I’d call it a draw on a number of fronts.
The Nats took two of three from the Orioles at RFK and the Birds took two of three from D.C. at Camden Yards. Three wins, three losses apiece.
At RFK, the teams attracted about 94,000 fans for a three-game set. Nationals’ management opts to charge fans a premium for the Orioles’ games, so the actual financial grosses are more comparable to a run-of-the-mill series that would draw over 100,000.
They attracted about 112,000 fans in Baltimore. But management sold 14,000 seats to union members for $5 a pop and another few thousand $5 ducats for date night, or whatever they’re calling Friday nights over there. Pretty much even-steven, wouldn’t you say?
Even the team biases of the individual crowds were about the same. This means, perhaps, that one, neither team’s fans travel particularly well; or two, gas was too pricey; or three, the non-contender status of each club provided no compelling reason to go. At least there were no rumbles in the parking lot.
So we’re one season into this regional rivalry and what has been proven? Nothing. But, as this is a particularly unique situation, it will likely be years before that question can be accurately answered.
I can think of no other current regional rivalry where so many fans of one team are given a second option. Let’s face it, as long as someone is yelling “OOOOOOOOOO” during the anthem at a Nationals’ home game, you know there are still diehard Orioles’ fans in the crowd. That’s not going to fade until they’re in the new ballpark, at the very least.
What if the Orioles actually return to some form of contention in the next couple of seasons? It doesn’t seem very likely at the moment, but we’re pretty sure the Nationals are going to be in a re-tooling mode during that same time period. Will new Nats’ fans bail for the illusion of a quick fix up the road? You’d hope not, but sports fans are nothing if not fickle, and shameless frontrunners.
In the coming years, let’s hope some smart person figures out that while “The Battle of the Beltway” is alliterative, it’s completely inaccurate, unless you make “Beltway” plural. Call it “The Parkway Series” or “Monument Matchup” — both towns have their own respective Washington Monuments, though D.C.’s is somewhat larger — but come up with something else.
How about a “throwback” series where each team wears replica uniforms from the past? Put the Nats in Senators’ liver, and the Orioles in St. Louis Browns uniforms — or something that actually says “Baltimore” on the front. Then auction them off for charity.
One thing fans of both teams can agree on for now? A mutual disdain for the owner on the north end of I-295. That’s another draw.
Phil Wood has covered sports in the Washington-Baltimore market for more than 30 years.
