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ESPN will showcase opener at new ballpark

By Mark Zuckerman
December 19, 2007

Nationals Park will play host to the first baseball game of the season in North America on March 30. (Bert V. Goulait/The Washington Times)

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The Washington Nationals will be under the national spotlight from the moment the 2008 season begins.

The team released its 162-game schedule yesterday, formally announcing what had become clear in recent weeks: Opening Night at new Nationals Park will be the first game played in North America, an 8:05 p.m. start March 30 against the Atlanta Braves on ESPN.

Washington officials had lobbied to get the Sunday night opener, which is played one day before other teams begin their seasons, as a potential showcase for the $611 million ballpark in Southeast.

Major League Baseball and ESPN officials decided to go along with the idea, giving the Nationals the first game of the season on domestic soil. (The Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics formally open the season March 25-26 in Japan.)

"I think it really is a recognition of the importance of this market and the potential this franchise has always held," Nationals president Stan Kasten said. "There's no question we are capable of becoming a marquee franchise. This is just one more recognition of that."

The Nationals have invited President Bush, who threw out the first pitch at the franchise's first game at RFK Stadium in 2005, to partake in the ceremonial honor again.

The 81-date home schedule features a few new twists. The starting time for most weeknight games has been moved to 7:10 p.m. from 7:05 p.m. to allow for a longer pregame show. Friday night games will start at 7:35 p.m. in an attempt to keep fans from dealing with rush-hour traffic.

Despite a push from fans for more weekday afternoon games, only three have been scheduled: a 4:35 p.m. game against the Braves on Wednesday, April 30; a 1:35 p.m. game against the Brewers on Memorial Day; and a 3:05 p.m. game against the Phillies on Labor Day.

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