Last updated on January 22nd, 2024
Like you really need 7 new reasons to visit Nationals Park!
Who doesn’t already love going to Nationals Park and enjoying America’s favorite pastime?
I recently attended a Washington Nationals Media Tour at Nationals Park.
The behind-the-scenes preparations for the upcoming season are too exciting not to share!
Nationals Park
1. New Retail & Memorabilia
Nationals Park has modernized their retail locations and significantly expanded their collection of merchandise throughout the ballpark.
They now have a new Jersey Conveyor where fans can personalize their own jersey of their favorite player.
They’re also offering the opportunity for fans to get authentic, autographed and game-used memorabilia straight from Nationals players!
This includes caps, baseballs, baseball cards, photos and other items signed by select Nats players.
You can get this memorabilia either in the stadium or online on their auctions page.
The stadium has a TON of cool Nats merchandise!
Some of their new items are Under Armour hats, Mitchell and Ness Cooperstown Senators apparel, and an assortment of Columbia and Johnnie-O apparel.
They’ve also added an expanded jewlery selection with GameTime Watches, LogoArt Jewelry, and the continued sale of Alex and Ani bracelets.
Larger products, like the Nationals remote control coolers, can be purchased in-store and shipped for free directly to fans’ homes.
2. New & Enhanced Ballpark Spaces
Some of the really cool things Nationals Park is offering their fans this year are:
- A Coca-Cola Social Media Lounge with cornhole, interactive displays and phone charging stations.
- A Virtual Reality Home Run Derby where you put on a VR headset and feel like you’re really at home plate in Nationals Park swinging for the fences!
- An enhanced Kids Play Area targeted for children under 5 years old, including toddler slides, climbing structures, seating for parents, and a soft surface to run around on.
- Photo Booths featuring photo strips with both Nationals logos and opposing team logos.
- A Penny Press offering exciting designs – All-Star Game Logo, Nationals logos, Nationals Park image.
- Newer & larger televisions throughout the ballpark.
- Elimination of designated smoking areas due to DC law requiring Nationals Park be a non-smoking facility.
3. Concessions & Beverages
As you can see from the photos above, this ain’t your mama’s old ballpark fare!
You guys, they have totally raised the bar with the food & beverage offerings at Nationals Park!
Not only have they added new and expanded beverage stands and concession stands, but they’ve also added a bunch of new menu items!
Cocktails will be offered made with spirits crafted right here in DC, from 4 distilleries: District Distilling Co, Republic Restoratives Distillery, New Columbia Distillers, & One Eight Distilling.
Nats Cho Libre anyone? {See what they did there?}
Devils Backbone Bar is debuting the Nationals’ flagship brew, Earned Run Ale (ERA).
I was able to try it and let me tell you, it is so good!!
District Coolers will serve adult style juice boxes (no, son, you can’t have a sip!).
Blueberry Mojito? Why yes please!
And the food, oh my goodness the food!
The Washington Nationals Concessions include Knotted Up (soft pretzels with dipping sauces), Street Skewers (easy-to-eat, shish kebab style snacks), Old Hickory BBQ (BBQ pulled pork, brisket, pulled pork nachos, hot links, and pork rinds), Italian Outpost (meatball subs, italian hot beef dip), Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, and Encore Sausage Company.
4. Playing Field Enhancements
The Nationals Park playing field has upgraded their irrigation system, added a new growing medium for the turf, and added a new turf across the entire surface consisting of a new blend of Kentucky Bluegrass varieties.
I have to say, when we walked up to the field it was absolutely gorgeous.
5. Free Stuff!
Who doesn’t love free stuff?
Nationals Park will offer a special giveaway for kids one Sunday every month.
The kids giveaways will include fidget spinners, superhero capes, batting helmets, night lights and pajama sets.
Military Appreciation Day offers complimentary tickets to military service members and their families.
Other promotional items given out throughout the season will be bobbleheads, t-shirts, tote bags, Star Wars stance socks, hawaiian shirts, trucker caps, Game of Thrones figurines, & Oktoberfest beer steins.
Take a look at the Washington Nationals promotions schedule to find out which nights these items will be given away.
6. Fun Theme Nights
Theme nights at Nationals Park are super popular and so much fun!
One year their theme nights included Star Wars Day, Game of Thrones Night, Oktoberfest, and Budweiser Decade Nights where live bands & DJ’s played that era’s music and free t-shirts were given out at the Budweiser Terrace Bar.
Check out the Nationals Park game schedule showing all of their promotional and theme nights.
7. Washington Nationals MLB.com Ballpark App
The Nats have added a bunch of exciting new features to the App over the offseason.
They’ve added new mobile games so that fans can compete against other fans in interactive games on the scoreboard.
Using the App, fans can also take advantage of a seamless ticket experience such as streamlined ticket purchasing, ticket sharing with friends or co-workers, and mobile entry into Nationals Park.
Fans can also upgrade their seats using the App!
In addition, you’ll be given exclusive check-in offers as well as discounts on your tickets, merchandise, or concessions when using the App.
Another, more environmentally friendly feature of the App will be the new digital edition of Inside Pitch.
The Nats will no longer be offering Inside Pitch (their game-day program) in paper form.
To access the App, go to ‘Ballpark’ on your app store.
Other new and exciting Nationals Park changes include their Curly W Commitment, the Nationals Dream Foundation, and their Community Calendar.
I don’t know about you, but I cannot wait to go to Nationals Park and experience a game!
Play ball!!
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You sold me on the food and drinks. Can we go when they play the Orioles. Lol.:)
Right? I could go for the food and drinks alone! I’ll look at the schedule to see when they play the Orioles.
Really well “researched” and written!!! I went to a game last Mother’s Day and had NO clue about all the things you wrote about! The food was good but expensive! I loved it and want to go back this season!!
We should all go Cheryl. In memory of Dad. That would be fun!
Nice review of the stadium. I can’t wait to go to some games.
Thanks Kenny! We’re really hoping to get to some of the games this season!