Nationals Park Questions? (2011-2014)

[imref]

Whole Foods opening near the park. 

http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/whole_foods_signs_lease_for_navy_yard/7643

[Mathguy]

That's really awesome, for other establishments will follow.

Whole Foods opening near the park. 

http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/whole_foods_signs_lease_for_navy_yard/7643

[Galah]

That's really awesome, for other establishments will follow.

Almost qualifies as a liv-able neighborhood

[PowerBoater69]

[PowerBoater69]

That is the artists rendering of the proposed soccer stadium that the city is being asked to gift to the United. The interesting part is the traffic oval on South Capital Street. That would be one heck of a major landscape change to replace the bridge and fill in the area that is now under the bridge so that it is raised up to street level. And what would be the purpose? It would certainly not help the rush hour traffic flow. What would be the use of a patch of green in the middle of a busy roadway?

Also, notice that they expect the gravel lot to be replaced with buildings, killing our parking.

Of course all of that development is a pipe dream, the Nats Park area is filling in but it's still more unused lots than buildings. We don't even have our damn Mortine's yet. And the United think that a team that brings in under 200K fans a year is going to spur development?

Only way this debacle gets pushed through is if the mayor and his buddies get their wallets filled.

[OldChelsea]

A soccer-specific stadium southwest of Nats Park may not deliver all the economic benefit it claims...but better that than United moving to Baltimore or out of the mid-Atlantic altogether (pretty much their only alternative if the DC project falls through).

[PowerBoater69]

A soccer-specific stadium southwest of Nats Park may not deliver all the economic benefit it claims...but better that than United moving to Baltimore or out of the mid-Atlantic altogether (pretty much their only alternative if the DC project falls through).

Better for who? The 13,000 ticket buyers pet game or the 5-8,000 who actually showed up this year?

The United games are a lot of fun, but there is no possible way that it makes sense for the city to gift them $150 million. Let the team owners follow the Pollin and Cooke model and build their own stadium. Our else they can move to Baltimore and see how that works out.

[mitlen]

I'd like to know what the buildings are on S. Capitol between Nats' Park and the street?    I understand the artist's rendition thing but there's no way in hell it's gonna look like this.    This must be for the folks who've never been to that area of SW/SE.

[OldChelsea]

Better for who? The 13,000 ticket buyers pet game or the 5-8,000 who actually showed up this year?

The United games are a lot of fun, but there is no possible way that it makes sense for the city to gift them $150 million. Let the team owners follow the Pollin and Cooke model and build their own stadium. Our else they can move to Baltimore and see how that works out.

Actual average attendance for United was 13,645 (two clubs did worse - San Jose and Chivas USA) - actually amazing considering the train-wreck season United had this year. You know as well as anyone how this town is - unless it's the Redskins they'll only buy tickets to winners.

Average throughout MLS was 18,639/fixture.

If they moved to Baltimore, except for the Barra Brava/Screaming Eagles and the Maryland part of their STH base, they'd have to re-invent their supporter base all over again - in effect it'd be an expansion club. Build a SSS in Washington though and a lot of the fans (among them yours truly) will come back - especially if the Nationals continue to regress from their 2012 high. Again, except for the Skins, this town only supports winners.

[PowerBoater69]

I'd like to know what the buildings are on S. Capitol between Nats' Park and the street?    I understand the artist's rendition thing but there's no way in hell it's gonna look like this.    This must be for the folks who've never been to that area of SW/SE.

It was done in an effort to sell the city on a corporate welfare project, reality was not a priority.

[PowerBoater69]

Even the Redskins are having problems with attendance, the Super Bowl run hold over lasted 15 years, but it's gone, they need to win too fill FedEx.

The United not only had low ticket sales, but a very low percentage of actual tickets used, they don't release those numbers, but it's obvious when there aren't half the number of seats filled as the announced number. Historically this was not the case, if they sold 22,000 tickets there was hardly an open seat in the lower level.

Your point about losing fans in Baltimore is exactly why the city shouldn't pay for them to stay. They need the DC market more than the city needs them to spur development. If they want to move to a city where the average citizen shoots dope, let them go, MLS will expand back into DC sooner rather than later.

[PowerBoater69]

Derby Tan (aka Natty bred) on the MLB board found this article that the request for a liquor license on the river front across from the ballpark has been denied.

www.popville.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Riverfront-at-the-Ballpark-Order-on-Denial-of-License-11-13-2013.pdf



Their plan was to host concerts, pregame parties, bocce, and kickball tournaments.

Good reasons to deny: no parking at the site with location next to river and South Capital Street will lead to pedestrian accidents. Limited to porto potties on site will lead to public urination.

Bad reasons to deny: extra work for cops, noise issues, drunks on Metro, which are all bullcrap because it won't be any noisier than Nats Park and the Bullpen and there won't be anymore drunks than any other bar and the original plan for the ballpark area was for it to be full of bars.

Other than MPD and the local NIMBY's, guess who else filed a protest? Your Washington Nationals! They'd rather have a gravel field for a neighbor than allow $1 to be spent outside the ballpark.

[OldChelsea]

[...]Other than MPD and the local NIMBY's, guess who else filed a protest? Your Washington Nationals! They'd rather have a gravel field for a neighbor than allow $1 to be spent outside the ballpark.

If Ted Lerner owned a pub, he'd charge his own mother for a drink.

...and ah yes, the NIMBY's...just like the people who move into the Crystal City area and demand that National Airport (which has been operating since 1940) be closed or cut back because of the noise, or the people who buy homes near London Heathrow airport (which opened roughly the same time) and succeeded in getting noise restrictions enacted (no more arrivals before 06.00, for instance)...and Capital Riverfront NIMBYism will only get worse as more residential units are built into the riverfront neighbourhood. Don't be surprised if riverfront area residents, once all the bars and restaurants they're planning open up, demand cutbacks in their operating hours on baseball nights.

[mitlen]

Other than MPD and the local NIMBY's, guess who else filed a protest? Your Washington Nationals! They'd rather have a gravel field for a neighbor than allow $1 to be spent outside the ballpark.

I'm shocked.    To be fair though, the Nats were not granted standing to protest the application.   

[imref]

I'm shocked.    To be fair though, the Nats were not granted standing to protest the application.   

I guess it would draw fans away from the bullpen and the pre-game happy hours.

[mitlen]

I guess it would draw fans away from the bullpen and the pre-game happy hours.

The bocce ball might draw me away from the bullpen.    The kickball?    Not so much.

[imref]

The bocce ball might draw me away from the bullpen.    The kickball?    Not so much.

hmm, what about pre-game paintball?

[mitlen]

hmm, what about pre-game paintball?

My son tried to get me to do paintball one time.   Told him I didn't think I'd react very well to getting whacked with a paint ball.   

[PowerBoater69]

The bocce ball might draw me away from the bullpen.    The kickball?    Not so much.

I believe the bocce and kickball tournaments were planned to bring in groups on non game days.

[PowerBoater69]

CSX is planning on rebuilding the Virginia Avenue Tunnel from 2nd to 11th streets in order to increase the height and upgrade from one track to two through the tunnel.  The project is expected to take up to six years and will have a major impact on ballpark traffic.

[PowerBoater69]

[mitlen]

Who are they?

[Mattionals]

Who are they?

I had no idea and looked them up.  They are One Direction.  Apparently they are a big name boy band.

Supposedly this would be one of the biggest Nats Park concerts.

[mitlen]

I had no idea and looked them up.  They are One Direction.  Apparently they are a big name boy band.

Supposedly this would be one of the biggest Nats Park concerts.

So, it's come to this.   

[PowerBoater69]

This will be my first Nats Park concert, I'm going to need to learn all of their songs.