District Of Champions: CRE Community Celebrates Nationals' World Series Win
The Washington Nationals celebrated the first World Series victory in franchise history last week, bringing the third title to D.C. in two years along with the NHL's Capitals and WNBA's Mystics.
Bisnow put out a call last week for the commercial real estate community to share their photos and stories from the World Series, and we received responses from developers, brokers, researchers and local officials.
While many in the commercial real estate industry attended games or watched from nearby rooftops, Metropolis Capital Advisors CEO Clifford Mendelson had a different story.
During the eighth inning of Game 7, Mendelson said he started feeling pain in his chest and running down his left arm. Watching the game with his girlfriend, he searched the web for his symptoms and decided he needed to go to the hospital. Mendelson said he waited until the Nationals won Game 7 before leaving for the hospital.
He spent the night in the emergency room being evaluated for a possible heart attack, but they later told him he did not suffer a heart attack and would be OK.
"Of course I waited for the game to end before I left," Mendelson wrote in an email. "I know that may have been a mistake, but hey — I got to see the Nats win it all! Life and real estate is all about managing risk!"
JBG Smith's team watched the game from the rooftop of the two buildings it developed across N Street SE from Nationals Park: 1221 Van and West Half. The developer also illuminated the floors on several of its buildings throughout the region with red lights during the Nationals' World Series games.
"Our team will always remember admiring the crowds from atop our projects as fans gathered outside the centerfield gates," a JBG Smith spokesperson wrote in an email. "The energy and anticipation were palpable throughout the neighborhood as fans young and old waited to rush into the stadium and cheer on the Nationals as they inched closer to a World Series title."
Two Savills brokers decided to buy Nationals season tickets for 2020 to help them secure tickets to the World Series.
Marc Magazine, an executive managing director in the firm's hospitality group, attended Game 3 with his son Justin, a senior vice president for Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
Savills Executive Managing Director Adam Singer also secured tickets and attended with his wife, Suzanne, who sported a William & Mary-themed Nationals hat.
Singer said he attended his first baseball game in 1967, when he watched the Detroit Tigers take on the New York Yankees in the Bronx.
"This was better," Singer said of the World Series game.
Melnick Real Estate Advisors Vice President Jesse Mates attended Game 3 with his father, Alex Mates of FitzGerald Financial Group.
"My dad is a native Washingtonian and grew up rooting for the Senators," Mates wrote in an email. "Getting to attend Game 3 with him was something I’ll never forget. He instilled the love of baseball in me since I could walk!"
Delta Associates President Will Rich attended Game 4 with the General Services Administration's Daryl Jackson. He also attended the watch party at Nationals Park for Game 1 with his partner, Kurt Hall.
CohnReznick Managing Partner David Kessler grew up attending Washington Senators games before the team moved away — twice — leaving a franchise-sized hole in D.C.'s baseball-loving heart.
Kessler attended multiple World Series games, and like many Nationals fans, felt more confident that the 2019 team would succeed where previous iterations couldn't.
"As I imbibed at the many establishments around the ballpark, I was struck by how far not only the team has come, but also the landscape around the ballpark," Kessler wrote in an email. "Although they lost all three at home, there was never a feeling they were out of it. I was present for the playoffs in years past and this year and this team had a very exciting feel. I think the Caps set the tone! Same come from behind, nothing to lose, fun-loving season and same great feeling when they finished the fight!"
Multiple officials from the District's tourism agency attended the home games. Destination D.C. President Elliott Ferguson attended Game 3 with his wife, Kimpton Hotels Vice President of Sales Telesa Via.
Destination D.C. Senior Manager of Sports Development & Strategy's Lawrence Hamm attended Game 4, and he caught a foul ball. Destination D.C. Marketing Assistant Lauren Parker also attended Game 4.
"During inning 5 at Game 4 there was a really powerful moment where everyone held up a sign and stood up against cancer," Parker said in an emailed statement. "We got to honor my husband Matthew’s mom, who is finally cancer-free after three bouts in four-plus years! Really neat moment to have a silent stadium honoring those affected by cancer."
