“Take Back the Park” from Phillies Fans? Better Idea, Nationals: Get Some Fans

Posted by Frank Klose

Philliedelphia/Steve Trapani

Well, former Washington Nationals President Stan Kasten once welcomed Phillies fans to Washington D.C. to help fill seats.  Of course, Phillies fans took over the stadium every time.

April 9, 2009, on 950-AM with Jody McDonald and Harry Mayes Kasten said,

We have an opening day here Monday, we'd love for all our Philly fans to come down, because I know it's gonna be so hard to get tickets in Philadelphia this year. It'll bemuch easier if you drive down the road and come see us in Washington.

Now, the Nationals are under new leadership and have launched a "take back the park" campaign, intended to keep Phillies fans from being in the seats.  Nationals COO Andy Feffer stated his motivation:

 “Forget you, Philly. This is our park, this is our town, these are our fans, and it’s our time right now.”

So, May 4th, 5th, and 6th, the Phillies series games will go on sale first, only to someone with a Maryland, D.C., or Virginia address.

I have an uncle in Maryland.   You probably do too.  Not a problem; in fact, I am extra motivated to go down on May 4th for the 7:05 game, and maybe stay for May 5th, the 1:05 day game that is clearly scheduled for the Phillies fans' benefit.

OK, so that wasn't hard and clearly their plan does not work. I have a much better idea:  Get your own fans to come to your park.

How do you do that?  Here's a good plan:

1. Don't give Jayson Werth a 7 year, $126 million contract
2. Sign Prince Fielder, an actual superstar when he is available, instead of playing Adam La Roche
3. Don't sign Edwin Jackson, who six other teams already ditched.
4. Actually have a centerfielder on your roster
5. Get a leadoff hitter
6. Have a bullpen with actual players who can get outs
7. Don't put your whole future on a guy who threw 100 miles per hour until his arm fell off.  Now that it's sewn back on, maybe it will work.
8. Finally, don't put a team in a city where everyone is from out of town to spend a few years working for the government, who will simply go back where they came from, and where another team is nearby and the people who already live there root for.

Nothing is going to change; Phillies fans are still taking over this park.  When they do their little presale and have thousands of tickets left, we will buy them.  Before then, our uncles/cousins/friends away at school will all buy these tickets. 

I'll see you all May 4th in Washington D.C.