Four years after opening, Nationals Park is finally attracting the kind of development envisioned by ballpark proponents, drawing restaurants, retail and residential to a struggling area of D.C. A review of all the development in the area of the home of the Washington Nationals shows some solid progress at work. Gone is a concrete plant on […]
Tag Archives | washington nationals
If Nats leave Viera, will other teams follow?
With talks continuing between the Washington Nationals and Lee County about a spring-training move, folks are inevitably wondering if the Cardinals, Mets or Marlins will follow. It’s a natural question: the Cards and Marlins have a clause in their leases for Roger Dean Stadium the right to talk away for greener pastures if fewer than […]
Lee County commissioner: “50-50” chance Nats will move spring ops to Fort Myers
A Lee County commissioner pegged the odds at “50-50” about the chances of the Washington Nationals moving spring-training operations to Fort Myers after the two sides met today. Lee County (Fl.) Commissioner Frank Mann, who did not attend a meeting between Lee County officials and two Nats reps but did discuss it with them afterwards, […]
Lee County, Nats to meet about spring training
Reps from the Washington Nationals and Lee County will meet today to discuss the team shifting spring-training operations to Fort Myers’ City of Palms Park. We don’t expect anything big to come from the discussions; the two are just a third into a 90-day exclusive negotiating period. Both sides have made their goals public: the […]
Lee County to seek state ballpark-improvement grant
Already aiming to fund improvements at Hammond Stadium, the spring home of the Minnesota Twins, Lee County is seeking state assistance as it also works to free up money for the Washington Nationals. in discussions of the future of spring training in Fort Myers, Lee County commissioners have steadfastly held that any additional tourism-tax revenues not […]
Lerner: Fort Myers is tops on our spring-training wish list
It’s inevitable that the Washington Nationals will be leaving Viera’s Space Coast Stadium for spring training, and tops on the team’s wish list for a new home is Fort Myers’ City of Palms Park. Not surprising the Lerners want to leave Viera: at a time when teams are clustering spring-training operations both in Florida and Arizona, the […]
Springsteen adds Nationals Park to concert lineup
Good news for those in the DC area: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be playing Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals, as part of their summer tour. The concert, announced via Twitter, is scheduled for Sept. 14. There were rumors that Springsteen would be playing a ballpark or two this summer — like Fenway Park — […]
Nats: We want unified spring facility in Fort Myers
The Washington Nationals have a vision of a Fort Myers training base with unified facilities — but it’s questionable whether Lee County has the money to pull off the plan. One of the big reasons why the Boston Red Sox left City of Palms Park in central Fort Myers: the team’s training facility was a […]
Nats extend affiliations with four farm teams
The Washington Nationals extended their affiliations with four minor-league clubs: the Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA; International League), Harrisburg Senators (Class AA; Eastern League), Potomac Nationals (High Class A; Carolina League) and Auburn Doubledays (short season A; NY-Penn League). Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Assistant General Manager and […]
Pigging out at the park: the eight-pound StrasBurger
We have an early contender for the most noteworthy food item at a ballpark this season: the Washington Nationals will be offering an eight-pound hamburger, the StrasBurger. From the Nationals PR department, this news about a burger to be sold at the Red Porch concession area: Weighing eight pounds total (including toppings), the StrasBurger is […]
The Week That Was: March 11
A new spring-training ballpark, the passing of a respected baseball figure and more debate about a potential Oakland A’s move. Here are the top stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as measured in page views. JetBlue Park at Fenway South / Boston Red Sox MLB: No, there’s been no decision on Oakland A’s […]
Gammons: Nats present spring-training wish list to Lee County
The Washington Nationals reportedly have given Lee County officials a wish list for a renovation of City of Palms Park and could move spring operations there in 2014, according to Peter Gammons. Here’s Gammons’ tweet: “Nats gave Lee County their plans to reconstruct Boston’s former downtown Fort Myers park, likely there in 2014 if county […]
Suns: Nationals forcing us to move from Hagerstown
The Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) say they’re leaving Municipal Stadium because of pressure from parent Washington Nationals; meanwhile, Winchester residents aren’t thrilled about new-ballpark plans. While it’s been no secret the Suns have been in play for several months now, majority owner Bruce Quinn says his group needs a new home for […]