Nationals Park sits along the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C.’s Navy Yard neighborhood, serving as the home ballpark of the Washington Nationals since it opened on March 30, 2008. Built at a construction cost of about $693 million, it replaced RFK Stadium as the team’s home and became the first stadium built with public financing dedicated entirely to a single MLB franchise since the 1990s.
The ballpark made history as the first LEED-certified green stadium in major U.S. professional sports, incorporating rainwater collection, energy-efficient lighting, and recycled construction materials. Its five-level seating bowl offers views toward the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument, while a cherry blossom grove beyond the left-field bleachers nods to the city’s springtime landmark.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: Washington Nationals (MLB)
- Location: Washington, D.C. (Navy Yard neighborhood)
- Opened: March 30, 2008
- Capacity: about 41,373
- Construction cost: about $693 million
- Architects: HOK Sport and Devrouax & Purnell
- Notable fact: First LEED-certified stadium in major U.S. pro sports
The Game-Day Experience
Fans entering Nationals Park pass under a grand center-field plaza before finding seats spread across five levels, from field boxes to the upper gallery. The FIS Champions Club, PNC Diamond Club, and Terra Club behind home plate offer premium amenities, while 79 suites ring the infield. After every Nationals home run and win, a submarine dive horn sounds through the ballpark, a quirky tradition tied to the team’s Navy Yard location.
The stadium underwent its biggest facelift since opening in 2024, adding a new Daktronics scoreboard spanning roughly 4,780 square feet along with upgraded ribbon-board displays throughout the seating bowl.
Historic Moments
Nationals Park hosted the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, the first in Washington since 1969, and staged Games 3, 4, and 5 of the 2019 World Series against the Houston Astros. Ironically, the Nationals dropped all three of those home games while winning every road contest, clinching their first championship in franchise history with a Game 7 victory in Houston on October 30, 2019 — making them the first team ever to win a World Series without a home win. The ballpark also stepped outside baseball in January 2015, hosting the NHL Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks. The stadium’s largest recorded crowd, 45,966, packed in for a 2012 National League Division Series game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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Nationals Park FAQs
When did Nationals Park open?
Nationals Park opened on March 30, 2008, with the Washington Nationals hosting the Atlanta Braves in the first regular-season game.
What is the seating capacity of Nationals Park?
Nationals Park seats about 41,373 fans, spread across five seating levels.
Did the Nationals win the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park?
No. The Nationals hosted Games 3, 4, and 5 of the 2019 World Series but lost all three; they clinched the title on the road with a Game 7 win in Houston, becoming the first team to win a World Series entirely on the road.
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Photo: APK / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.