Economic Development Rationale

• Nationals Park cost at least $650 million

• Public Expenditure justified because Park to lead development of Southeast DC

• 75,000 sq feet undeveloped; developers disappeared: vacancy rate of over 15 percent

Monumental Aspirations

• Lincoln Stadium• Theodore Roosevelt Stadium• National Memorial Stadium• Olympic Games:• Public Building & Grounds 1916 Plan• National Park Service 1930s Plan• Chesapeake Region 2012 Coalition 2001 Plan

National Memorial Stadium, April 1945

East Potomac Park Plan

DC Early Baseball Stadiums

• 1870s: Ellipse

• 1885: Senate Parking Grounds: NJ Ave and B St, NE

• 1886-1889: Capitol Park II

• 1891: Florida Ave and 7th St, NW

• 1892-1899: National Park

• 1901-1903: American League Park I

Capitol Park II, 1888

Washington Nationals 1888

American League Park I

American League Park II

Post Fire

Post Season Play 1903-1910• World Series 1903, 1905-on

• Interleague Series:– Battle for Ohio

– St. Louis

– Chicago

– Boston

Where’s Washington

Nationals Park (2008)

Target Field (2010)

What’s A Stadium Worth?

• Owner commits to put winning team on field

• Attendance and citizens support• 2005 averaged 33,728 for total of 2.7 million• 2008 averaged 29,005 for total of 2.3 million• 2010 average 20,760 for #24 place