There isn’t anything quite like watching America’s
Pastime in the nation’s capital. In 2005, Major
League Baseball returned to Washington DC, and it really
only seems fitting that their be a team here. The Washington
Nationals, who used to be the Montreal Expos, proudly
call DC home, and for many, it’s a very welcome
development. It would take a couple additional years to
build Washington Nationals Stadium, but if anything was
ever worth the wait, it was this sports venue. Not only
is the architecture of the new DC baseball stadium impressive,
but it is also the first “Green Stadium” to
be certified by The Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED). The cost to build the new Washington Nationals
Stadium topped $610 million, so one might imagine that
it’s a pretty complete complex. Fans will enjoy
a wonderful experience at the new DC baseball stadium,
and catching a game here is a great thing to add to your
list of things to do in Washington
DC.
One of the more appreciative characteristics of Washington
Nationals Stadium, which opened in 2008, is its location.
Found in the southeast region of DC, the ballpark enjoys
a riverfront setting next to the Navy Yard. The Capitol
Riverfront, which is fast becoming a favorite DC business
center and hangout, can also be found close to the new
DC baseball stadium, which means fans can enjoy a fun-filled
day in the area when they come out to catch a game. The
Capitol Riverfront, and thus Washington Nationals Stadium,
can be accessed by 3 different Metrorail lines, and for
those who are driving, you can choose to hop on either
I-395 or I-295 to get in. Besides taking in views of the
Anacostia River when heading to catch a Washington DC
baseball game, fans can also enjoy views back towards
town of such iconic structures as the Capitol
Building and the Washington
Monument. These views of the surrounding city can
also be enjoyed from various seats, as well as from the
bulk of the ascending circulation ramps. Once inside the
new DC baseball stadium, baseball fans will be treated
to a most cutting-edge experience. The park’s video
and audio components are top of the line, and this includes
the large, high-definition scoreboard. In fact, the new
scoreboard is rumored to be at least 5 times bigger than
the one in the old RFK Stadium, which was where the Washington
Nationals played while they waited for their new home
to be built.
Interestingly enough, the Washington Nationals Stadium
boasts its own cherry blossom grove, which is found out
near the left field bleachers. As you may likely already
know, cherry blossoms, or cherry trees, are among the
more familiar symbols of the nation’s capital. Every
Spring, these signature trees burst with pink and red
blossoms that are a treat to see. Something else that
will be a treat for many fans coming to catch some Washington
DC baseball is the fact that half of the seats can be
accessed extremely easily. The field itself is below street
level, so a good amount of fans will be able to more or
less walk from the street to their seats. You’ll
surely notice the innovative design of the stadium once
you arrive, and you may be interested to know that this
design was inspired by the National
Gallery of Art’s East Wing, which just happens
to come from the mind of renowned architect I.M. Pei.
Incorporating glass, steel, and concrete into its design,
the Washington Nationals Stadium is intended to reflect
the architectural feel of the city in which it is found,
which is a rather wonderful thing.
Surely the best Nationals baseball stadium Washington
DC experience involves taking in a game, but if you are
in town when the team isn’t playing, you can still
get an inside look at the facility by booking one of the
1 hour and 15 minute Nationals Park tours. These tours
let you access pretty much all parts of the stadium, with
the Nationals team dugout and the Nationals clubhouse
among the highlights. If you so desire, you can even choose
to enjoy interactive tour activities such as tossing a
pitch in the Nationals team bullpen, or trying your hand
at hitting in the Nationals indoor batting cages. Private
tours are also available for groups of all sizes, and
they can even be arranged to fit your schedule and needs.
The next time you are in DC, why not take yourself out
to the ball park to enjoy some peanuts, cracker jacks,
and a state-of-the-art stadium that is surely among the
league’s best venues.
