Nationals Park Opens For Local Teams, But At Different Costs
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Nationals Park To Host Several Youth
Baseball Events Over Summer |
The Nationals tonight at Nationals Park will host a high school baseball game as part of a "pilot program" the team is developing to generate "interest in baseball among the area's youth," according to Alan Goldenbach of the WASHINGTON POST. The Nationals on May 31 also will host the DC High School Baseball Classic at the ballpark. However, DC High School Baseball Classic Inc. Chair Henry Champ, whose nonprofit was formed to plan the event per the request of DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, is "not happy his group was not afforded a similar arrangement" as the teams playing in tonight's game. The group has raised $36,129 to cover expenses to use the stadium for the day, while the two high schools playing tonight "won't have any costs up front" to play at the park, though they indicated that "they must each sell a minimum of 250 tickets to a future Nationals game." Champ said, "We think this is gouging, at best." Nationals Senior VP/Business Affairs Michael Shapiro said tonight's game and the DC Classic are "two different types of events." Goldenbach notes the "biggest difference is the projected attendance," as Nationals officials are expecting a crowd between 200-300 for tonight's game, and about 5,000 for the DC Classic. Shapiro noted that tonight's game "requires the ballpark open for the late afternoon and early evening," while the DC Classic will use the stadium "from early in the morning to near midnight." Shapiro: "It's nowhere near the same scale." Also, tonight's game will not use the HD scoreboard in center field, but the DC Classic will. Champ said that the cost to operate the scoreboard, with labor included, is $15,240. Champ added that the additional expenses are for cleanup, security, stadium staff, EMS services and a grounds crew. The DC Classic will be one of the 18 days annually the Nationals will operate the stadium for the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, per the team's lease agreement with the city (WASHINGTON POST, 5/6).
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