Still More Nats Parking
Everybody knew parking was supposed to be a mess around the new ballpark in Southeast, but it turns out there's more than was bargained for.
The Nationals went about searching out nearly 5,000 spaces in the neighborhood, selling them to season ticket holders for as much as $35 a game (triple the rate at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium last year.)
There were fewer takers than expected so the Nats began to make some spaces available to single game ticket buyers online. And starting with today's homestand, fans will be able to drive up and plunk down their money at the lots--prices range from $15 to $20 depending on how close the lot is. And for those who really want to drop some cash, valet parking will be available for $50.
"There's still a lot of people who show up and want to park," said Nationals executive Gregory McCarthy. "They tended to park illegally."
So, the team is doing neighbors a favor and offering those fans a chance to pony up for a place to park.
The valet parking will be at the old Metro bus garage on M Street and fans there can use credit cards.
The team hopes to add credit card payments on site at other lots. But for now it's cash only at lot W, on M Street across from the Navy Yard, and lot T at Third and K Streets, which are $20 and $15 at lot HH, north of the ballpark on South Capitol near Interstate 295.
It's still possible to buy parking at all those locations online at the Nationals website, nationals.com/waytogo.
By Daniel LeDuc |
April 23, 2008; 6:59 AM ET
| Category:
Nationals
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Posted by: Not the way | April 23, 2008 11:46 AM
Is the city, which after all owns the facility, getting a cut of the tour fee?
Are taxes being collected on the tour tickets?
On another subject, I would be interested in someone doing a thorough report on the Nats' relationship with Gaylord, the owner of the big new convention hotel in PG County. The postgame radio show is there, the sports bar there seems to have a Nats theme, there are ads in Nationals Park for it.
How extensive - and of what duration -- is the deal? DC hotels, which are paying the gross receipts tax that helps pay for the stadium, are furious. But also, once the area around the stadium is a little more built up, it would seem to be in everyone's interest to create a relationship with a place right in the neighborhood that people who take Metro to the games -- which the Nats encourage -- can go to afterward. Does the Gaylord deal foreclose that for the foreseeable future?
Posted by: Meridian | April 23, 2008 1:31 PM
I live at 5th St & Virginia Ave SE, on the opposite side of the freeway from the stadium but within a 10 minute walk, and lots of new parking restrictions signs have been installed on my streets! This makes me very angry and is a huge burden for people who want to drive to visit me and go out to dinner.
One street used to be open parking and was almost always empty, now has a meter and a 2 hour limit! It's now always empty!! My friends used to park there.
AND, Now my street has a complete restriction on non Zone 6 parkers from 7 am until midnight! Where are people supposed to park who are there to visit residents???!?!
Are they going to give us visitor passes or something? THEY NEED TO!!
Posted by: Annoyed on 5th Street | April 23, 2008 2:09 PM
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I'm not a fan of this.
A friend of mine has been booted for being in the neighborhood on game day with a residential permit. No notice, no nothing.
And this, on top of people having to pay $15 to tour the facility on non-game days? With a "generous" military discount?
The Lerners are starting to look like Little Scientologist Danny.