Economic Development Rationale
• Nationals Park cost at least $650 million
• Public Expenditure justified because Park to lead development of Southeast DC
• 75,000 sq feet undeveloped; developers disappeared: vacancy rate of over 15 percent
Monumental Aspirations
• Lincoln Stadium• Theodore Roosevelt Stadium• National Memorial Stadium• Olympic Games:• Public Building & Grounds 1916 Plan• National Park Service 1930s Plan• Chesapeake Region 2012 Coalition 2001 Plan
National Memorial Stadium, April 1945
East Potomac Park Plan
DC Early Baseball Stadiums
• 1870s: Ellipse
• 1885: Senate Parking Grounds: NJ Ave and B St, NE
• 1886-1889: Capitol Park II
• 1891: Florida Ave and 7th St, NW
• 1892-1899: National Park
• 1901-1903: American League Park I
Capitol Park II, 1888
Washington Nationals 1888
American League Park I
American League Park II
Post Fire
Post Season Play 1903-1910• World Series 1903, 1905-on
• Interleague Series:– Battle for Ohio
– St. Louis
– Chicago
– Boston
Where’s Washington
Nationals Park (2008)
Target Field (2010)
What’s A Stadium Worth?
• Owner commits to put winning team on field
• Attendance and citizens support• 2005 averaged 33,728 for total of 2.7 million• 2008 averaged 29,005 for total of 2.3 million• 2010 average 20,760 for #24 place