Tell me about Nats stadium

[bounty37h]

Hello all-
I have a goal of taking my son to a new stadium every year to catch a game, have hit the Braves and Mets last summer and really enjoyed both. We are going to DC and the Reds game on the 21st. Tell me what to look for/do-any good card shops, things at stadium we should do/check out (really enjoyed the tour at the Braves). I'm a Reds fan, considering getting a pre-game on-field package if available, is it worth it there-my son did it at the Mets last year and got Lindor's auto and a bunch of Braves (his team). Thanks for any advise!

[DylanPowers92]

parking around the stadium is terrible and super expensive. I would recommend taking public transit or pre buying a parking pass for sure

[towerymt]

Street park up near the Whole Foods. ~0.5mi EZ walk. They might finally be charging game day rates now, but for a while it was cheap per hour. Probably still cheaper than a lot, but I wouldn't know...never pay for a parking pass.

Just watch out for street parking that isn't metered, and is near residential...should have signs saying its zoned for residents, so you will get a ticket or tow if you parking on the wrong side of the street on certain blocks (assume this is common knowledge).

Metro is a good option if you want to avoid driving/parking.

[worldtravel00]

Originally Posted by towerymt

Metro is a good option if you want to avoid driving/parking.

This is the best option.

[hammertime]

Get a Korean hot dog. Cheese with potato batter is best.

[WillBBC]

Check out Blowout’s physical location out in Chantilly!

Walk down to 8th St SE and grab something good to eat.

[Handsome Wes]

Take the Metro in, unless you want to pay $50 for parking, in case go to the deck right outside left / centerfield.

I think I sat in section 217 and it was awesome. Great lounge / concessions area right behind you. great sight lines, a few foul balls our way, and I met Juan Williams there. Don't agree with him, but it's Juan WIlliams!

[Rosewood]

The National’s on-field batting practice is great and I highly recommend. Great chance for quite a few autos if you are chasing with your son. The Blowout Cards in Chantilly is a hike, but super kind people there and worth the stop. However, you’ll find plenty of Topps S2 (loose packs, fat packs, and blasters) at the stadium though. Terra and Diamond Club are stellar for both food and view, otherwise I would say the first base line and right field overhang are my choices for seats. I can’t say the food at the ballpark is anything to write home about, and it is generally way, way overpriced. Regardless, I hope you both have a great time.

[ObanMontecristo]

Try to knock out Camden Yards in Baltimore too

[Lawmaker]

Take an uber from hotel but do not enter destination nats stadium. Enter”the big stick” cheaper and will drop you right next to stadium.
I live on cap hill and probably been to over 200games. Sometimes
I walk but most of the time uber.

[dcbaseballcards]

take public transit to the game. Blowout Cards in Chantilly and Collectors' World in Annandale are your main options for card stores. But they can be an hour drive and a 30 minute drive respectively.

The Club Level has some cool Nationals memorabilia to look at. That may be as close to a museum that you'll see. If you walk on the main level concourse past home plate on the first base side, you will see a display of all the bobbleheads the team has given out over the years.

In all honesty, the stadium is pretty boring, particularly for kids' activities near or inside the park. I can't speak to the on-field offering though.

[clsports]

Originally Posted by Lawmaker

Take an uber from hotel but do not enter destination nats stadium. Enter”the big stick” cheaper and will drop you right next to stadium.
I live on cap hill and probably been to over 200games. Sometimes
I walk but most of the time uber.

Good general advice. I need to try that trick for an Uber to/from any airport. They always jack rates up for those. The problem is there is generally not much else in the vicinity of airports . . .

[shawnkrebs]

- Get a hotel in DC or Virginia near a metro stop and metro to the park - You'll ultimately want the Green Line towards Branch Ave and get off at the Navy Yard/Ballpark stop.

- Check out SeatGeek or SpotHero for nearby parking if you drive and buy a pass prior to the game. You'll likely find something relatively close for $25. Garage C & Geico Garage are connected to the ballpark and you can find spots in either garage for $50 on SeatGeek. If your not from the area, I wouldn't recommend searching for on street or lot parking day of game.

- It's a Monday night game, so the park will be maybe half full - you'll have a good chance to walk around the concourse with ease. The concourse is mostly open to the field, which is somewhat unusual for ballparks.

- Most enter the park through the Centerfield Gate. It's the easiest. But the home plate gate is the coolest with three incredible statues. Its also more likely to have SGA's near first pitch if there are any giveaways.

- Bens Chili Bowl has had concessions at the park since it opened in 2008. Get a half smoke with everything and bring a bib. I like the nachos at Hard Times too. I generally find the food at kiosks on the main concourse are better than the Nats concession stands (excluding Bens).

- Id recommend field level seats along 3rd base with many other Cin fans. Club level seats allow you to step inside the air conditioned section of the club level concourse. Club seats could be had for $50-60.

- You'll want to be in your seats middle of fourth inning for the Presidents race. Kids seem to love it.

- Depending on when you get in and how long you stay determines what else to do....obviously DC is full of museums. If you stay in Arlington or even a bit farther west in Falls Church or along the Metro Silver Line through Tysons, the drive to Collectors World in Annandale isn't bad. And The Fantastic Store is a couple minutes from the Dulles Toll Rd which would be convenient enough if your hotel was along the Metro line in Virginia.

[Asian62150]

Fun fact: My uncle oversaw construction of Nationals Park!

[KSterner]

I was in DC last year and hit up a nationals game. Pretty cool stadium!

-I ubered everywhere in DC including to the game. I did not regret that one bit once I got there. Driving in DC is a nightmare.

-Outfield restaurant is pretty cool. Food is ok, but the experience was fun.

[theshowandme]

Great ballpark

[bounty37h]

Originally Posted by shawnkrebs

- Get a hotel in DC or Virginia near a metro stop and metro to the park - You'll ultimately want the Green Line towards Branch Ave and get off at the Navy Yard/Ballpark stop.

- Check out SeatGeek or SpotHero for nearby parking if you drive and buy a pass prior to the game. You'll likely find something relatively close for $25. Garage C & Geico Garage are connected to the ballpark and you can find spots in either garage for $50 on SeatGeek. If your not from the area, I wouldn't recommend searching for on street or lot parking day of game.

- It's a Monday night game, so the park will be maybe half full - you'll have a good chance to walk around the concourse with ease. The concourse is mostly open to the field, which is somewhat unusual for ballparks.

- Most enter the park through the Centerfield Gate. It's the easiest. But the home plate gate is the coolest with three incredible statues. Its also more likely to have SGA's near first pitch if there are any giveaways.

- Bens Chili Bowl has had concessions at the park since it opened in 2008. Get a half smoke with everything and bring a bib. I like the nachos at Hard Times too. I generally find the food at kiosks on the main concourse are better than the Nats concession stands (excluding Bens).

- Id recommend field level seats along 3rd base with many other Cin fans. Club level seats allow you to step inside the air conditioned section of the club level concourse. Club seats could be had for $50-60.

- You'll want to be in your seats middle of fourth inning for the Presidents race. Kids seem to love it.

- Depending on when you get in and how long you stay determines what else to do....obviously DC is full of museums. If you stay in Arlington or even a bit farther west in Falls Church or along the Metro Silver Line through Tysons, the drive to Collectors World in Annandale isn't bad. And The Fantastic Store is a couple minutes from the Dulles Toll Rd which would be convenient enough if your hotel was along the Metro line in Virginia.

Thanks Shawn, and all who have chimed in. My wife said our hotel is close to the stadium so not concerned about parking thankfully. Were doing some museums and have the town covered, just never been to the ballpark there so appreciate all the feedback given! I am going to try to do the on-field BP package Monday. My son and wife are coming in early and going to the Pads game Sunday night. No giveaways either night.
Wish we could add in Camden but will be coming and going the opposite direction on a tight timeline. Love Camden-last time I went I saw the signs outside for Babe Ruths house/museum so decided to follow them and check it out. When we got there, the lady at the front said we were lucky, his daughter was there at that time and she came and talked to us for a bit, was very cool!