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The Washington Nationals will take the field at the brand new ball park next weekend, but hundreds of baseball fans filled the stadium to cheer on a different home team today.
The stadium did have its first pitch today, but it was not by a major league team.
Today's game was a pre-season run through to iron out any wrinkles and welcome a local team.
Everything was present including snacks, the national anthem and the cheers; but the fans came not to see the Nationals, but the George Washington Colonials.
"We've been waiting three, four weeks just to play this one game," said George Washington pitcher, Brian Frazier.
"It's was a great opportunity for us to welcome one of the local teams, but certainly it was a mini trial run if you will," said Nationals Vice President of Communications, Chartese Burnett.
The crowd today was only a few thousand, 20 times smaller than the one they are expecting next weekend, but it gave officials the chance to look out for any glitches.
Officials were able to make sure everything from ticketing, maintenance and hospitality will be ready for next weekend.
"If we're going to bring 41,000 people in here and the president a week from now, they need to warm it up with a couple smaller size crowds," said Nationals fan Frank Cumberland.
But it is hard to ignore that there is still work to be done. While the crowds were cheering, the construction crews were pounding away trying to beet the clock.
Most Nationals fans at the game today said they have faith that the new park will be ready for next weekend.
"It's going to be ready. And if its not, its like a new house, sometimes you have to move into the house and still get things done," said Nationals fan Randy Ganson.
Fans said they did not have trouble getting to the stadium today, but again, the crowd was about 20 times smaller than is expected next weekend. So the real test is yet to come.
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