April 9 RFK SHUTTLE - PARK IN LOT 7

[CALSGR8]

Hey guys

I heard on the news last night that since there's a DC United game at RFK, that NATS fans are to park in LOT 7 instead of LOT 8. 

Call the NATS to verify, but that's what I heard.

Metro may be crowded.  United, and Wizards are also playing tonight.

[natsfan1a]

Yes, Svrluga posted about it yesterday. Don't recall whether it was also posted here. (p.s. Good to see you online again!)

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/

[nats2playoffs]

I have two travel questions, posted in another thread; nobody answered:

1) About the free Nats Express bus, that runs to the free parking usually at Lot 8-only of RFK Stadium.  Do they sit idle until the end of the game, or are there runs during the game for late arrivals or people who do NOT want to sit through rain storms or blowouts, and want to (horrors) LEAVE EARLY?  I heard instructions to drivers at the Opener that sounded like you'd be stranded at Nationals Park.

2) The individual pay-parking is for $15, 20, or $40.  The $40 is a block or so away, but the $15 is maybe 8 blocks away and the $20 is maybe 10 blocks, including 2 short ones.  Is there any kind of shuttle bus from those lots, or do you have to walk the whole way.  RFK Stadium's parking was next to the place.

Byron Kerr ran a post-game radio call-in show (107.7 FM, 1500 AM) after Monday's game.  He was browbeating callers about why they didn't attend the game themselves, when they commented about the empty seats.  Adding more and more time to the commute and cost does not encourage attendance. 

[tomterp]

I have two travel questions, posted in another thread; nobody answered:

1) About the free Nats Express bus, that runs to the free parking usually at Lot 8-only of RFK Stadium.  Do they sit idle until the end of the game, or are there runs during the game for late arrivals or people who do NOT want to sit through rain storms or blowouts, and want to (horrors) LEAVE EARLY?  I heard instructions to drivers at the Opener that sounded like you'd be stranded at Nationals Park.

I can't answer your question with anything better than informed speculation.   I've ridden the buses once, on the very first day (exhibition game).  They did not hold the bus at RFK until it is full, after about 5 minutes they shuttled us over still half empty.

We left around the 8th inning, made the walk back with a number of other fans, and boarded the first bus in the queue.  It filled up and left. 

For sure the bus will depart once it is full, regardless of whether the game is done.  I suspect buses are available for the duration of the game, but would they make a run with 1 passenger aboard?  10?  Not sure what the cutoff is.  My guess is that if you left 7th inning or later you would not have to wait more than 5-10 minutes for the bus to depart.

[OldChelsea]

And this isn't just any DC United match - this is CONCACAF Champions Cup vs Cruz Azul Pachuca of Mexico - expect upwards of 20,000 of their supporters at RFK tonight.

[nats2playoffs]

On Opening Day there were hundreds of cars in Lot 7, with NO Express service at all.  After running to Lot 8, you then had to figure out which ONE of the dozens of buses was actually taking passengers.  None of the idle drivers knew anything, nor would they answer a question; they were just there to get paid.

About 10 of us were driven by the S - L - O - W - E - S - T driver in the history of bus drivers, ensuring that we would not arrive until the first inning.  There was NO right turn on red at one traffic light; no traffic at all, but we sat there about 4 minutes.  The numerous cops did nothing to keep traffic moving; they just sat in their cars collecting overtime.  The bus driver then MISINFORMED the departing passengers that pickups would take place at this drop-off point, which was actually several blocks from the actual pickup point.