For the first time since 1933, D.C.’s home team has advanced to the playoffs. Here’s how to navigate the postseason:
Natitude – a term born from a marketing campaign to launched boost summer ticket sales – has descended upon the District. The play on words now graces Twitter hashtags, fan and team gear and a banner outside the ballpark. It has entered every Washingtonian’s vocabulary, embodying the influx of local pride and proving wrong those who doubted the underdog Nationals.
With a team that is only 8 years old, no one can say you’re jumping on the bandwagon. Grab your Curly W’s and use The Hatchet’s guide to getting in on the Nationals’ playoff action.
Where to get tickets:
Online: For those down for an adventure, playoff game tickets can still be purchased – but they cost a pretty penny. The cheapest tickets are going for about $120 a piece on StubHub.com.
Box Office: Don’t have early classes? Head to the box office gameday mornings for $30 standing room-only tickets. Tickets are limited, so get there when the box office opens at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. Sundays.
Under-21 options:
For the under-21 crowd, there are on-campus options as well. As with most major sporting events, Nationals games will be shown on the Marvin Center TVs.
Students have the unfamiliar opportunity to root for a local team: It’s the first time D.C. has a baseball team in the postseason since 1933, so get a Natitude check and rally for the home team.
How to get to the stadium:
If you haven’t yet made the trip to the new Nationals Park, now’s the time. Take the blue or orange Metro line from Foggy Bottom, switch to the green line at L’Enfant Plaza and get off at the Navy Yard-Ballpark station. The trip takes all of 15 minutes, and the ballpark sits right above the Metro station.
Tim O’Shaughnessy, CEO of LivingSocial, announced Thursday that his company would be paying to keep the Metro open to transport fans home. While the Metro normally closes at midnight Sunday through Thursday and at 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday, closing time will now be adjusted based on game schedules.
Best sports bars:
Watching the games with friends at a local bar is an affordable and exciting way to show pride.
Rhino Bar & Pumphouse: Though traditionally a Red Sox bar, Rhino Bar & Pumphouse in Georgetown is embracing the sudden swell of Nationals fans. The bar will unveil a 30-foot bright red Nats banner across the front of its building and will offer $8 Miller Lite and Coors Light pitchers, 25-cent wings and reduced price shots on all game days.
McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon: Closer to campus, the student hotspot McFadden’s DC will host baseball-themed events on game nights. Bring a ticket from a postseason game and your first drink is on the house. Drink specials will vary depending on game times, but deals and prizes, such as game-ticket raffles, will be available to celebrate every game.
What to eat:
Nationals Park boasts an array of concessions, including District favorites such as Ben’s Chili Bowl, Shake Shack and Hard Times Cafe.
Justin’s Cafe: Looking to eat outside the park? Justin’s Cafe is a popular pre-game spot to grab a bite and a beer. It also stays open late for post-game revelry.
