few years . The problem the Nationals have is the Orioles had the market to themselves for 30 years so I would guess that the majority of baseball fans still support the orioles . Second DC has and will always be a football town first . Third the DC market faces several issues we face as marlin fans as someone mentioned the price of tickets , parking etc there is alot of poverty in DC . Fourth , and baseball is not as popular as it was decades ago among black americans , DC is a predominantly black city . Those would be my four main reasons why I think the new National Stadium isnt filling up .

This and what Penguino had to say is what I suspected. Let's hope that the Marlins don't face the same hurdles. I'm not terribly optimistic. I can easily envision a scenario here similar to what's going on there.

.

.

All the peoples cries for a new stadium stadium are liable to turn into whines over prices. As much as many don't like Joe Robbie, we've been spoiled for 15 years with cheap tix, easy access, easy parking, easy in-out. Easy to move down to better seats. Oh well, at least the food will be better, even if it does cost $8 for an Arepa.

.

.

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Note: I haven't checked overall MLB attendance. It's quite possible that the sour economy is having an effect on attendance everywhere.

[BullDurham]

Bad Team = Poor Attendance.

 

Besides Zimmerman they don't really have a player the draws anyone....and Zimm barely does. The Stadium is easily accessible by the Metro (which is a superb system in DC) so no transportation excuse. It's really just that, well, they kind of suck.

Could be, but that's a pretty pathetic excuse for a team in a NEW STADIUM.

But you may be right. Still I see that you don't live there. Is there anyone that lives in that market that has a thought?

 

 

 

I dont live in DC , but i did live not far from DC for a few years . The problem the Nationals have is the Orioles had the market to themselves for 30 years so I would guess that the majority of baseball fans still support the orioles . Second DC has and will always be a football town first . Third the DC market faces several issues we face as marlin fans as someone mentioned the price of tickets , parking etc there is alot of poverty in DC . Fourth , and baseball is not as popular as it was decades ago among black americans , DC is a predominantly black city . Those would be my four main reasons why I think the new National Stadium isnt filling up .

This and what Penguino had to say is what I suspected. Let's hope that the Marlins don't face the same hurdles. I'm not terribly optimistic. I can easily envision a scenario here similar to what's going on there.

.

.

All the peoples cries for a new stadium stadium are liable to turn into whines over prices. As much as many don't like Joe Robbie, we've been spoiled for 15 years with cheap tix, easy access, easy parking, easy in-out. Easy to move down to better seats. Oh well, at least the food will be better, even if it does cost $8 for an Arepa.

.

.

.

Note: I haven't checked overall MLB attendance. It's quite possible that the sour economy is having an effect on attendance everywhere.

 

According to Yahoo Sports, the economy is not having an impact on stadium attendance.

[Real_Teal]

I don't think DC is a baseball town. There were two Senators teams that both left the city for other markets. I believe they became the Twins and Rangers respectively.

[nbace]

Sat in their "Stars and Stripes" club seats today (got the tix on ebay cheap)....really cool feature, there are a couple of bars where you can watch the game from right in the club section.

[Admin]

The good seats are too expensive, but you can (and I did at the series in April) get decent seats for $10, and I did better for just under $20.

 

I know that you have major issues (you've aid it) about the food prices, but considering that you can bring in (albeit a small amount of) food and drinks to the stadium, I don't think it's that bad. You don't HAVE to pay for anything besides your seats in the stadium, and upper level seats with good views do not cost that much.

 

I think something's to be said about the Nats being a good vs bad team. When they first came to DC I think attendance was better, but since then the Nat's haven't finished better than 4th in the division, they traded away their best pitcher (Livan), and then refused to trade Soriano to get some pitching when they knew they had little chances to resign him. And after you do all that, who's gonna get excited? The baseball fans who get it are going to be frustrated by how they still have no rotation and the casual (bandwagon) fan won't come out for a perrenial loser.

I've been to this park for a handful of games now and anecdotally (for what's that worth) my senses seem to be telling me that they are alienating the core fanbase or those who are likely to attend a multitude of games. I'm talking about the blatant sucking up to the corporations for the seats. Sure you can get upper deck seats for $10, but it's entirely impossible to even get field box seats at the box office unless you are a season ticket holder. Your only other option is to get scalped seats and most guys on the streets try to hustle you for a 50% markup. Ridiculous.

 

The average attendance is only a couple of thousand higher right now than it was for RFK in 2007. In all honesty, the Nats really aren't playing bad baseball (didn't they win 10 of 15 before coming into Friday). Their start in 2007 was embarrassing and they still seemed to fill out and equal numbers. I would also estimate that with the obvious desire to cater to corporate season ticket holders, there is a large visible discrepancy between the paid attendance and the attendance through the turnstiles. No way there was 23,000 there on Friday.

 

I don't know what the food policy is for bringing stuff in, but I see far less people doing it this season. I don't know if they got stricter or what. I imagine a lot of the problem is that there is no parking in close proximity so if people are dedicated enough to carry their own food they have to lug it with them on the Metro or on the shuttle bus. Rather inconvenient.

 

My last observation is what I perceive to be a sharp decline in the number of people wearing Nationals apparel. You hardly see anything. That tells me that much of the crowd at the moment consists of casual patrons just checking out the stadium either out of curiosity or because they were given free tickets. It's such a more apathetic crowd.

 

RFK was such a sh*thole but there is much about the experience that I sorely miss.

[Fish4Life]

Just flew in from the 3 game set in DC!! SWEEP BABY! Will post pics later