William F. Yurasko

Nats/MLB 2007, Video

Bi-weekly ballpark event

November 14, 2007

Is it just me or do the Nats braintrust and District politicians hold media events at the ballpark at least once a month? They must be great friends!

First Games, Seating Set for Nationals’ New Park – The Post

Nationals fans can take a seat – The Wash. Times

Nationals’ new ballpark beginning to take shape – The Wash. Examiner

Nationals exhibit stadium’s progress – nationals.com

Several things came out of the latest ballpark event:

The ballpark is on time and on budget.
An announcement that the “first game” will be on Saturday, March 29 against Balmore. No tickets will be sold, but season ticket holders, D.C. children’s organizations and construction workers and their families will be invited.
The grass is completely installed and greening up.
Seating assignments will be announced on Friday — “Kasten said that 90 percent of buyers received one of their top three choices and that half of the buyers got their first choice.”
Single game tickets will go on sale in February.
Parking arrangements have not yet been finalized, but it is expected that RFK Stadium lots will be used with a shuttle running back and forth between the ballpark and the stadium.
“The team will spend at least $40 million on enhancements by the time the project is completed.”
The papal visit is still “in discussions” and not finalized. Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl began discussions with the Lerner family and the Vatican, according to The Wash. Examiner.
50% of the suites are sold with an expectation that the entire inventory will be sold by Opening Day. Club seats are sold out.
There may still be time for a company to buy naming rights before Opening Day. Somehow, I think the exposure of a papal visit might be enticing to a company looking for name recognition. I would imagine a defense contractor sponsorship might be a little awkward though.
The March 30 Opening Night game is a “strong possibility” according to Nationals Journal.
Season tickets are being renewed at a 95% rate, but Kasten would not elaborate on how many other tickets have been sold. It is expected the lower level and some upper levels will be sold out though.