So much for the new era of openness and transparency in Washington.The Nationals won't say how many season tickets they have sold, and they won't say who is throwing out the ceremonial first pitch in their season opener Monday.
Team president Stan Kasten did acknowledge though, that the opener is not sold out (of course, he wants people to know tickets are available).
What is also clear is the Nats have wasted their honeymoon in D.C. Washington had hungered for a team for years, and the franchise formerly known as the Expos had a four-year window to win over the community for good: one at RFK Stadium when the team was new, two in anticipation of a new stadium and one more in the first year at Nationals Park.
But in those four seasons, the Nationals fell from 81-81 to 59-102, finishing last three times. The idea should have been to build a contender by the time the new stadium opened, as the Indians did for Jacobs Field in 1994. And if former general manager Jim Bowden was trying to copy that model, he failed badly.
So the season-ticket base has fallen from about 22,000 to ... well, we don't know.
Kasten declined to give the number because other teams like the Braves are doing the same thing.Sounds like it's probably a bad number. Maybe that's why Kasten has encouraged Phillies fans to come down I-95 for the series.
"Coming off 102 losses, there is going to be a drop-off [in season-ticket sales]," Kasten said. "Second year in a new ballpark, there is going to be a drop-off. And what is happening in our economy, what our customers are living with and fighting -- we don't know what to make of it all. I'm going to hold off [on making the announcement] for now. I just don't have a number for you today."
Things are so bad, that President Obama might not want to show.
"I heard two things recently, but they were contradictory," Kasten said. "And I read some things that may not be true. I'll know tomorrow. Really, I will."Oh, those Nats. Full of surprises.
The Nationals will have a backup plan if President Obama doesn't attend the game. Kasten declined to say who that backup person will be.
Of course, a win would be the biggest surprise.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-12-2009 @ 7:36PM
trptdr said...
Bad team with announcers who are obviously controlled by management. They are the biggest bunch of "homers" I have ever heard in 65 years of listening to and watching on radio and TV. This is a bad ballclub without much hope of improvement anytime soon.
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4-12-2009 @ 11:56PM
murfgolf said...
I am a DC native andwrote in this column that the team would never draw. My friend all got mad at me. None of them have been to a game in 3 years because they say: 1) the team stinks, 2) the managment stinks, 3) prices are too high and 4) (this is the big one), they would rather go to Baltimore to see the Orioles because the stadium there is so much better. Guess who was right!
4-12-2009 @ 7:54PM
tbro61 said...
Hopefully the nationals will go 0-8 since the World Champion Phillies are coming to town
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4-12-2009 @ 10:07PM
StumpjumperJeff said...
The Nats said they were lowering some ticket prices for this season. Still look pretty high to me. What exactly did they lower? If they want to make more money they could put advertising on the back of the jerseys. Plenty of exposure. Every time a ball goes into the stands, there it is!
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4-13-2009 @ 12:02PM
allison said...
I totally agree with this. I looked into getting some tickets for my nephew, and was apalled to discover that they are much more expensive than tickets at the Phillies' ballpark. What? I should pay twice as much to see the Nationals?
4-12-2009 @ 11:30PM
Chris Burke said...
It wouldn't hurt to get some restaurants or bars down by the park. If you want to get a drink before the game, you either have to bring it yourself and pay a ton for parking or go downtown, then save time for a Metro ride to the park. There's no atmosphere down there -- which is a shame because the park is pretty nice.
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4-14-2009 @ 11:24PM
Steve said...
I am a DC native andwrote in this column that the team would never draw. My friend all got mad at me. None of them have been to a game in 3 years because they say: 1) the team stinks, 2) the managment stinks, 3) prices are too high and 4) (this is the big one), they would rather go to Baltimore to see the Orioles because the stadium there is so much better. Guess who was right!
Reply
4-13-2009 @ 11:37AM
ahnree said...
baseball sucks, its a dying sport. boring and way to drawn out. you don't need 162 games to figure out the best team. 40-50 games is enough to see who is best. this year will be the worst for baseball ever.
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