The Washington Nationals may not win a whole lot of baseball games this year, but at least there will be dueling Star Wars Hawaiian shirts.

The shirts are just one of a number of giveaways, updated merchandise, and new food offerings that the Nationals will be debuting when the season kicks off next Thursday.

At a preview on Friday, the team gave first looks at a number of these items.

Highlights include not only the Star Wars Hawaiian shirts, but lots (and lots) more cherry blossom-themed merchandise, and several new locally-based concession stands like Jammin’ Island BBQ and Capo Italian Deli.

The Star Wars Hawaiian shirts will be given away to the first 10,000 fans in attendance on Saturday, May 20 when the Nats take on the Detroit Tigers. While previously announced, this was the first time they were seen in real life. Patterned with Yodas, Chewbaccas, Stormtroopers, and baseball bats, there’s little doubt these beauties are going to be hot items.

Additionally, on July 8th when the team plays the Texas Rangers, it will be Harry Potter Day. The first 10,000 fans will get one of four house scarves. The scarves were not available yet for a preview.

Other promotional giveaways include the always-popular player bobbleheads, as well as one of mascot Screech with a rainbow Pride flag. That particular bobblehead will be given out to the first 20,000 fans in attendance on Tuesday, June 6 for the team’s 18th annual “Night OUT” celebration.

Also new this year is a lot more cherry blossom-themed team merchandise. Last year, the Washington Nationals debuted their new “City Connect” uniforms which featured the iconic pink petals. As probably should have been expected, replica jerseys, hats, as well any and all items featuring cherry blossoms sold like crazy.

In fact, the Nats’ “City Connect” merchandise was in the top three in all of major league baseball in terms of sales, per Jonathan Stahl, the team’s Vice President of Experience & Hospitality. That has led, of course, to the Nats’ going all in on blossoms.

“We’ve really expanded that line this year. So…you’ll see we’ve gone into novelties, really embracing the cherry blossoms,” Stahl said “And we’ll have additional City Connect items rolling throughout the entire season.”

And on the edible side, there is plenty that’s new as well at Nats Park.

Shaw’s Capo Italian Deli is making its ballpark debut with a concession stand in Section 107. It will serve traditional Italian subs and cold pasta.

Springfield, Virginia-based Jammin’ Island BBQ is making its return after departing from Nats Park in 2018 after a seven-year run. The restaurant will be serving up Jamaican-style barbeque that has Filipino influences in sections 218 and 243.

Burger spot Swizzler is expanding and now has three locations throughout the ballpark, in sections 106, 130, and 320.

Additionally, there are new crab cake, taco, and kosher concession options that are being operated internally by the team.

Plus, the Nats are ramping up the use of kiosk ordering and “Grab-and-Go” marketplaces.

Stahl said that when they reopened the ballpark after fans were shut out in 2020, they were almost exclusively doing mobile ordering. As things started to creak back to normal over the last year, the team realized mobile ordering often worked well in getting food to fans quickly.

“We’ve listened to our fans over the years and we’ve heard that sometimes it takes a little while to order,” Stahl said. “So, we really spent a lot of time this offseason looking at all the processes… how do we streamline this? How do we make it easier for that? Ideally, [we want] you to get back to your seat in under ten minutes.”

There are a few other quirky things that will be at the ballpark this year. That includes two “reversing vending machines,” where fans can toss their beer cans and water bottles. In exchange for recycling, fans will get a QR code that will make them eligible to win a prize like a Nats’ koozie.

The hope is that all of these new promotions, giveaways, merchandise, theme nights, and food options will bring fans out to the ballpark. That’s because the team may not do a great job of doing that on its own.

Last summer’s trade of superstar Juan Soto signaled that Washington Nationals are in full rebuild mode. While the package of young players they got back in exchange was certainly notable, the death of long-time owner Ted Lerner last month and the remaining potential for the team to be sold has left the team in a rather uncertain state.

Several national publications have picked the Washington Nationals to finish with one of the worst records in the major leagues in 2023.

But this year, at least, there will be Star Wars Hawaiian shirts, plenty of cherry blossom merch, and the Racing Presidents.