Fans Carried Away by First Encounter With Ballpark

Nationals President Stan Kasten said some concessionaires were still working out the kinks and would make adjustments.

It was a different scene in the dark wood and red carpet ambiance of the President's Club lounge. The stadium's well-heeled fans enjoyed home-plate views and a buffet stocked with scallops, quiche and beef tenderloin.

"I feel like I'm at a five-star restaurant," said District resident David Hall, who said he went to the ballpark expecting "to be freezing with a dog in my hand."

But many fans said the open-air design of the stadium was its most impressive feature, even though an icy wind began to rake the upper decks when the sun set, shortly after the first pitch.

"Incredible," said Steve Berson, 50, of Bethesda, as he walked through the park with his son, Jack, 8. Berson said the new ballpark was a welcome change from RFK Stadium, the Nationals' 1960s-vintage home during their first three seasons in Washington. He ticked off some reasons: more food, wider concourses and an open feeling with a vista of the U.S. Capitol Dome.

But some fans said they were nostalgic for the Nationals former confines, however flawed.

"I'm going to miss RFK," said Edgewater resident Heather Latham. "I liked the old feel of it. There was a lot of history there."

By mid-afternoon, most of the stadium's concessions and souvenir shops were almost ready for the big rush. Almost. At the gift shop near home plate, manager Ebony Chester, 22, had been working since 8 a.m. to set out merchandise.

"I still didn't get the hands!" she lamented to a co-worker, referring to the foam "No. 1" fingers that are a major seller. The floors were covered with debris of unpacked boxes. "Lots of vacuuming," Chester said. "That's the last thing to do."

About 3 p.m., the gates opened, and fans were greeted by the Nationals' president mascots and vendors yelling, "Pro-grams!" Nationals players were playing catch in the outfield. At the concession stands near home plate, someone had already spilled pickle relish on the condiment cart. Baseball was finally here.

But outside, on South Capitol Street, workers were still bolting a Nationals logo to the stadium's facade. The workers, from Art Display in Capitol Heights, had hung "probably a thousand" banners and signs around the park. Was there anything left?

"There's a few parking signs," said Richard Blackmore, 52, of Northwest Washington.