Sports Events in Washington D.C.

During my first few months I often go to DC on the weekend and just hike the mall and the tidal pool. At a leisurely rate, you can walk from the Capitol building around the circuit in about 4-5 hours.

My march through the different baseball parks of this country has admittedly slowed. But in early June of 2006 I was able to see yet another. RFK Stadium in Washington, DC.

This is one of those old cookie cutter stadiums for multipurpose. The do not make great baseball parks but do the job none the less. We were here for the Yankees and Nationals series. Sadly we were yet again about to see the Yankees lose a road interleague game.

If you are coming here before they build the new stadium I highly recommend a seat down the first base line for a day game as it seems to bake inside here. And at least that will be shaded.

And so, yes, number 17 has been checked off. RFK in Washington, DC.

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On my trip to Washington I didn't go to any sporting events but while walking around downtown I did get to see the outside of the Verizon Center. This is the home of the National Basketball Association's Washington Wizards.

The stadium is in a great downtown location and is really just a short walk from the hostel that I was staying in.

I went to see a Caps game Jan. 1, 2007. It was an ok experience. I found some true Caps fans sitting in the nose bleed sections and it was fun to sit amongst them. The arena was half empty, the hockey was mediocre and the intermission entertainment was boring. I've been to other NHL games in Toronto, Buffalo and Pittsburgh and unfortunately Washington was the worst of the bunch. Hey people in D.C. support your NHL team and maybe the hockey experience there will be better!!

After an absence of 35 years, Major League Baseball has returned to Washington D.C.! Unfortunately, we had to steal a team from Montreal to get one, but, after long last, the Nationals are now playing at RFK Stadium. And they actually played well during their first season, challenging for the division title and wild card until the final month of the season despite a patched together roster of low-salaried players. Sadly, 2006 has been a different story so far, as the team is one of the worst in all of baseball despite promising rookie Ryan Zimmerman (it'sd worth buying a ticket just to see him play).
Despite their woes, it's definitely worth seeing the Nationals play -- it's easy to get good tickets now, but it won't be when the new stadium is built (planned opening: 2008).

The Robert F. Kennedy Stadium served as the homefield to the Washington Redskins from 1961-1996 and the Washington Senators baseball team through to 1971 (when they moved and changed their name). For 9 years, RFK was largely put out to grass except for the occasional local soccer game, concert, or political rallye (a few years back, the "free Tibet" crowd had a rallye there). RFK is coming out of retirement, at least for the short term, to be homefield to the new Washington Nationals major league baseball team.

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RFK Stadium used to be the main stadium where the Washington Redskins played, but they have now moved to Fed Ex Field in Landover, MD. RFK statium is now home to the Washinton Nationals (Baseball), and the DC United (Soccer).

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I didn't see as many Forrest Gumps opss.. jogging people as in many other US cities, at least in Washington's downtown. But no worries, you will not be alone even in downtown. From the National Mall run westwards to the Lincoln Memorial (well, on the way be respectful to the war memorials and don't run there) and continue futher southwards to the West Potomac Park along the Potomac River (Ohio Dr).

Equipment: Running shoes, shorts and T-shirt (add walkman, discman or mp3-player).