[...]but I doubt we even sell out Opening Day.[...]
Nationals home opener attendance, through the years - we've never drawn under 39k for a home opener:
2005 - Thursday 14th April vs Diamondbacks - 43,618
2006 - Tuesday 11th April vs Mers - 40,516
2007 - Monday 2nd April vs Marlins - 40,389*
2008 - Sunday 30th March vs Braves - 39,434*
2009 - Monday 13th April vs Phillies - 40,386
2010 - Monday 5th April vs Phillies - 41,290*
2011 - Thursday 31st March vs Braves - 39,055*
2012 - Thursday 12th April vs Reds - 40,907
2013 - Monday, April Fools Day vs Marlins - TBD
*Also regular season opener (all other seasons we opened on the road)
---
But whatever...great fanbases evolve...they aren't created by just one hot run to the playoffs. Great supporter bases, the kind that'll still put 30k+ into the ballpark for a Tuesday nighter against the Marlins, are built up and nurtured by organisations that continue to work to put a quality product out on the diamond.