What's new at Nats Park?

With Opening Day just around the corner, its time to get you ready for your visit to Nationals Park for the first time in 2010. Not only is the team expected to be much improved this season, but the Nationals have made sure the fan experience will be the best in the league. I had a chance to tour Nats Park recently to take in the improvements and changes, not only to the ballpark itself, but also to the food and services provided to the baseball fan. The Nationals highlighted the tour with a visit to the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk. The Miller Lite Party Nights will now be Thursday, Friday and Saturday games. The scoreboard walk area will be open 2 ½ hours before first pitch. There are new outdoor furniture, high top tables and umbrellas for a "hipper" feel. A D.J. will be spinning the tunes Thursdays and Saturdays while a band will play on Fridays. There will be a chance for the adults to get battle each other in shuffle board, ring toss and bag toss even before the real game begins. The ticket offer in this area will also be a sweet deal: $20 ($22 for prime games). The PNC Diamond Club has been remodeled with all new lighting, new decor, new outside approach and 17 40-inch Sony HDTV's. The booths are gone, replaced by "Tony" plush leather lounge chairs with coffee tables. The bar has been expanded featuring glass mosaic tiles and granite countertops, the kitchen is revamped and expanded, and there will be four Farm to Fork chefs tables featuring dishes made with seasonal, fresh ingredients and dishes will not repeat themselves during same home stand. There are two new season ticket holder only entrance gates in center field with red carpeting available after Opening Day. The Red Porch and Red Loft has been expanded with two rows of seats replaced with dining tables and chairs and the menu expanded to include items like grilled Caribbean wings, southwest steak salad and red porch velvet cupcakes. New concession options include Flippin' (New York style) Pizza, Triple Play Grill (offering the Florida Foot long Sea Dog -- a hot dog style sandwich made out of fish), Bruster's ice cream, chicken and waffle sandwiches, five different hot dogs --- DC Dog, Philly Dog, Sea Dog, Atlanta Dog an N-Y Dog matching every team in the N.L. East. Also available: gyros, grilled cheese sandwiches, healthy plate cart, steak of the union carts, kid-friendly rookie carts (with PBJ sandwiches, hot dogs and juice boxes), bottomless popcorn featuring unlimited refills, victory knot giant soft pretzels and gluten free menu items. There are two economy parking lots available with 450 spaces each: Lot HH (100 SW Freeway, SE) $5.00 and Lot W (600 L Street, SE) $10.00. RFK Stadium parking and the express shuttles to and from are no longer available. For more details, here is my sit down with COO Andy Feffer with the Washington Nationals with his take on what is new at Nats Park in 2010: Audio: Byron Kerr talks with Andy Feffer about changes at Nats Park