📍 Washington, DC
⚾ Home of the Washington Nationals

MLB’s Washington Nationals have been an integral part of the DC sports scene since 2005, when the Montréal Expos were relocated to our nation’s capital. Founded in 1969, the Expos played north of the border for 35 years – holding games primarily at the architectural marvel known as Stade Olympique – but not finding much success on the diamond. Following a decade-long spiral for both the team and their ballpark, the league moved the Expos down to Washington, breathing new life into the franchise. The rebranded Nationals would become the District’s first MLB team since the departure of the Washington Senators in 1971.

In DC, the Nats have had their fair share of ups and downs, but ultimately succeeded where Montréal could not, winning their first-ever championship in 2019. It was also the first time that a franchise had clinched a World Series for the city since the Senators did so in 1924. In the years since, the team has been trying to once again recapture the magic of that prosperous postseason run.

When they first arrived in DC, the Nationals played three seasons at RFK Stadium, a true relic from the concrete donut era. One of the first multi-purpose venues designed for both football and baseball, RFK was replaced in 2008 by 41,000-seat Nationals Park. Located in the Navy Yard neighborhood of the District, several blocks from the US Capitol Building, the ballpark was built for a cost of nearly $700 million. In a nod to the stadium’s unique locale and Naval ties, a submarine dive horn is played after every Nationals home run.

One unique feature of Nationals Park is the elevated press box that sits atop the upper level, bucking the trend of a mid-level press box seen at other Major League ballparks. This odd situation cuts into the seating area behind home plate a bit, forcing fans outwards down the lines. The lofty upper deck also affords fantastic views of the District, with the Washington Monument and Capitol Building still visible from certain places in the ballpark, though neighborhood construction may soon obstruct these vistas. Outside the gates, the stadium features a shiny, metallic facade that some have criticized as being lackluster and uninspired, especially when compared to the more traditional brick-and-mortar design found at other MLB parks. Statues of Washington baseball legends such as Josh Gibson, Walter Johnson and Frank Howard also greet fans as they approach the main entrance.

Nestled amongst some of Washington, D.C.’s finest landmarks, Nationals Park has been a faithful home for the club and its loyal fans over the last twenty years. The team’s journey from struggling Expos to triumphant World Series victors has captivated fans in the District and all around the DMV, who eagerly await the next great curly W.

Info Invasion

Parking: Don’t drive in DC, take Metro to Navy Yard-Ballpark station on the Green Line
Nearby Venue(s): Audi Field, Camden Yards
In the Area: Explore one of the many free Smithsonian museums on the National Mall

Published by Jared Goodman

Avid traveler and photographer. For the last few years, I’ve written and shot for several organizations that have enabled me to experience live events at a variety of stadiums and arenas in every sport. In my travels, I've been fortunate enough to visit all 50 states and 3 countries, catching over 600 games at 350 venues and counting.

Leave a comment