Besides Citi Field, I've been to more games at Nationals Park than anywhere else since 2015. It's a great place to take in a ball game, but for whatever reason the Nationals don't draw very well. Although the team is currently leading the Wild Card race, they're on pace to welcome less through the gates than any year since 2011.
The Nats, despite Monday’s loss, are super-fun. They’re also on pace to draw fewer fans than any year since 2011. It’s fair to examine the relationship between a team and its public. https://t.co/d7vJifhiYo
— Barry Svrluga (@barrysvrluga) September 2, 2019
I'm not about to pretend like Citi Field is always popping, but when the chips are down and our guys like Pete "LFGM" Alonso, and Michael Conforto put out the bat signal, the fans turned out in droves. That kind of atmosphere helps stack W's, and players constantly talk about how they feed off the energy of an exciting crowd.
It’s a shame when players don’t get support from their fans. @treavturner from https://t.co/CfGqWZ8kHB pic.twitter.com/H1b1ACOP7I
— The 7 Line Army (@The7LineArmy) September 3, 2019
We head down on Monday with The 7 Line Army for our annual outing. Due to it being Labor Day, it was a little smaller of an outing for us, but still 600 strong. The Mets won, and we had a phenomenal time as usual, but a few decided to get mad online.
The replies to this are great. Nats fans are bent outta shape. Here’s a simple thought... show up for your team that’s leading the Wild Card race, and cheer louder than us. It’ll be fun. https://t.co/9PGGHya4Yl
— The 7 Line Army (@The7LineArmy) September 3, 2019
Local DC sports journalist and broadcaster, Grant Paulsen decided to toss his two cents in the mix with some of the weirdest takes yet.
Wanna see someone just begging to be a part of the conversation? Here’s quite a take from @granthpaulsen. Imagine being annoyed that a group has a name? Here’s your attention, Grant. https://t.co/3VJjIsC866
— The 7 Line (@The7Line) September 3, 2019
A NAME! Could you ever imagine being mad at something like that? Who doesn't like names? Sounds like Grant might be a secret member of Project Mayhem. You know who else had a name? Robert Paulsen. Same last name as our new buddy Grant. Coincidence?
Next up was the freezing cold take that T7LA hits road ballparks with the purpose to annoy. Nah, not to cheer on our team. Hundreds of fans spend their time and money each year to go annoy Grant and Nationals fans, not to cheer on our Mets.
HA! It just gets better with Grant. Our "entire point is to annoy".. No, not cheer on our team hope they feel that energy from the stands. To annoy. Got it. People actually pay this dude for his takes? You wish the Nats had something like T7LA, but don't like that it has a name? https://t.co/PuGcSihu6v
— The 7 Line (@The7Line) September 3, 2019
He tripled down on his radio show this afternoon saying "there's not enough disdain for Mets fans". For the record, my buddy who's a Mets fan and lives down in VA tried to call in, and they wouldn't put him on the air.
Nats fans and @granthpaulsen need to take a strong look in the mirror. Instead of being better fans, actually showing up, and just cheering louder than us... they’re pointing fingers. https://t.co/TYMicP5YuX
— Darren Meenan (@DarrenJMeenan) September 3, 2019
So there ya have it, folks. Instead of urging the locals to get down to the park to cheer on the Nationals, let's point fingers and hate on fans that actually show up for their team. That's gotta be the problem!
Can't wait to hear those LGM chants from the ballpark tonight! "Ugh, so annoying!" - definitely Grant Paulen at 7:05pm.
If you're down in DC and didn't get a ticket yet for tonight or tomorrow, the Nationals set aside some (at a discount) so Mets fans could sit together. Very cool of them. https://t.co/n7O0EV6h1p
— The 7 Line (@The7Line) September 3, 2019
We'll be spending Opening Weekend in Houston! Hopefully you'll be one of the 1,300 Mets fans kicking the season off with us in Texas! The Astros didn't have enough availability to fit us for Opening Day, so we locked up 1,300 tickets to game 2 of the season on March 29th.
Darren Meenan
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