Seating at Nationals Park
As ballparks go, seating at Nationals Park isn’t overly complicated. They have a handful of “premium seating” options, some great general admission areas, and, honestly, we find the seating at this park to be very good – very few obstructions, and the whole place has a pretty intimate feel to it, even if you’re in the outfield or the upper deck (but some spots are way better than others).
Let’s give you all the info you need to know to pick the seat that works for you at Nationals Park.
Premium Seating
Reserved Seats
SRO / GA Areas
Bars / Restaurants
Our favorite seats
FIS Champions Club
Great views, free soft drinks, and an air conditioned lounge.
300-Level Infield
Only a handful of rows per section, close to concessions, really decent view.
Ultra Loft
General admission seated railings overlooking the outfield, with a bar right behind them.
Our least favorite seats
Upper 200-Level Baselines
They say they’re 200 level, but they’re more like 300/400 level.
400 Level
For most games, the price difference to sit lower just won’t be that great. Make the upgrade if you can.
A quick note: Sun vs. Shade
As a general rule, seats along the third base side will be more shaded than seats along the first base side or in the outfield. Centerfield at Nationals Park faces north, so the sun will set behind the southwest side of the stadium (third base).
For a 1:35pm start, there will still be sun on the 3rd base side on both the 100 and 300/400 levels. The 200-level seats are more protected from both awnings and being nestled further into the stadium. If you absolutely want to be in the shade for the entire game, you should pick those 200 level club seats, 200 level 3rd base line seats, or the last 5-10 rows of the 100 level on the 3rd base side.
Premium Seating
The Terra Club (Sections A-E)
This is the Nationals’ flagship premium club, located immediately behind home plate in the first 7-10 rows (rows A-L, depending on the section). Each of these seats is padded, and in-seat food and beverage service is included/complimentary with your ticket.
Inside the club, which is right behind the seats underneath the 100 level concourse, is the dining room, where you’ll find various chef’s tables with a wide variety of offerings, including a great dessert case. The food, as well as all beer, house wine, and house-brand liquor, are included with your ticket as well.
One more benefit: Terra Club ticket holders can access both the PNC Diamond Club, as well as the FIS Champions Club. There might not be a huge reason for you to go to the Diamond Club, since you’re getting the same or better food in the Terra Club, but if you’ve got friends in there, you can go visit them if you’d like (and you’d have access to the food and beverages in that club as well). But access to the FIS Champions Club is nice because you can check out the Nats memorabilia on the club concourse without needing a separate ticket.
This is a nice space, and it’s hard to argue with a top-shelf day at the ballpark. Tickets are usually available for single-game sale directly through the Nationals, but for some games you’ll get a better deal checking out resale tickets on StubHub or SeatGeek (check both, because they will often have different options at different prices, and you’ll never know where the best deal will be).
Feel free to check out the Terra Club on the Nats’ site.
PNC Diamond Club
This is another all-inclusive club, located right behind the Terra Club. But be careful! All of the seats in Sections 121-125 are Diamond Club seats, but not all seats in Sections 119, 120, and 126 are. In those sections, the Diamond Club runs from Rows A-H, but the seats behind those in Rows K-R are just standard seats with NO club access. This mistake is easy to make, but now you know better !!!
Assuming you do select the correct seats, you’ll have access to the PNC Diamond Club right behind the seating bowl, where you’ll have a complimentary full buffet, and draft beer and house wines are both included as well (but not liquor or premium beers/wines, which are available for purchase).
The club is a really big space, with an entire second floor that usually has plenty of open seats (in case the first floor is too busy). The entire wall facing the field is glass windows, although you’d have to be right up next to them to watch the game.
As for the seats, the bottom parts of them are padded, but not the seat backs, so there’s a little bit of difference between these and the Terra Club. The lowest rows in these sections are about 14 rows from the field (behind the Terra Club seats and the walkway), and the highest rows in these sections are about 30 rows away. But the club is at the top of the section, so if you’d prefer fewer stairs, sit in a higher row. If you’d prefer a more close-up view of the game, then opt for the lower rows.
PNC Diamond Club ticket holders can also visit the FIS Champions Club, where you can check out the Nats memorabilia on the concourse, including the World Series trophy.
We like the club a lot. Like with the Terra Club, single game tickets are available through the Nats, as well as on resale sites like StubHub.
As always, there’s more info on the PNC Diamond Club on the Nats’ site.
PNC Patio
PNC Patio information coming soon!
MGM National Harbor Dugout Seats
These are the fancy, plushy seats located in the front row of Sections 130-131, immediately next to the Nationals dugout. And when we say you’re at field level, trust us … you are AT field level. These are pretty amazing seats, which include in-seat wait service, a TV at each seat, and complimentary beverages, including beer, wine, and liquor. And they also include access to both the Terra Club and PNC Diamond Club, including the complimentary food in each. So you’d want to show up to the game very early, eat in the club, and then make your way down to these seats.
You can only purchase these tickets through the Nats premium sales department, and they must be purchased in groups of 4, 6, or 8. Prices start at $300/seat, but you can bet that this price is just for the worst games on the schedule. They’ll be way higher for weekends, prime opponents, and pretty much any other game from May-August (and then some).
This is definitely a splurge product, but if it fits your budget and they’re available, you should go for it. Amazing seats + free food + free beverages = happiness.
To discuss, call the Nats at (202) 675-NATS, or email them at groupsales@nationals.com. You can also get more information on their website.
200-Level FIS Champions Club (Sections 206-221)
This is the seating area from sections 206-221. On the Nats seating chart, you’ll see these broken into two different categories: Champions Club MVP, and Champions Club. What’s the difference? Nothing but location. All of these sections have the exact same access to the interior club lounge behind the seating bowl, and there’s no in-seat wait service for any of these seats. So if you’re interested in the Club level, but on more of a budget, look for seats further down the baselines. They all have great views of the field, but the prices will be lower.
The amenities of the club include:
- An indoor, air-conditioned club, which is great for escaping from the DC summer heat
- Concession stands with some foods that aren’t available elsewhere in the ballpark
- Complementary self-serve fountain soft drinks
- Team memorabilia, such as the 2019 World Series trophy and other player trophies
But it’s important to note: no food is included with these tickets – everything is a-la-carte, as are all alcoholic beverages. When you’re sitting in the club, the above benefits are all you’re getting.
As for the seats, they are padded, and the awning from the 300 level will cover your seat fully starting around Row G. As with the lower level, the 3rd base side of the ballpark will have more shade than the first base side.
We like the club. It’s a nice space, and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a little AC for an inning. We wouldn’t dramatically overpay for the club level, but you can often get them at a pretty good discount on StubHub, especially if you look further down the baselines. For the same (or even slightly higher) price than comparable lower-level seats, we’d opt for the club.
Standard Reserved Seating
Lower Level Baselines (108-120, 126-137)
The lower level baselines at Nats Park include Sections 108-120 (the upper parts of 119-120), and 126 (upper part) to 137.
The things to note about these sections:
They’re huge – almost 40 rows deep. There’s nothing wrong with that, but the experience from row 10 will undoubtedly be different than the view from row 37.
Sections 135-137 are angled towards home plate (especially Section 137), making it easier to watch the game. We would choose to sit in these sections instead of section 134, even though 134 is closer to the infield.
The third base line is the shady side of the park, and the first base side is the sunny part. For a day game, you can expect to be in the sun the entire day on the first baseline. If you want shade, the awning from the 200 level protrudes to about Row SS on both baselines. The further back you go, the more shade you’ll have. If you absolutely want shade, opt for Row UU, which is the last row of most sections.
The Nats seating chart separates out the first few rows of 116-118 and 128-129 as “Dugout Box Premier seats”. But there’s nothing of consequence about them, other than the fact that they are really close to the field, and the four seats in the front row of 118 and 127 are right in front of the entrance to the dugout. The seats themselves are the same as the other seats in the section, and there are no other attached benefits.
TSI WARNING
Sections 112-113 and 132 do not have shade from the 200-level awning.
There’s a gap in the awning over these sections, so there will be no protection from the sun like in other baseline sections.
This will be less of an issue in 112-113, but a definite issue in 132.
TSI WARNING
In Sections 112 and 134 there is a cutout for a tunnel that goes from the field to the underbelly of the 100 level. This cutout has a wall and glass partitions on either side of it, and if you’re sitting on the wrong side, your view to home plate will be a disaster. The affected seats are:
• Section 112, Rows D-X, Seats 14-15, and Section 134, Rows D-X, Variable seats (they are the two seats closest to the obstruction).
And even though there’s no direct obstruction to home plate from the opposite sides of these seats (112, Rows D-X, Seat 9, and Section 134, Rows D-X, Seat 18), they are jammed right up against the wall and the glass partition as well. We’d skip these if possible as well.
Lower Level Outfield (100-107, 138-143)
These are typical outfield seats, but they are all normal seats – no bleachers out here.
Here’s what to pay attention to:
Sections 100-101
The view to home plate is fine, but there are some awkward angles to plays that happen in the deep outfield, particularly if you’re sitting closer to any of the walls. It’s not a dealbreaker, since the number of plays that would be affected isn’t that great, but it’s still worth mentioning.
Sections 102-106
We actually like the views from these sections (as outfield views go). The best seats are the first row of Sections 101 and 102 (Row L), which are right over the visitors’ bullpen.
In Section 103, if you sit in the highest seat number in Rows A-K, the bullpen will be to your immediate left. We don’t love being pinned against a railing, but to be able to see pitchers warm up from this vantage point is worth the tradeoff.
Sections 138-143
These seats get as much sun as anywhere on the 100 level, for the longest duration at a day game, so be aware of that. The awning from the 200 level will protect you early during a day game when the sun is overhead, but as the sun sets behind the third base line, it will be staring you right in the face, unless you’re towards the very back of these sections.
The Nationals bullpen is in front of Sections 138-139. Row S is the first row above the bullpen, so that’s what you’re looking for if you want the best view of the bullpen. In 139-S it will be seats 8-27, and in 138-S every seat will be above the bullpen.
In Section 139, Rows F-R, Seat 6, you’ll be directly to the side of the bullpen.
Don’t expect the same view from the aisle seat in Section 137. There’s an aisle between that end seat and the bullpen, which makes watching the pitchers far less enjoyable.
200-Level Baselines (Sections 201-205, odd sections 223-235)
The 200 level at Nats Park is a perfectly decent place to watch a game. Unlike some ballparks, we don’t feel detached from the action in the 200-level seats here, and if you’re looking for a budget ticket, this is a good option.
- The concourse is at the top of these sections, so if you don’t want to climb steps to get in and out, sit higher.
- But we really like the view from Row 1 in these sections. They are high-value seats.
- Beyond Row 1, most of these seats will have some obstruction to plays happening in the deep outfield right below them. We don’t think it’s a big deal, but just be aware.
- 201-205 will be on the shaded side of the field, but 223-235 will absolutely be in the sun
- The last two rows of these sections will have some shade from the awning above, but that will only help you when the sun is overhead. When it’s setting, you’ll feel some heat.
- Important note: the escalator to get up to sections 223-235 is all the way at section 143/243. So it can be a bit of a walk to get off of the 200 level, unless you take an elevator (which is sometimes easier than it sounds, as they are staffed and labeled as being intended for customers with disabilities or mobility issues).
200 Level Outfield (Sections 237-243)
Similar to the 200-level baseline seats, we think these seats are pretty good for the price. We like these a little better than the 200 level baselines because these face directly towards home plate, so there’s no turning of the neck to watch the game.
- Once again, we think the front row here is a great seat, if you can get one, but be aware that the concourse is still at the top of the section, so the lower you are, the more stairs you’ll be climbing.
- The huge Budweiser Bar is located behind sections 242-243, and there’s usually a lot of activity out there. If you like to socialize and mingle around during games, this is a good spot for you.
- These sections are much closer to the escalator to the 100 level, so they’re just more convenient to get to/from.
- These seats will definitely get full-on sun during day games. There’s no hiding out here, and that sun will hit you until it fully sets behind the third baseline (which won’t happen during a 1:35pm game).
- You won’t be able to see the jumbotron from these seats.
200 Level Upper Baselines (even sections 222-236)
We’re not sure why these aren’t labeled as 300-level seats, because that’s what they are. In fact, the lower half of these sections are comparable to the 300 level, but the upper half are more comparable to the 400 level. So we think there is a noticeable difference between sitting in the lower 200-level seats and the upper ones, and not in a good way. We would honestly rather sit in the 300-level infield than the 200-level upper baselines.
- Like the lower 200’s, these seats will be in the sun for the entire game. The last 4-5 rows do have an overhang over them, but that will only help when the sun is directly above you. As it sets behind the 3rd base line, it will be right in your face, even if you’re under the awning.
- These seats share the concourse with the lower 200-level baselines, but there are about 20 rows in these sections, so the higher up you go, the more climbing/steps you’ll be enjoying. If you don’t like that idea, stick to the lowest possible rows.
Watch out for the foul pole obstruction in Section 234. See the Nats 3d Virtual Venue to make sure you’re not picking a bad seat
300 Level Baselines (Sections 301-321)
Here’s why we like the 300-level baseline seats so much:
- There are only 6-9 rows in each of these sections, which means you don’t have to climb many steps to get to/from the concourse.
- Because there are only 6-9 rows, it just feels less crowded
- The views are great from these seats
- The 300 level concourse has plenty of food options
Obviously the closer you are to the infield, the better your view will be, but we think anything from 307-321 is perfectly decent for an upper-level seat. And remember: seats on the 3rd base side will get shade earlier than those on the first base side, but you should still expect sun on these seats for most of an afternoon game.
400 Level Baselines (Sections 401-409, 416-420)
The nosebleed seats. Look … nobody sits here because it’s their first choice. This is a budget decision (or, perhaps, if it’s a huge game, an availability decision), and you can certainly have a perfectly decent experience up here.
Some notes:
Be careful of the seats at the top of a stairway. You’ll have people constantly walking into your field of vision.
If you’ve got a small group, there are little “pods” of nine seats in pretty much each section of the upper level. They’re sort of set apart on their own, and if you use your imagination (a lot), it’s almost like a little semi-private suite.
Standing Room Only and General Admission Areas
Michelob Ultra Loft
Located in center field above the Change Up Food Hall, this patio overlooking the ballpark is a great space to watch the game. Aside from the bar area where people mingle, there are three rows of standing rails (they used to have chairs, but no longer, unless it’s rented out for a corporate group) where you can post up to watch the game. If you want a rail spot, it is best to get up there early and claim your spot.
Swing Big Beer Pen
These are the standing rails in centerfield, just to the left of the scoreboard (they used to have stools, but no more – it’s now standing room only). This area is sometimes rented out to groups, but if not, it’s available to all fans on a first-come, first-stand basis. It’s a cool spot to get a birdseye view from the outfield, and also good if you’re hanging out near the large Budweiser Bar right behind it. If you’re there with a bunch of people, it can also be a good spot for everyone to hang out together without needing specific seats.
Casamigos Sky Deck
Located on the 200 level along the first base line, this small cutout space actually has a great view of the field. If you wanted to grab the cheapest ticket in the building and are willing to stand the whole game, this is a little bit of a hidden gem that not everyone knows about.
Devil’s Backbone Left Field Lodge
Located on the 300 level, all the way in left field next to Section 301, is an open patio area sponsored by Devil’s Backbone Brewery. We wouldn’t suggest this is the best view of the game, but if you have an upper level seat, and want a place to stretch your legs for a bit, this is a good spot for that.
Behind Sections 102-107
This is the centerfield plaza, and while there are people always wandering around out here, there’s also a set of SRO railings behind these secitons that are good places to rest your beer and hang out for a bit.
Budweiser Brew House Tables
Budweiser Brew House Tables information coming soon!
Bottom Line
Like we said, Nats Park isn’t terribly complicated, but the more you know, the easier it will be to make a ticket buying decision. Our advice:
- Keep an eye out on resale sites for premium tickets. On slow days, you can get a great deal.
- For day games, stick to the 3rd base side for more shade
- For budget, look for seats in Sections 307-321.
