Pittsburgh writer insults Nats fans, park

[Dave B]

I dont disagree with him. And he admits the area is a work in progess.  The only thing I find fault with is "views of the capitol". You cant make chicken soup out of chicken crap

[shoeshineboy]

http://www.tribune-democrat.com/sports/local_story_127001338.html

I got through 4 paragraphs and stopped seeing that this guy has no idea what he is talking about.

[Why Not?]

Washington Attendance through 06 May:  538,163 = 29,877 per game = 71% of a full stadium.
Pitt Attendance through 06 May:   204,868 = 15,761 per game =  41% of a full stadium.

Pittsburgh has had SEVEN GAMES with less than 11,000 fans ( out of 13 total home games so far).  Take away the recent series vs. Philly in which visting fans crammed into the park and they'd be about 30,000 less total.

Pittsburgh's ballpark is several years old, Nats park is a month old. Pitsburgh averaged about 30K in its first season, which is about where the Nats are headed.

For what it's worth, Pittsburgh sold about 17K season tickets in the first season at PNC, a similar number as DC this year. PNC season tickets dropped to about 10K in the second year. It will be interesting to see how much of a dropoff there will be in Washington.

[mitlen]

My neighbor and I attended two of the Pirate series games.   What struck us most about the stadium was the sky.   It's a ball park with green grass and lots of sky.   Most of the seats are exposed to the sky.   There's not an Alka Selzer obelisk in the outfield (Bal'mer).   Nor is there the old Gulf BLDG (Pittsburgh) that glows different colors depending on the weather forcast.   There ain't nothin' like a view of Lake Erie (Cleveland).   If you want sights, get on a damn tour bus.   If you want baseball, it doesn't get any better than green grass and lots of sky.   By the way, I hope we "lose" the Playstation silliness.   It's about the game.

[Zilla05]

My neighbor and I attended two of the Pirate series games.   What struck us most about the stadium was the sky.   It's a ball park with green grass and lots of sky.   Most of the seats are exposed to the sky.   There's not an Alka Selzer obelisk in the outfield (Bal'mer).   Nor is there the old Gulf BLDG (Pittsburgh) that glows different colors depending on the weather forcast.   There ain't nothin' like a view of Lake Erie (Cleveland).   If you want sights, get on a damn tour bus.   If you want baseball, it doesn't get any better than green grass and lots of sky.   By the way, I hope we "lose" the Playstation silliness.   It's about the game.

Unfortunately, part of the Playstation element is Stan Kasten's MO when he was in Atlanta - he wanted to build a stadium, as strange as it sounds, where you could go to the game and be entertained without watching the game, so Nats Park has elements of this.

[spidernat]

  By the way, I hope we "lose" the Playstation silliness.   It's about the game.

QFT

Unfortunately, part of the Playstation element is Stan Kasten's MO when he was in Atlanta - he wanted to build a stadium, as strange as it sounds, where you could go to the game and be entertained without watching the game, so Nats Park has elements of this.

 

[mitlen]

The really funny sighting on Thursday was when my neighbor and I were roaming around the stadium looking at sight lines.   As we went by the restaurant in center field (Red Porch ?), there was a couple in there watching the hockey game (Pens).    Why go to a baseball game to sit in a lounge and watch hockey ?!?   We laughed and had to buy another beer (LOL).

[spidernat]

The really funny sighting on Thursday was when my neighbor and I were roaming around the stadium looking at sight lines.   As we went by the restaurant in center field (Red Porch ?), there was a couple in there watching the hockey game (Pens).    Why go to a baseball game to sit in a lounge and watch hockey ?!?   We laughed and had to buy another beer (LOL).

I've seen people at the stadium sitting around watching golf. I don't get that

[Zilla05]

The really funny sighting on Thursday was when my neighbor and I were roaming around the stadium looking at sight lines.   As we went by the restaurant in center field (Red Porch ?), there was a couple in there watching the hockey game (Pens).    Why go to a baseball game to sit in a lounge and watch hockey ?!?   We laughed and had to buy another beer (LOL).

I guess a Pirates fan who's already writing off the season and watching the Pens...

[soxfan59]

In his defense, I have said all of this and more about the general level of jackassery that has invaded MLB since about 1980.   Wrigley Field is the only authentic baseball experience out there.  No scoreboard games, no mascot, no rock music every 8.5 seconds.   Green grass, ivy, Old Style beer and organ music.

I hate to burst your bubble, but Wrigley ain't what it used to be.  They have scoreboard games now (on the little screen below the scoreboard, which we have nicknamed "Zircon-Vision").  They have loud rock music along with the organ music now.  The corporate sponsers have invaded -- the bleachers are the "Bud Lite Bleachers," with a built in bar and grille underneath.  And of course, it would be an authentic baseball experience, if the fans at Wrigley Field actually came to watch baseball.  But going to a Cubs game is like going to the opera.  75% of the people at the Opera aren't Opera fans, they're there to be seen.  Its the appeal of the whole atmospther -- snobbery if you will.  That describes the typical denizen of Wrigley, except replace the "snob" attitude with "ignorant drunken frat boy" attitude.

[Skipper88]

I hate to burst your bubble, but Wrigley ain't what it used to be.  They have scoreboard games now (on the little screen below the scoreboard, which we have nicknamed "Zircon-Vision").  They have loud rock music along with the organ music now.  The corporate sponsers have invaded -- the bleachers are the "Bud Lite Bleachers," with a built in bar and grille underneath.  And of course, it would be an authentic baseball experience, if the fans at Wrigley Field actually came to watch baseball.  But going to a Cubs game is like going to the opera.  75% of the people at the Opera aren't Opera fans, they're there to be seen.  Its the appeal of the whole atmospther -- snobbery if you will.  That describes the typical denizen of Wrigley, except replace the "snob" attitude with "ignorant drunken frat boy" attitude.

Damn you soxfan59!!!!!         You have indeed burst my bubble & now I can't even fall back on Wrigley Field as the example of what baseball should be.  I hope you're happy...

Further proof that baseball has been dumbed down to the level of amusement park entertainment over the last couple decades.

I was there in August 2005 for a Cubs - Cardinals Sunday night ESPN game and there were no games, no rock music, etc.  And everyone in the stadium, including the vendors back in the concourse,  stopped everything they were doing for the National Anthem-- gotta respect that.

[arkymark]

I'm going to PNC later this summer.  Looking forward to it -- have seen it from the outside, never been in.

I was quite impressed by the number of Pirate fans at the recent series.  Gotta hand it to them for continuing to root year after year of losing.  They have new management that may get it turned around.

[arkymark]

I hate to burst your bubble, but Wrigley ain't what it used to be.  They have scoreboard games now (on the little screen below the scoreboard, which we have nicknamed "Zircon-Vision").  They have loud rock music along with the organ music now.  The corporate sponsers have invaded -- the bleachers are the "Bud Lite Bleachers," with a built in bar and grille underneath.  And of course, it would be an authentic baseball experience, if the fans at Wrigley Field actually came to watch baseball.  But going to a Cubs game is like going to the opera.  75% of the people at the Opera aren't Opera fans, they're there to be seen.  Its the appeal of the whole atmospther -- snobbery if you will.  That describes the typical denizen of Wrigley, except replace the "snob" attitude with "ignorant drunken frat boy" attitude.

I been to the opera, and it's a lot more fun.  Plus the emotions are more authentic.

Worst thing about Wrigley is, whenever you go there, you have to watch the Cubs play.

[mitlen]

I was quite impressed by the number of Pirate fans at the recent series.  Gotta hand it to them for continuing to root year after year of losing.  They have new management that may get it turned around.
[/quote]

Some of those Pirates' fans are old farts like me who remember '60, '71 and '79.   By law, we have to wear our colors but I still cheer for the NATS.   I also remember Sid Bream ... I have nightmares.   I spoke to a lot of the folks from Jeanette (sp), Aliquippa, Mon Valley, etc. who live in the DC area.   We are primarily Steelers' fans with old Bucco memories.   We bleed black and gold and it ain't pretty.   However, in the end .... GO NATS ... because I'm tired of the tired management and ownership of the Bucs.

[blue911]

I was quite impressed by the number of Pirate fans at the recent series.  Gotta hand it to them for continuing to root year after year of losing.  They have new management that may get it turned around.


Some of those Pirates' fans are old farts like me who remember '60, '71 and '79.   By law, we have to wear our colors but I still cheer for the NATS.   I also remember Sid Bream ... I have nightmares.   I spoke to a lot of the folks from Jeanette (sp), Aliquippa, Mon Valley, etc. who live in the DC area.   We are primarily Steelers' fans with old Bucco memories.   We bleed black and gold and it ain't pretty.   However, in the end .... GO NATS ... because I'm tired of the tired management and ownership of the Bucs.

So would Omar Moreno ever get a shot nowadays?

[mitlen]

So would Omar Moreno ever get a shot nowadays?

Don't go there (LOL).   Hell, I don't think Maz would get a shot.

[blue911]

Omar couldn't hit a lick but man could he go get 'em.

[natsdad]

He never mentioned the Nats beat the Pirates 3 out of 4 games.
He probably saw two of the Pirate losses and was in a bad mood.

[shoeshineboy]

He never mentioned the Nats beat the Pirates 3 out of 4 games.
He probably saw two of the Pirate losses and was in a bad mood.

He was probably playing playstation