RFK Improvements?

[Allan Quatermain]

Last year was difficult, what with the cosharing. My general feeling is that it worked about as well as could be expected, which isn't to say it wasn't unpleasant at times. The biggest problems I experienced were with the new food and beverage concessionaires. They absolutely sucked.

Has anyone heard whether anything has been planned during this offseason to improve the game-day experience for fans?

In particular, is there any chance that the food and beer service in the mezzanine won't be as spectacularly awful as it was last year? It was downright criminal.

I know Steve Zack had promised to look into it -- that was reported in these boards and by my ticket rep. We will see ...

[CHICO13]

Talked to Steve Zack about this yesterday and he said the one major improvement will be the field. The DCSEC has hired a new groundskeeper to to handle the field and the switching back and forth. He said the new groundskeeper is alot more friendly to the teams needs and wants. They had also used the wrong type of seed last year that didn't regenerate itself late in the year which caused the turf to come up in clumps. So besides this weekends switchover (the Nats have an exhibition game Friday night) and hoping the weather holds out thru Saturday, there aren't alot of games where there will be a tight deadline between the teams playing.

[fatbastard]

yeah, Rob and I talked to Soehn about the field too, he said he was excited because the new groundskeeper was the same one who took care of the reserve fields last year, so he already is used to dealing with them and knows their preferences. I just want to ask him what the hell they did between 1998 and now that the field no longer drains properly, but now seems to hold alot of water. Maybe a rat got stuck in the water pipe leading to the Anacostia.....

[Pints]

That's good news about the field. IMO the most important RFK improvement needed this year.

[BBBulldog]

must be confetti :D

[CHICO13]

I just want to ask him what the hell they did between 1998 and now that the field no longer drains properly, but now seems to hold alot of water. Maybe a rat got stuck in the water pipe leading to the Anacostia.....
If you remember the pics of the renovation last year, you'll remember that they dug way down into the field and removed all the piping used for the drainage. The dumbasses just never replaced it. RFK was one of the best draining fields in the country. All they have to do is watch MLS Cup '97 to see for themselves.

[Pints]

If you remember the pics of the renovation last year, you'll remember that they dug way down into the field and removed all the piping used for the drainage. The dumbasses just never replaced it. RFK was one of the best draining fields in the country. All they have to do is watch MLS Cup '97 to see for themselves.

They didn't replace it? I thought that was part of the design, new drainage?
:eek: I just figured something went wrong with it.

[CHICO13]

They didn't replace it? I thought that was part of the design, new drainage?
:eek: I just figured something went wrong with it.
I think they just layered gravel over charcoal over dirt over gravel. It's a new way to drain it but obviously the old way is the best way.

[Sundevil9]

They didn't replace it? I thought that was part of the design, new drainage?




....new drainage......no drainage.......can't you see how they could get confused?:rolleyes:

[Claymore]

I seem to recall a discussion years ago where someone told me that the RFK drainage system involved the use of active pumps because the level of the field was at or below the level of the Anacostia. If they aren't using pumps now, that would explain why it's so slow to drain.

[b1968k]

During rain delays during last seasons Nationals games the grounds crew pushed the water toward spots on the field to help it drain. I assumed there were drains set into the turf, but don't really know.

Of course in soccer they don't stop playing because of rain and there aren't breaks every 10 minutes to allow the field to be groomed. That might be an issue.

[Hedbal]

The new baseball stadium field is supposed to be 24 feet below street level! That sounds to me like the makings of a swamp. Thank God we won't be sharing it with the Nats.

[NicktheGreek]

Last year was difficult, what with the cosharing. My general feeling is that it worked about as well as could be expected, which isn't to say it wasn't unpleasant at times. The biggest problems I experienced were with the new food and beverage concessionaires. They absolutely sucked.

Has anyone heard whether anything has been planned during this offseason to improve the game-day experience for fans?

In particular, is there any chance that the food and beer service in the mezzanine won't be as spectacularly awful as it was last year? It was downright criminal.

I know Steve Zack had promised to look into it -- that was reported in these boards and by my ticket rep. We will see ...

There's lots of better places to go for a beer and a hotdog, but no better spot in the USA for Soccer. Fixing the field conditions are job 1.

[GoDC]

Implosion will be the best improvement they can make to that place.

[gnat]

must be confetti :D
No, it was all the grass that got burned by the banners :D

-dave

[Dave Brother]

No, it was all the grass that got burned by the banners :D

-dave
That still pisses me off. :mad:

[gnat]

That still pisses me off. :mad:
You aren't the only one.

One of the few times I was over there last season and I missed half the game due to that crap :mad:

-dave

[roadkit]

Has anyone heard whether anything has been planned during this offseason to improve the game-day experience for fans?

Maybe they'll bring a wrecking ball - that should get everyone's hopes up. :rolleyes:

[kebzach]

The new baseball stadium field is supposed to be 24 feet below street level! That sounds to me like the makings of a swamp. Thank God we won't be sharing it with the Nats.

Candlestick Park, Part II

[Allan Quatermain]

Some of this is good news about the field. But is there going to be any way to get a beer in the mezzanine that doesn't require missing a minimum of 15 minutes of the game?