Nats Park 2018 lineup Part 2: What's new at the ballpark

Yesterday we went through the events and promotions portion of the new 2018 lineup at Nats Park. Today we're going to take you through all the new features, concessions, retail and memorabilia concepts, and programs around the ballpark.

There are some special activations throughout Nats Park for today's exhibition game today against the Twins to help fans combat the chilly forecasted temperatures. First pitch will be at 4:05 p.m., and tickets are still available at nationals.com/Tickets. This game is the only opportunity for fans to see the Nationals in Washington before opening day on Thursday, April 5 vs. the Mets. Hot chocolate and $1 coffee will be available throughout the ballpark, along with hot soup samples on the main concourse. The main team store will also be offering 10 percent off winter hats, gloves and blankets.

Here's what else fans can expect when they go catch a game throughout this season on South Capitol St.:

NATIONALS PARK CONCESSIONS & BEVERAGES

New, Renovated & Expanded Beverage Stands

District of Cocktails will offer cocktails made with spirits crafted within the District of Columbia. The spirits will be provided by four different distilleries: District Distilling Co., Republic Restoratives Distillery, New Columbia Distillers and One Eight Distilling. The new concept will offer a rotating menu of seasonal beverages that will showcase a variety of products from the different distilleries. Fans can look forward to trying cocktails such as Nats Cho Libre, Curly W Tonic, The Ground Mule Double and Spring Training Rickey. District of Cocktails will be available for fans at two locations in Nationals Park, sections 112 and 135.

The Devils Backbone Bar will feature a variety of Devils Backbone beers, including ERA (Earned Run Ale), the Nationals' flagship brew, created in collaboration with Devils Backbone. The Devils Backbone Bar will be located at section 240.

District Coolers will serve adult-style juice boxes featuring several different varieties of liquors and flavors, including raspberry gin rickey, pineapple tequila cooler, blueberry mojito, electric lemonade and black cherry sling. Fans can find District Coolers at section 108.

Compass Coffee, based in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C., will provide fans with locally roasted Nitro Cold Brew coffee. Compass Coffee will be located at sections 142 and 216.

New, Renovated & Expanded Concession Stands

Knotted Up, the Nationals' newest pretzel concept, will offer tasty Philadelphia-style soft pretzels and gourmet dipping sauces, including pub cheese, chipotle honey mustard and cinnamon brown sugar cream cheese. Knotted Up will be located at two portable carts near sections 130 and 315.

The Nationals are excited to announce Street Skewers, a brand-new concept for the 2018 season, featuring street food favorites from around the world. Street Skewers will offer fans easy-to-eat, shish kebab-style snacks, loaded with delicious meats and vegetables. Street Skewers will have a rotating selection of different street cuisines throughout the season, including food from Greece, Thailand, China and Mexico. Street Skewers will begin the season offering Greek cuisine, featuring chicken souvlaki, keftedes (Greek meatballs) and vegetable & halloumi. Fans can find Street Skewers at section 113.

After a successful debut in the Norfolk Southern Club in 2017, fans will be able to enjoy savory barbeque at Old Hickory BBQ near section 301, in addition to the location in the Norfolk Southern Club. The menu includes a BBQ pulled pork sandwich, BBQ brisket sandwich, pulled pork nachos, hot links and sides of pork rinds.

The Nationals' newest sandwich concept, Italian Outpost, will feature delicious sandwiches, including a classic meatball sub and Italian hot beef dip. Italian Outpost will be located at section 301.

New Menu Items

All hot dogs throughout Nationals Park will be supplied by Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs for the 2018 season.

During the 2018 season, all sausages throughout Nationals Park will be supplied by the Encore Sausage Company, a Hyattsville-based business.

MLB FoodFest

To celebrate the start of the 2018 season, Major League Baseball is hosting the first-ever MLB FoodFest on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22 in New York City, near Bryant Park. The one-of-a-kind indoor food festival features special concession selections from each of the 30 clubs served under one roof. The Nationals have designated the crab grilled cheese from Chesapeake Crab Cake Company (sections 114 and 306) to represent the team at MLB FoodFest. Each ticket to MLB FoodFest includes one tasting-sized serving of all 30 ballpark food items. For tickets and more information, visit mlb.com/FoodFest.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS RETAIL AND AUTHENTIC MEMORABILIA

New retail and memorabilia concepts

During the offseason, the Nationals modernized several retail locations to create a better shopping experience for fans and significantly expanded the collection of available merchandise throughout the ballpark. The Nationals have also launched two new programs that will give fans even more access to authentic gear and autographs from their favorite Nationals players. Upgrades include:

* NEW Jersey Conveyor - After revamping the in-park jersey customization process last offseason, the Nationals are excited to introduce a fun new way for fans to pick up the jersey of their favorite player or create a personalized jersey. The Jersey Conveyor will feature a belt of rotating jerseys, providing fans with the perfect view of the latest Nationals uniforms. It will be located near the Goose Island Pub at section 113.

* NEW Authentics Programs - For the first time, Nationals fans can get authentic, autographed and game-used memorabilia straight from Nationals players. The memorabilia will be sold both at the Authentics Kiosk and online at nationals.com/Auctions. This season, fans will also be able to order signed collectibles through nationals.com/Auctions. Fans can purchase caps, baseballs, baseball cards, photos and other items signed by select Nationals players, including Max Scherzer. This will be exclusively available online. A portion of the proceeds from these new authentics programs will benefit the Nationals Dream Foundation, Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and other charities selected by the players.

New and Expanded Merchandise for 2018

The Nationals will offer fans exciting new products across all categories for the 2018 season. For the first time, Under Armour hats will be available at the main team store. The Nationals have also added an assortment of Mitchell and Ness Cooperstown Senators apparel for the 2018 season, as well as expanded the assortment of Columbia and Johnnie-O apparel.

The Nationals have expanded their jewelry selection by adding lines from GameTime Watches and LogoArt Jewelry. The Nationals will also continue to offer Alex and Ani bracelets. Several exciting jewelry products can be found at the main team store!

For the first time, the main team store will offer larger products, like Nationals coolers, that can be purchased in-store and shipped for free directly to fans' homes.

New and upgraded retail locations

* NEW 2018 All-Star Game Store - In anticipation of the 2018 All-Star Game coming to the nation's capital, the Nationals have created a new retail location exclusively dedicated to providing fans with All-Star Game apparel and collectibles. The All-Star Game Store will be located at section 140 and will be open starting on opening day.
* NEW 47 Brand Kiosks - The Nationals are excited to add two 47 Brand kiosks to Nationals Park, offering fans the latest 47 Brand apparel and headwear. The kiosks will be located at sections 138 and 312.
* Revamped New Era Locations - The Nationals have created a cleaner look for the New Era section in the main team store, and completely redesigned the New Era Store at section 132, constructing a sleeker retail space for fans to pick up the latest Nationals headwear.

FAN EXPERIENCE

Curly W Commitment

The Nationals are committed to providing the best fan experience in Washington, D.C. A crucial part of the Nationals' organizational strategy is to seek fan feedback, whether it comes from in-person forums, social media, direct emails or fan surveys. Based on fan feedback gathered through those mechanisms during the last year, the Nationals have created Curly W Commitment, a three-pronged collection of initiatives designed to improve the game day experience for all fans. Through Curly W Commitment, fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets through nationals.com to get the most out of their visit to Nationals Park. Curly W Commitment initiatives include:

* Commitment to value - The Early Bird Exclusive Offer gives fans the opportunity to purchase single-game tickets through nationals.com before opening day and save 33 percent on MLB All-Star Fanfest. Value Days provide discounts on tickets, concessions, merchandise and parking during one game each month. Fans can also save up to 15 percent on concessions and merchandise throughout the park when they load value onto their ticket through nationals.com. Exclusive discounts on future ticket purchases and exclusive ticket opportunities and discounts for college students are also available when you buy through nationals.com.

* Commitment to experience - Through the new Concessions Guarantee, if a stand runs out of an item, the Nationals will provide a coupon for the same item free. Fast and convenient kiosk concession ordering, located at Sections 311 and 314, allow you to not miss a minute of the action. The Nationals fan feedback hotline is a convenient service hotline for all fans that will be open during regular business hours and all game days. More surprises and delights will be available throughout the season for fans

* Commitment to Convenience - Through the Weather Guarantee, if a game is postponed due to weather, any ticket purchased through nationals.com may be exchanged for a future game - whether you attended the game or not. If a game is delayed prior to the sixth inning for more than an hour due to weather, fans attending the game may exchange tickets purchased through nationals.com for a future game at the Nationals Park box office on the night of the game. If a game is delayed before the sixth inning for more than an hour due to weather, fans who did not attend the game may exchange tickets purchased through nationals.com for a future game, from a select list of available games.

For a full list of Curly W Commitment initiatives and more details, visit nationals.com/Commitment.

NEW/ENHANCED BALLPARK SPACES

Coca-Cola Social Media Lounge

The Nationals are excited to introduce a brand-new area at the ballpark dedicated to helping fans keep up with trending Nationals topics and express their love for the team on various social media platforms. Located off the family picnic area, the Coca-Cola Social Media Lounge will have several interactive displays with featured social media posts from fans and media, as well as cornhole and phone charging stations. In addition, the lounge will feature a "morphing station," where fans will be able to superimpose a picture of themselves onto the head of one of the Racing Presidents and share on their personal social media accounts. The lounge will be open from the time gates open through the end of the seventh inning.

Virtual Reality Home Run Derby

Fans can now make their dream of being a major leaguer come true when they visit the Nationals Virtual Reality Home Run Derby booth! For $5, fans will don a provided VR headset and find themselves standing at home plate and swinging for the fences in a virtual Nationals Park. The booth will be located near the right field gate and will be open during every Nationals home game, from when gates open through the middle of the fifth inning.

Enhanced Kids Play Area

The Nationals are committed to providing families with a fun experience every time they visit the ballpark. In order to better serve families with younger children, the Nationals are creating a new play structure targeted for children under 5 years old, located off of center field plaza near the right field gate. The structure includes two toddler slides and age-appropriate climbing structures, provides a safe space for toddlers to roam and play, and increased seating for parents to watch their children in the expanded play area. The previous play structure will stay intact for older children to enjoy.

Photo Booths and Penny Press

During the 2018 season, Nationals fans will have the opportunity to take home unique keepsakes from their trip to the ballpark. Additional photo booths will be added throughout Nationals Park, featuring photo strips with both Nationals logos and dueling logos (the Nationals logo and the logo of the opposing team). For the first time, the Nationals have also added a penny press, which will dispense exciting designs featuring the 2018 All-Star Game logo, Nationals logos, Nationals Park imagery and outfielder Bryce Harper. The penny press will be located near the Main Team Store.

Nationals Park Televisions

The Nationals will replace all the televisions throughout the ballpark with larger, newer models early in the 2018 season.

Elimination of Designated Smoking Areas

D.C. law requires that Nationals Park be a non-smoking facility. To accommodate fans who wished to smoke or use prohibited tobacco products, the Nationals created designated smoking areas outside of the building. During the offseason, the city notified the Nationals that their anti-smoking and tobacco ordinances also apply to all sites around the ballpark, including sidewalks and parking lots. As a result, the Nationals are eliminating all designated smoking areas outside of the ballpark for the 2018 season. As has always been the case, fans who exit the ballpark will not be able to reenter.

TECHNOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENTS

Washington Nationals MLB.com Ballpark App for iPhone and Android

Introduced at the beginning of the 2017 season, the MLB.com Ballpark app is the mobile home of the Washington Nationals. The Nationals added several exciting features to the app over the offseason in order to enhance the guest experience at the ballpark. The Nationals have partnered with event entertainment company Game Changer MVP to bring new mobile games to the app. Fans will be able to use the app to compete against other fans in interactive games on the scoreboard. With the MLB.com Ballpark app, fans can take advantage of a seamless ticket experience, including streamlined ticket purchasing, ticket sharing with friends or co-workers, and mobile entry into Nationals Park. Fans will be able to upgrade their seats directly from their mobile device in order to get the best possible view of the action on the field.

Once at the ballpark, fans will receive exclusive check-in offers to get discounts on tickets, merchandise or concessions, and learn about featured items during each homestand. Fans can also navigate the ballpark by using interactive food and beverage finders and ballpark maps. The app will also inform fans about the concession item of the homestand!

Those interested in learning more about their favorite players and the organization can read about the Nationals in the new digital edition of Inside Pitch. Over the years, the Nationals have printed the equivalent of more than 100 million sheets of paper to provide Inside Pitch. During the 2017 season, the Nationals recycled approximately 160,000 copies of Inside Pitch. In an effort to become even more environmentally friendly, the Nationals will no longer offer physical copies of Inside Pitch.

Fans can access the app via "Ballpark" on the App Store and Google Play.

NATIONALS PARK PLAYING FIELD ENHANCEMENTS

Following the 2017 season, the Nationals Park playing field went through a renovation project that included an upgraded irrigation system, new growing medium for the turf and new turf across the entire surface consisting of a new blend of Kentucky Bluegrass varieties. The natural grass field consists of a four-way blend of Kentucky Bluegrass grown on a 100 percent sand base profile. nfield Dirt is a designed mix of sand, silt and clay, provided by DuraEdge. The warning track is a crushed red lava stone.

MARCH TO OPENING DAY

The Nationals will host an exciting social media promotion leading up to the home opener on April 5 called the March to Opening Day. Each day during the week before opening day (March 29 - April 4), the Nationals Twitter account will be offering fans the chance to win exciting giveaway items. Prizes include Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer jerseys, a baseball signed by new manager Davey Martinez and a pair of All-Star Game tickets. All fans need to do is retweet the tweet sent from the Nationals account and they will be entered to win.

2018 NON-BASEBALL EVENTS

With the team on the road on Sunday, June 3, Nationals Park will host a Farmers Market presented by Kaiser Permanente. The market will feature local farmers and produce, and will take place in the center field plaza.

The legendary Eagles will come to Nationals Park on Thursday, July 26 as part of their 2018 North American Tour. The concert at Nationals Park is one of only two concerts this summer featuring both the Eagles, who have sold more than 120 million albums worldwide, and James Taylor and His All-Star Band.

Country music group Zac Brown Band have announced dates for their eighth headlining concert tour, including a stop at Nationals Park on Friday, July 27. The visit will feature an opening act from pop-rock band OneRepublic.

That's a lot going on at Nats Park this season to go along with the, you know, actual baseball games. Hope you, your family and friends enjoy yourselves throughout 2018! See you at the ballpark!