What's new at Nats Park for 2017 season

I had the unenviable and difficult task of going on the annual Nationals media tour of Nats Park to see what's new for 2017. Rough assignment, I know.

The tour began in the Delta Sky 360 Club. The Club is getting a new entry way as well as new carpeting and lighting. Delta branding was enhanced with Delta's signature Diamond Wall, which is seen in most Delta Club sports venues.

The most obvious physical difference to Nats Park that fans will notice is the MGM National Harbor Dugout Club located in the front row down the first base line into right field next to the Nationals dugout. The eight luxury seats feature a dedicated entrance adjacent to the first base gates at the corner of First Street and Potomac Avenue with curbside drop off.

The Club has luxury seats, televisions, private restroom, a personal attendant and a stocked refrigerator. The seats are available by contacting the MGM National Harbor.

An enhancement that all fans can enjoy this season at Nats Park is the introduction of the new Nationals MLB.com Ballpark App for iPhone or Android. Fans will be able to order tickets with just three taps. Plus, they can share tickets with friends directly from their phone.

Fans will be able to order concessions from their phones, skip the line and enjoy express pickup locations. This advantage will not be available on opening day, however, with a launch date in the coming weeks.

With the Ballpark App, fans will enjoy ticket and concession discounts, plus access to Main Team Store promotions, which includes free jersey customization or up to 25 percent off.

The Nationals also announced that they "nearly doubled the number of Wi-Fi access points throughout the ballpark."

The Norfolk Southern Club features brand new bars and adjustable shades installed to block out sunlight coming in from the home plate entrance area.

The Nationals Main Team Store features an updated kids section, modernized '47 Brand and New Era sections, and more from Dooney and Burke, Stance and Vineyard Vines.

There are new patriotic curly W selections available in caps and jerseys.

Further, the Nats will introduce a new jersey customization program, featuring new jersey styles. An all-new cap customization program now exits in the New Era store in section 132. You can also bring in your broken-in caps of yesteryear and have them customized.

Distilleries of the DMV features cocktails on-draft made from distilleries in the District, Maryland and Virginia. See them in sections 112 and 135.

Devils Backbone Brewing Company will unveil the Left Field Lodge and feature a one-of-a-kind brand new ERA (Earned Run Ale), a Nationals flagship brew.

"This year we have partnered with Devils Backbone Brewing out of Charlottesville, Va.," said Jonathan Stahl, Nationals vice president of ballpark opeations. "We came up with a collaboration called ERA, Earned Run Ale. It's a Pale Ale made with Amarillo and Citra hops. It's a light, refreshing beverage, sessionable, easy to drink ale at a ballgame throughout the summer. That will be available throughout the ballpark and in the Left Field Lodge."

Listen to the rest of my interview with Stahl at the bottom of this page.

The pale ale "leverages a light, bready malt base to highlight bright, fresh hop aromas and flavors" and is a session pale ale. The Lodge will be located at the section 301 ledge and ERA will also be available in other parts of the ballpark.

The Nationals' new mojito cart "Rum Runners" will be serving in the Center Field Plaza.

Anheuser-Busch will offer "SpikedSeltzer," an alcoholic seltzer water in lime and grapefruit flavors in 16 ounce cans. Look for the SpikedSeltzer in bars and concession stands throughout the ballpark.

Gone are the days of just popcorn and a lonely hot dog at the concession stands. The variety available at Nats Park is amped up again this season.

New concession stands include "See You Tater" with chicken wings, nachos and tater tots located near section 106. Tater tot selections include Chesapeake Bay, Steakhouse, Backyard BBQ and Buffalo flavors. The wing flavors feature traditional Buffalo, Sweet and Spicy BBQ, Lemon Garlic Butter, Old Bay and Mango Carribean Jerk.

Old Hickory BBQ debuts in the Norfolk Southern Club in section 210. The menu includes BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, BBQ brisket sandwiches, a smokehouse dog and a smoked baked potato.

The ballpark will unveil a new On Rye Babka Ice Cream sandwich selection in the Center Field Plaza.

New menu items in Nats Park include: Chicken Fried Steak at Virginia Country Kitchen (sections 130 and 315), Marinated Chicken Skewers at Change-Up Chicken (sections 110 and 129) and the Italian Sausage Burger (sections 110 and 141 and Grand Slam Grill and Georgetown Grill in section 129). The burger includes an Italian sausage patty with provolone cheese, carmelized onions and peppers on a potato roll.

New ticketing highlights to make you aware of:

* Inaugural Nationals Easter Egg Hunt on April 16
* Nationals Mother's Day brunch on May 14
* District W - Nationals' new fan club
* Exclusive Neighborhood offer Pick 'Em Plans - a special ticket package for fans living in the neighborhood surrounding Nats Park
* Red Carpet Rewards Redemption Center - located in the back of the Main Team Store.

For more information on upcoming promotional dates, visit here or go to Nationals.com.