Matt Shalbrack/Winonan

For the second time this season, I went to a Washington Nationals game and got to take in the great ballpark experience that is Nationals Park. They won the first game I went to, but this time, they lost against the Philadelphia Phillies. They did make it interesting though towards the end, so even though it was a loss, it was still a great game.

My second experience at the ballpark was just as good as the first one. I had different seats this time – I sat in the right field nosebleeds, but you still have a wonderful view of the game. My tickets were only $7.50, and I think our seats are normally $11.

The experience at the ballpark is great. The biggest thing that I noticed that was different from any other ballpark I’ve visited was the fact that the ushers make you wait for a stop in play before allowing you to head to your seat. At first, I thought this was silly, but the more and more people walked in front of me during the action, I got frustrated. I didn’t like the rule at first, but now I wish every ballpark did that. The ushers and vendors are great to work with and all have very friendly personalities. It’s always a joy to purchase something from one of them.

Aesthetically, the ballpark is beautiful on the inside and outside. They did a great job of using white on the façade and using red as a major highlight of various things throughout the ballpark. The seats are actually quite comfortable in my opinion and there isn’t a bad seat in the house—at least from where I have sat so far. The big screen in the outfield is crystal clear and it’s beautiful to look at. The graphic design and video teams have out done themselves with everything, because there are just so many beautiful things that they do with the crystal clear big screen that make it such a joy to watch and stare at. A few times I even found myself staring at the big screen more so than the game itself.

I didn’t notice that the food prices were too high compared to other ballparks and they have a variety of options for both vegetarians and meat eaters alike. The beer prices were a little high – $9 for a normal draft beer and $9.75 for a Heineken – but that was from the beer vendors who walk throughout the stands. Prices may have been cheaper when purchased elsewhere.

My favorite part about the Nationals Park experience is the view that you get from inside the stadium. At night, all of the buildings in the distance are illuminated, which makes for such a pretty view. The dome of the United States Capitol can be seen in the distance as can the Washington Monument.

Overall, my second experience to Nationals Park was a great one. I definitely will be back again, hopefully soon if the Nationals make the playoffs. I can’t wait to have many more wonderful experiences at Nationals Park and experience a few more Curly W’s!

Contact Matt at [email protected]