What to Expect at Nationals Park This Season

Nationals president Stan Kasten greets reporters in the rain on Friday. (Sommer Mathis)

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Construction crews on Friday hustled to put the finishing touches on a number of new features at Nationals Park, as the team gets set to kick off its second ever season at the stadium this month. It was hard to believe yesterday, amid the plastic tarps and forklifts, that everything would be spic and span in time for tonight's pre-season exhibition against the Orioles -- but Nationals president Stan Kasten expressed confidence that his ballpark would not only be ready, it would be much improved over last year.

Kasten led members of the media on a brief tour of some of this year's additions, which include an expanded Red Porch Restaurant, a photo station where fans can pose with statues of the Racing Presidents, dozens of picnic tables around the ballpark, additional recycling bins, improved signage and a re-branding of the Strike Zone entertainment section.

In a move that's sure to draw attention from the same folks who protested the presence of ExxonMobil advertising at the ballpark last year, the Nationals have partnered with Exxon to remake the Strike Zone, which includes a batting and pitching cage, as the Exxon Strike Zone. Now situated inside the larger concept of the Nats Family Fun Area, the Exxon Strike Zone unironically offers messages about environmental issues and energy efficiency as they relate to the ballpark's LEED certification.

The Nationals also gave reporters a preview of the concessions the ballpark will offer now that they've hired a new catering company, Levy Restaurants. Along with the new menu items, Kasten expressed confidence that the sometimes confusing, long lines that plagued the concession stands for much of last season would be a thing of the past.

"Training is key," Kasten said. "Give them a couple of days to get it worked out, but customer service is going to be much improved."

The new menu offers an expanded range of healthier food items, including turkey and veggie wraps, hummus and veggie sticks, fresh fruit and salads. Traditional ballpark food will of course remain, and Kasten said Ben's Chili Bowl will have additional locations in the park this year, including a second full concession stand on the upper concourse and several cart-based Ben's kiosks in other areas.

Levy Restaurants has crafted a slightly more ambitious menu than what was on offer last year. Along with regular hamburgers, hot dogs and half-smokes, you will also be able to find cuban sandwiches, shrimp burgers, "Quasi-dillas," which are sort of fried chicken quesadillas, Italian meatball subs, chili dog nachos, buffalo chicken sandwiches, footlong Crab Louie sandwiches, turkey burgers, and, sometime mid-season, a brand new Pit BBQ in the Red Porch Restaurant area that will feature a traditional charcoal pit.

Tickets to tonight's preseason exhibition game against the Orioles are still available (game starts at 6:05 p.m.). The Nationals home opener, versus the world champion Philadelphia Phillies, is Monday, April 13 at 3:05 p.m.