Portables

• Pirates: 8
• Nationals: 5
• Sold: 102 beers / 47 peanut, Crackerjack

So right after the worst sales day of the season, comes one of the better ones. Still a sparse crowd playing a small-market Pirates, but sales were up. The reason was limited competition -- the Portables were closed.

The problem with Nationals Park is that what's good for the team's overall business isn't necessarily good for the Beerman's business. Old stadiums follow an old model of design, where the concessions stands are wedged below the stands, requiring a trip into the dark tunnel and into a dungeonous hallway to load up on beer and food. Since this takes you away from the game, the beerman performs a welcome service. At newer stadiums like Nationals Park, though, the lower bowl is laid out below a wraparound concourse that offers unbroken connection with the game. At the top of the row is the Beerman's competition: the Portable Beer Unit. Just head to the top of the row, and there it stands in molded plastic upon casters, capable of chilling hundreds of bottles of brew at a time while offering gracious views of the field. There's no reason to rely on the vendor when the portable is there, so it's a good night when they're closed and the vendor can pick up those sales.

People always ask me if I'm excited about the New Stadium, and if the New Stadium lived up to my expectations, and isn't the New Stadium just beautiful? Well, not anymore, not really, and not at all. I'll get into my aesthetic judgments later, but when the layout of the place itself cuts into my sales and minimizes my reason for being there at all, that creates an ugly situation.

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