Monday afternoon arrived with a gray, dark, and blustery vibe, hardly the ideal backdrop for a baseball season's opening. Nevertheless, the Washington Nationals had to kick off their home games, and that carried its own significance. Prior to any pitch or swing, Muriel E. Bowser (D), the city's mayor, took to the mic to greet a packed stadium, defying both the gloomy weather and the team's current prospects.
“On behalf of 700,000 Washingtonians, welcome to the sports capital!” Bowser exclaimed. “Let’s play ball!”
That phrase — “sports capital” — now rolls off her tongue with a smile. What a difference a week makes.
“Do you know how long I’ve been saying that?” Bowser chuckled later, outside a suite at Nationals Park. “For-ever.”
The Nats' home opener, an 8-4 loss to the unbeaten Pittsburgh Pirates in front of 40,405 fans, marked a reset for sports in the nation’s capital. Despite the team being in a rebuilding phase, days like Monday will recur. But fear not, D.C. sports fans. The threat of moving the teams to Alexandria or hollow public relations campaigns are things of the past.
Now that order is restored, the focus shifts to the future. “We are a world-class city,” Bowser emphasized. “Some people would say we’re the most important city in the world. And we believe that arts and entertainment and culture are a big part of who we are. We built the muscle to be able to handle big events.
“I was thinking to myself, like, Alexandrians, finally it occurred to them they’re just not built to deal with 20,000 people three or four nights a week. Why would they be, right? We are. And we have built the muscle to be able to manage great events. That’s part of it, but it’s also not a new focus.”
The mayor was welcomed with cheers when introduced, signaling a positive reception. Would that have been the case if the Caps and Wizards were moving to Virginia? Irrelevant. The important thing is that it happened. Let go of the blame game and focus on what's next.
The future of downtown, anchored by the revitalized Capital One Arena, holds immense potential. “They had 400,000 people come through the arena in March,” Bowser noted. “That’s incredible.”
The challenge now is to draw people downtown on non-game nights and to foster a vibrant, bustling environment. With offices unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels, creative strategies are needed. Bowser's administration aims to convert office spaces into homes for 15,000 residents, a move that could rejuvenate the area.
The Capitals and Wizards staying put could benefit the Nationals. Mark Lerner, the Nats’ owner, indicated a willingness to sell, and Ted Leonsis, owner of the Capitals and the Wizards, could be a potential buyer. Leonsis's investment in the regional sports network at Capital One Arena suggests an interest in expanding his sports portfolio, which could include the Nats.
The future of Washington sports is bright, with exciting prospects across various teams. The trick is to ensure progress is the new standard, both in performance and fan experience.
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