Will the Nats even be in town long enough to merit the investment? What is this like the fifth go-around for the District?
It's also raining. But yeah, I didn't think the idea would work. It's still mostly ghetto over there, but they are trying to do a revitalization project. see halfstreet.com There's enough rich people the greater area over here that if you make something trendy enough, people will come. They don't need much land around here, just amenities. A good friend lives like half a mile from the ball park so maybe I'll head over there tomorrow if it isn't raining. Sucks that the weather is bad and it's the only trip the 'Stros are making here.
Not to beat a dead horse, but the bullpen lets it get away from us again. I have no problem when teams stretches together a bunch of hits and comes up with a big inning. What makes it more maddening is how soooooooo many Nats reached base on walks (4!!) You cannot give teams free bases left and right. Wesley Wright is no longer a rookie so to walk the #8 hitter and to walk 2 of 3 is inexcusable. Wade and Coop are going to have to start looking at Bud Norris, Chad Paronto and Alberto Arias real, real soon.
I didn't go out to the game tonight because I was afraid I'd just be sitting through rain delays. Of course they play and the rain holds off so I was mad at myself for not going. After that last inning, I'm glad I didn't go, but pissed off in a whole new way. There is no winning...
well it's been raining since Saturday and anyone who gives half a crap about hockey is either at the Caps game (I was) or watching that game somewhere...at a bar, or at home. Can't compare it to Houston cause both teams are good...but take a perennially crappy team. How would the Royals draw if they were playing at the same time as the Chiefs in AFC Divisional Round?
I almost bought a condo in that area. It's really not that bad anymore. I wouldn't say "mostly ghetto" if you haven't been around in the last couple of years.
That was one of the oddest vibes of a game I've ever been to. There were probably more Astros than Nats fans, but given there were maybe 2,000 people in the ballpark, that's not saying much. It was actually louder by the concessions than it was in the stands. The good thing is, tickets are easy to come by.
The last time I've been there is a few of months ago. The wharf where H20 is and then towards the Park is old nice, kind of separated...but it's really not that nice...cheap Condos. The new condos behind the McDonalds and over where halfstreet is being built is the nice area, but how built is it? It's still ghetto to me because I'm a night owl and if you come with me down Capitol Street in the night, you will find drug dealers. That's ghetto. I know the city has been relocating the housing projects away from that area to PG or something, but it's not a well defined nice area yet. National Harbor is like 4 minutes from semi-ghetto at Oxon Hill, but because it's like a freakin island, they were able to isolate and develop it. The Nationals Ballpark area is not isolated...so maybe in the last few months have done things that I haven't see yet, but I still think it's ghetto. One block of nice doesn't take away from the ghetto all around it if it's all connected and easily crossed.
I was watching the game and called my wife's attention to the fact that when they showed a batter you could only see 4 people in the stands behind the plate. She was shocked, but I explained it was raining and thought that was probably the reason. I know when my brother in law was there he said the crowds were generally pretty good, but he also spent the last 2 season with the team in Montreal, so considering what he had to compare it to it may not have been as promising as he thought.
Rain + Capitals home sold-out playoff game rd 2 + Nats suck + area has nothing to do there unless you need a UHaul storage locker + Monday night = small crowds I personally don't think it will work, but it can if the area develops nicely enough and becomes trendy.
The Nats opening year of their new ballpark was very disappointing from an attendance perspective. They drew 2.3 million in the first year of a brand new stadium. In 2008, that's not so hot....in fact, it's 13th in the NL. ....again, with a brand new ballpark and a newly relocated franchise there.
2005 was their only good year and it was their first. Add in that many people in DC either relocated there, or were already fans of another team in the area. I think Baseball would have been better off contracting. Where would you move a team to?
