2008 Woodie Awards
In This Corner: Nats' Park is a sight to see in capital
Carrie Wood
Sports | 4/7/08
If you're expecting all great ballparks to be made out of red brick, prepare to be disappointed.
Nationals Park, which opened for regular season play on March 30, is a sight to behold for Nats fans and baseball enthusiasts in general. I attended opening night, and was blown away by the park (and by Ryan Zimmerman's walk-off home run). Following three seasons in Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium - which was little more than a giant, obsolete concrete bowl the team used to play ball in, but it served its purpose - the Washington Nationals kicked off 2008 in style.
Settled on the Anacostia River, the stadium would otherwise blend into its surroundings completely if not for the big red letters letting passers-by know that yes, this is indeed Nationals Park. The primarily silver-and-white exterior of the park is certainly not a traditional look for a ballpark by any means; but by using such a scheme, the architects avoided creating a monstrosity that stuck out of the cityscape like a sore thumb.
Once inside the park, attendees will be quick to notice that the open concourse allows them to travel about the stadium without ever losing sight of the field itself. A fantastic feature for any visitor, it means you'll never miss a piece of the action. As you walk around the park the D.C. skyline can be seen beyond the edge of the stadium, as well as local landmarks such as the Capitol and the Washington Monument.
The park also boasts fantastic local vendors such as Gifford's Ice Cream, as well as a Build-a-Bear Workshop and a PlayStation 3 lounge. Nationals' fans can get their game on while their team is warming up, with popular games such as "Guitar Hero III" and "Gran Turismo" available.
The hardest thing to miss is the state-of-the-art, 4,500 square-foot high-definition screen and scoreboard. You can see every bead of sweat on Chad Cordero's face and even if the sun is hitting the board directly, you can still see it clearly.
However, Nationals Park is not without its faults. The parking situation is horrendous, but the franchise is making an effort to alleviate the problem by encouraging fans to either take the D.C. metro, or by parking at RFK (for free) and taking the "Nats Express" (also free) to get to the games.
Nationals Park, which opened for regular season play on March 30, is a sight to behold for Nats fans and baseball enthusiasts in general. I attended opening night, and was blown away by the park (and by Ryan Zimmerman's walk-off home run). Following three seasons in Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium - which was little more than a giant, obsolete concrete bowl the team used to play ball in, but it served its purpose - the Washington Nationals kicked off 2008 in style.
Settled on the Anacostia River, the stadium would otherwise blend into its surroundings completely if not for the big red letters letting passers-by know that yes, this is indeed Nationals Park. The primarily silver-and-white exterior of the park is certainly not a traditional look for a ballpark by any means; but by using such a scheme, the architects avoided creating a monstrosity that stuck out of the cityscape like a sore thumb.
Once inside the park, attendees will be quick to notice that the open concourse allows them to travel about the stadium without ever losing sight of the field itself. A fantastic feature for any visitor, it means you'll never miss a piece of the action. As you walk around the park the D.C. skyline can be seen beyond the edge of the stadium, as well as local landmarks such as the Capitol and the Washington Monument.
The park also boasts fantastic local vendors such as Gifford's Ice Cream, as well as a Build-a-Bear Workshop and a PlayStation 3 lounge. Nationals' fans can get their game on while their team is warming up, with popular games such as "Guitar Hero III" and "Gran Turismo" available.
The hardest thing to miss is the state-of-the-art, 4,500 square-foot high-definition screen and scoreboard. You can see every bead of sweat on Chad Cordero's face and even if the sun is hitting the board directly, you can still see it clearly.
However, Nationals Park is not without its faults. The parking situation is horrendous, but the franchise is making an effort to alleviate the problem by encouraging fans to either take the D.C. metro, or by parking at RFK (for free) and taking the "Nats Express" (also free) to get to the games.
Be the first to comment on this story