"The 41,000-seat ballpark (1500 S. Capitol Street SE) offers full-capacity games and shows with an expanded concessions roster for 2025, an emphasis on local vendors, and several fan-focused tech and amenity upgrades. Last year attendees noticed a crystal-clear pixelated scoreboard, LED field lighting, audiovisual upgrades, facial-recognition entry as an opt-in, the MLB Ballpark App, and other high-tech features designed to get fans back to their seats quickly. An expanded lineup of grab-and-go marketplaces with touch-less checkout systems equipped with cameras is scattered around the venue. Promotions include a returning early-gates beer incentive (12-ounce cans of Budweiser, Bud Light and Michelob Ultra for $5, Budweiser Hard Seltzers for $6 from gates-open until first pitch) and Tuesday game-day discounts such as $5 hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, nachos, fountain sodas, and 12-ounce domestic beers. The season calendar also includes non-baseball attractions like a spring DC Beer Fest and a summer concert series headlined by major acts." - Tierney Plumb
"Located near a Metro station with a vibrant tailgating scene."
"Nationals Park, home to the Washington Nationals, is one of the finest baseball stadiums in America; from the upper decks, you just might spy the top of the U.S. Capitol Building. While you’re cheering on the Nats, you can enjoy a burger from Shake Shack, brews from more than a dozen local breweries, or a half-smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl, a local institution. Since it opened in 2008, the ballpark has become the glittering centerpiece of a revitalized Southeast Waterfront—so don't forget to check out the neighborhood while you're here." - Adele Chapin
"With a menu that rotates every series, this playful stand will showcase foods iconic to the opposing team’s home town." - Tierney Plumb
"Speak Softly and Carry a Big Baseball Bat In the middle of the fourth inning of every home game played by the Washington Nationals, a presidential race takes place—an actual footrace run between mascots depicting four former U.S. presidents. This ridiculous and hyper-local tradition has gone on at Nationals Park since the stadium opened in 2008 (and took place before that at the team’s previous home, RFK Stadium). Your food choices are not limited to peanuts and Cracker Jacks: ballpark options includes choice chains like Blue Smoke, Peets Coffee and Shake Shack as well as DC favorite, Ben’s Chili Bowl, and kiosks specializing in Maryland crabcakes and Virginia ham biscuits and many varied craft brews from the region. The park, a cornerstone of Southeast D.C.’s rapidly growing Navy Yard district, is easily reached by the Metro green line (dedicated trains run on game days). Go, take in a game, and enjoy a little Washington partisanship that doesn’t involve politicians."