Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 27, 2008

Metro readies for opening weekend at Nationals Park

“If you build it, they will come,” and Metro is prepared to move large crowds to the District of Columbia’s new field of dreams – Nationals Park starting this weekend.

Metro is ready to handle the crowds by providing more Metrobus and Metrorail service to the Navy Yard Metrorail station, just steps from the new ballpark.

Metrobus will begin extra service on the N22 to get people to the ballpark. Metrorail will have extra trains and personnel to help fans get to and from the game. In addition, the new expanded west entrance of the Navy Yard Metrorail station, just one block from the new ball park, is open.

Exhibition Game, Saturday, March 29

On Saturday, March 29, at 6 p.m., the Washington Nationals host an exhibition game against the Baltimore Orioles. To accommodate the crowds, Metrorail will operate up to 10 extra trains on the Green Line, and up to four extra trains on the Red and Orange lines. All trains will be a combination of six-and eight-car trains.

Metro will sell specially designed commemorative Washington Nationals SmarTrip cards from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Navy Yard Metrorail station for $5. Customers will need to add fare to the cards.

The newly expanded N22 Metrobus route from the Navy Yard Metrorail station to the Eastern Market and Union Station Metrorail stations will operate every 10 minutes from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and is an option for people who don’t want to transfer to one of the other Metrorail lines.

Opening Night, Sunday, March 30

On Sunday, March 30, the regular season home opener for the Washington Nationals, Metro expects to carry about 24,000 people to and from Nationals Park for the ballpark’s official unveiling at 8:15 p.m. in a game against the Atlanta Braves. To accommodate the crowds, Metrorail will operate up to 15 extra trains on the Green Line and up to four extra trains on the Red and Orange Lines. All trains will be a combination of six-and eight-car trains.

Metro will sell specially designed commemorative Washington Nationals SmarTrip cards at the Navy Yard Metrorail station from 5 to 9 p.m. for $5. Customers will need to add fare to the cards.

The N22 Metrobus route from the Navy Yard Metrorail station to the Eastern Market and Union Station Metrorail stations will operate every 10 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Metro volunteers sporting Nationals gear will be at the following 13 Metrorail stations to answer questions: Navy Yard, Branch Avenue, Waterfront, Greenbelt, Anacostia, L’Enfant Plaza, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Shady Grove, Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, West Falls Church-VT/UVA, Franconia-Springfield, Landover and New Carrollton Metrorail stations.

Metro reminds everyone attending this weekend’s games to expect large crowds at the Navy Yard Metrorail station, and the two main transfer stations to the Green Line, Gallery Place-Chinatown and L’Enfant Plaza. Metro will have personnel and Transit Police at all three stations.

Navy Yard Metrorail Station

Metro is the best way to get to the ballpark because of the convenience of the Navy Yard Metrorail station to the new ballpark. The station’s newly expanded west entrance can accommodate up to 15,000 people per hour, compared with 5,000 per hour before the renovation. It has five more fare gates and two more vending machines, a new elevator between the entrance and the mezzanine and a new elevator and staircase between the mezzanine and the platform.

On game days, the west entrance will be exit-only as conditions warrant before games, and entrance-only after games. During games, the Navy Yard east entrance should be used by people traveling in the opposite direction of the crowds.

On weekends and at the conclusion of games, Metro will have extra trains available to get fans to and from the ballpark. Extra station managers, rail supervisors, and Transit Police officers will be stationed at the Navy Yard Metrorail station to assist riders and provide directions about how to get to and from Nationals Park.

Metro has free brochures that provide walking directions to Nationals Park from the Navy Yard Metrorail station, as well as information on Metrobus service and parking. The free brochure is available in stations and on Metro’s Web site at www.wmata.com/nationals.

In addition to the N22, Metrobus routes 70, V7, V8, V9 also operate to the Navy Yard Metrorail station. Before and after Nationals games, people can avoid the crowds at the Navy Yard Metrorail station by riding these bus lines.

Parking is free at Metrorail stations on weekends and federal holidays. On weekdays, riders must have a SmarTrip card to pay for parking at all but six Metrorail parking facilities. Customers can pay the daily parking fee with a major credit card or SmarTrip card at the Anacostia, Franconia-Springfield, Largo Town Center, Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, Shady Grove and New Carrollton. Customers can use their Discover, Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Japanese Credit Bank cards at these locations

News release issued at 1:45 pm, March 27, 2008.