Nationals Making Changes To Rectify Mistakes In Recent Seasons
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Nationals Have Put More Power In Hands
Of Team President Stan Kasten |
There are "some signs of change" in the Nationals organization heading into the '09 season, as Nationals Owner the Lerner family has "recognized its mistakes and taken steps to rectify them," according to DC officials, Nationals staffers and other MLB team officials cited by Tim Lemke of the WASHINGTON TIMES. The team in October "worked out a settlement" with DC that put the issue of the team's rent at Nationals Park "to rest for good." The Nationals also "put more power in the hands" of team President Stan Kasten, and the "end result has been a better work environment, particularly in the baseball operations department." Kasten: "There's been a closeness, a camaraderie that has developed from all of us having to pitch in on this trial by fire." Lemke noted Kasten is "as visible as ever" as the '09 season begins. Meanwhile, the Nationals "did respond to some fan concerns by lowering ticket prices throughout the ballpark and offering staggered payment plans and new ticket packages as the economy took a downturn." The team also "invested more heavily in promotions during the offseason" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/6). Kasten: "Obviously it has been a brutal economy that our customers have to live through and we’re very mindful of that. In the second year of a new ballpark you always take a hit, coming off 102 losses is a hit, so all of those things have mounted up so we understand that we’re going to have to work hard to get our attendance like so many teams that are going through some of these things. But what we’re doing is combating it with all the tools that we can. We’ve lowered ticket prices. We’ve made smaller ticket packages. We’re offering family plans for tickets and we’re offering value meals for that" ("Washington Post Live," CSN Mid-Atlantic, 4/3)
HOME SWEET HOME: Kasten said, “We’re very proud that whenever you come to Nationals Park you have a great time irrespective of the score that day or night. It’s still a great place to go and have fun, and it’s going to be even better than it has ever been before. As you enter our stadium, in that grand entry plaza, we’re going to have a lot more in the way of entertainment. We’re going to be unveiling statues next year. We have more things going on in the kids and activities zone. The Red Porch Restaurant ... is now twice as big. It is expanded into the seating bowl out onto the plaza. There’s a new concessionaire with new foods, lower prices everywhere for tickets and value packages for our fans” ("Washington Post Live," CSN Mid-Atlantic, 4/3). The Nationals this season at the ballpark will offer three $7 value meals. The Nats Dog Meal will include a hot dog, 16-ounce soda and chips, while the Nacho Value Pack will include small nachos and two 16-ounce sodas. The Popcorn Value Pack will include a 12-ounce tub of popcorn and two 16-ounce sodas (Nationals).
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