Home Games
 

With all of the changes, my wife and I are wanting to see a home game. We have been to DC once but it was many years ago.

We have a few questions and I am hoping the good people on this board can help.

Where is the best place to stay?
Is there a shuttle to and from the game?
Will we need a rental car?

Neither of us have driven in DC and we would like to have a few beers.

Thank you again for the help.

Re: Home Games
 

I can't answer all your questions, but:

No idea on best place to stay, I live locally.

Your options for going to the game are Metro or driving. If you wanna tailgate, you're gonna need a car and a parking pass (although there are non-stadium parking you can tailgate at, me and my friends go to a lot on the outer perimeter that charges like 20 bucks for parking. You can ride Metro unless you hate walking, in which case don't ride Metro (1+ mile walk to closest station). Metro reliability always leaves something to be desired too, but I've never had problems as long as you leave early enough to account for weekend delays.

Metro will also take you into DC and northern VA if you stay down here. Driving in DC sucks too and parking is a bitch (I've gotten more $100 parking tickets than I care to admit). If you fly into Reagan you can hop on the Metro, if you fly into BWI (MARC or bus) or Dulles (shuttle bus) there are options to get to the Metro/DC. Oh yeah and if you ride the Metro always remember walk left, stand right.

Re: Home Games
 

Questions could best be answered if you let us know your budget for the trip and where you are coming from.

Re: Home Games
 

Coming from Omaha, Nebraska. We would like to stay under 1K plus flights.

Re: Home Games
 

My girlfriend works for the Feds and sets up conferences, she said to just look on Trivago for rooms. She said decent rooms go for $350-$400 a night in the DC area. I only spent a couple nights in DC a half dozen years ago meeting a friend who was on vacation. I forget the name but for $150 a night the place was a full on dive that makes a Motel 6 look like the Waldorph Astoria. Parking in DC is expensive and it is usually a PITA, best to take the Metro Train if you don't mind a little walking here and there.

Re: Home Games
 

I am of no help as I've never been out to DC. But just from over the years of reading similar threads, the metro seems like the best bet for the game or just getting around in general if you're visiting the area. No stress of driving or trying to find or get ripped off for parking. Sometines walking is just easier and more relaxing, even if a bit far, than being stuck in a car and you'll save money that you can use on the actual vacation itself.

We play in Arizona this year. Not too far of a drive from San Diego. Think I'm gonna go see that game.

Re: Home Games
 

How many nights are you staying?

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=Buffalo Bob;1243194]How many nights are you staying?[/quote]

Depending on the hotel cost, Sat - Mon or Sat - Tuesday.

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=OmahaRedskins;1243200]Depending on the hotel cost, Sat - Mon or Sat - Tuesday.[/quote]

3 nights hotel is going to smoke that $1,000 easy if you stay in around DC. Maybe you should rent a car and commute. The shortest way to avoid the high rent district is to head south down I-95 from DC. As an example the area I live in is about 75 miles south and you can get a decent room for around $60 a night. Due note during rush hour that I-95 traffic sucks. I would start pricing hotels south on I-95. If you can wait till 10 am to head north and 10 pm to go back the traffic usually isn't that bad. If you don't want to deal with DC traffic you can always drive to a Metro station and take the train the rest of the way. I think there is an Amtrak line running along I-95 also.

Re: Home Games
 

The College Park Holiday Inn isn't too far from the stadium and runs about $78 a night.

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=OmahaRedskins;1243169]Coming from Omaha, Nebraska. We would like to stay under 1K plus flights.[/quote]

I love to travel on the cheap and speaking from experience I feel like the best place to find deals on domestic flights is through Southwest. You just have to continuously monitor their homepage to see when they're offering sales, and with a little time you'll learn when they're offering a BS sale vs. a legit sale.

A legit sale I've seen one way domestic flights, nonstop, for under $100. [URL="https://www.southwest.com/html/offers/nationwide_sale_NonstopConnect_200114.html?clk=4069034&cbid=4069034"]Right now they are having a "spring" sale[/URL] but it's not a legit sale because cities that I'm always eyeballing aren't actually discounted. Normally their legit sales they'll run on Tues-Thurs during a slow period of the year, i.e. non-holiday periods/etc. I would wait until summer before I start looking at flights to DC, there are definitely good deals to be had. You might be able to do round-trip per person, with 2 free bags, nonstop, from Omaha to DC, for around 200-250.

Re: Home Games
 

I personally have lived in Northern Virginia most of my life.
So please note that my recommendations below are from what friends of mine have done in the past when visiting Washington DC.

The recommendations are to stay at a hotel or motel in Springfield VA and use the Franconia Springfield Metro Blue Line Metro to commute around the Washington DC Metro Area.

[URL]https://hotelsneardcmetro.com/hotels-near-franconia-springfield-metro/[/URL]

Several of my friends have flown into DCA [Ronald Regan Washington National Airport]

Taken the Blue Line Metro from DCA to Springfield VA.

Used a hotel shuttle to commute to between the Franconia Springfield Metro station to a hotel in Springfield VA.

Use the Blue Line Metro [emoji585] to commute from Springfield VA to FedEx Field and back.

{From Franconia-Springfield Metro Station to FedExField}
[URL]https://maps.app.goo.gl/LPBBBBYuBAYdntbC8[/URL]



Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=kct1975;1243269]I personally have lived in Northern Virginia most of my life.
So please note that my recommendations below are from what friends of mine have done in the past when visiting Washington DC.

The recommendations are to stay at a hotel or motel in Springfield VA and use the Franconia Springfield Metro Blue Line Metro to commute around the Washington DC Metro Area.

[URL]https://hotelsneardcmetro.com/hotels-near-franconia-springfield-metro/[/URL]

Several of my friends have flown into DCA [Ronald Regan Washington National Airport]

Taken the Blue Line Metro from DCA to Springfield VA.

Used a hotel shuttle to commute to between the Franconia Springfield Metro station to a hotel in Springfield VA.

Use the Blue Line Metro [emoji585] to commute from Springfield VA to FedEx Field and back.

{From Franconia-Springfield Metro Station to FedExField}
[URL]https://maps.app.goo.gl/LPBBBBYuBAYdntbC8[/URL]



Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk[/quote]

That is some good info. I have never seen weekday hotel rates cheaper than weekends before.

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=Buffalo Bob;1243272]That is some good info. I have never seen weekday hotel rates cheaper than weekends before.[/quote]

Really? I don't remember ever seeing it any other way.

Re: Home Games
 

Weekends are always more expensive


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=Buffalo Bob;1243272]That is some good info. I have never seen weekday hotel rates cheaper than weekends before.[/quote]

[quote=Number44;1243276]Really? I don't remember ever seeing it any other way.[/quote]

That is what I meant. I should have had more coffee this morning.

Re: Home Games
 

There is a Marriot in Greenbelt that sometimes plays host to the visitors teams . Easy on and Off the beltway and close to FedEx




Never mind it's closed, it was sold and is being rebranded.

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=Giantone;1243288]There is a Marriot in Greenbelt that sometimes plays host to the visitors teams . Easy on and Off the beltway and close to FedEx




Never mind it's closed, it was sold and is being rebranded.[/quote]

That was Greenbelt Marriott, use to host the Redskins and was Allen Iverson's personal party hotel.

Re: Home Games
 

Thank you for the help. We appreciate the advice.

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=OmahaRedskins;1243156]With all of the changes, my wife and I are wanting to see a home game. We have been to DC once but it was many years ago.

We have a few questions and I am hoping the good people on this board can help.

Where is the best place to stay?
Is there a shuttle to and from the game?
Will we need a rental car?

Neither of us have driven in DC and we would like to have a few beers.

Thank you again for the help.[/quote]

Having been there once in similar conditions as you're going to (but from further away) I'd say having a car is a nice way to easily visit the city, as long as you pay attention to the signs that tell you at what times you can park, parking is quite easy (anyway it is compared to Paris). But from I saw the subway is nice too.

I took the subway to the stadium, I really didn't think the walk from the station to the stadium was that long, unless walking really is difficult for you, it's nothing you should worry about.

Re: Home Games
 

$100 parking tickets, that definitely is something that the increasing costs have outpaced inflation. When I first started driving the city I went to High School in 40 years ago charged $2 for over time limit parking. By the time I left that area 20 years later they were up to $48. I would venture a guess they are charging $100 there now also. $2 in an inflation calculator gets you about $8.50 in today's dollars.

The real racket in that city were parking regulations that by law at the time only had to be posted at major entrances to the city. Not sure if that is still the case. As an example there was a no overnight parking ordnance that was posted in only a few places. That ticket was a lot more pricey than the expired meter ones.

Re: Home Games
 

[QUOTE=Buffalo Bob;1243272]That is some good info. I have never seen weekday hotel rates cheaper than weekends before.[/QUOTE]Your Welcome! [QUOTE=OmahaRedskins;1243290]Thank you for the help. We appreciate the advice.[/QUOTE]Your Very Welcome!

Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

Re: Home Games
 

Hijacking the thread


Dan met with Md lawmakers about sports betting and a new stadium.

[url]https://www.google.com/amp/s/wjla.com/amp/news/local/redskins-dan-snyder-maryland-lawmakers-betting[/url]

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;1243450]Hijacking the thread


Dan met with Md lawmakers about sports betting and a new stadium.

[url]https://www.google.com/amp/s/wjla.com/amp/news/local/redskins-dan-snyder-maryland-lawmakers-betting[/url]

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk[/quote]

From what I understood the most likely option is a rebuilt at the same location... which doesn't make much sense to me, I think the stadium is really good, and the vast majority of the complaints I've read were about the location (+ going and leaving there)... what am I missing ?

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=FrenchSkin;1243456]From what I understood the most likely option is a rebuilt at the same location... which doesn't make much sense to me, I think the stadium is really good, and the vast majority of the complaints I've read were about the location (+ going and leaving there)... what am I missing ?[/quote]

I think a lot of fans hate it because it doesn't have the personality RFK had. A lot of Redskins fans reminisce about the stands shaking at RFK and the home field advantage they had there. (Some of these complaints would be resolved by putting a winning team on the field).

And it doesn't have the pizzazz a lot of the newer stadiums in the league have, like ATL, Dallas, Minnesota, the new Rams/Raiders stadiums in LA/Vegas.

My beef with it is the poor design and parking situation. It's expensive driving there and then you still gotta wait an hour to get out on gameday. A lot of fans bitch about the walk from Metro, but I ain't gonna lie, I judge non-disabled people who complain about walking a mile. Exercise is not the enemy.

Also one thing I'd like to see (but realistically know won't happen) is see Snyder take after the ATL approach. ATL made the food at their stadium super cheap compared to the typical experience, and sales have been very strong as a result.

I'd also like to see more creative options on the food menu than Johnny Rockets and whatever else still remains (I hear food options on the third level are scarce). Both the Verizon Center and Nats Park do a great job of this, they bring in local vendors and they update the restaurant options and beer selections every year. FedEx is great if you don't mind paying $8 for a Bud Light.

Re: Home Games
 

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipNs9DaRFBv4mCk3HxqSSSWsVe-WQZnpbh-ClExN=w296-h202-n-k-no-v1-rj[/IMG]
[IMG]https://www.historicinnsofannapolis.com/resourcefiles/homeimages/hotel-history-of-historic-inns-annapolis.jpg[/IMG]
[url]https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Annapolis/entity/CgoI38yA0d_Ynu54EAE?g2lb=2502405%2C2502548%2C4208993%2C4254308%2C4258168%2C4260007%2C4270442%2C4274032%2C4291318%2C4305595%2C4308216%2C4314846%2C4315873%2C4317915%2C4328159%2C4329288%2C4330113%2C4338438%2C4340162%2C4341223%2C4270859%2C4284970%2C4291517%2C4292955%2C4316256&hl=en&gl=us&un=1&q=annapolis%20hotels&rp=EN_MgNHf2J7ueBDFus-En6G2jJYBEIuR0uj_nc3clwEQs57dxqyDmZtVOAFAAEgC&ictx=1&ved=2ahUKEwi7m-DE-ZnnAhUnx1kKHd8qCs0QvS4wAHoECAsQIw&hrf=CgUIrAIQACIDVVNEKhYKBwjkDxABGBcSBwjkDxABGBgYASgAWAGqAQsKAggSEgMImwEYAaoBEgoCCBQSAggbEgIIUhICCE4YAaoBBwoDCJwBGACqARYKAggcEgIIURICCHMSAghHEgIIJBgBqgEOCgIIERICCCoSAgg4GAGqASIKAgguEgIIPBICCDsSAghWEgIIOhICCEsSAghTEgIIJxgBqgEGCgIILBgAqgEKCgIIUBICCBkYAaoBBgoCCAQYAJIBAiAB[/url]

^^ this place is $109 a night right now. never been there, make no recommendations but it appears to be in the heart of Annapolis downtown. Do a google street view and walk down the streets to see.

Like everyone has said, the DC metro is very expensive. The area anywhere around Landover has 0 to offer but will run you probably $150 plus for a crappy motel 6. Hotel in DC or Northern VA would probably be 300 plus.

I would suggest staying in Annapolis. its beautiful, lots of restaurants and is great for walking and seeing stuff. Its probably 45 miles from the stadium but if you rent a car you can drive in and park. Or drive to the nearest metro station and take the train in. The drive is easy. Straight shot down Route 50 to 495 then follow the traffic to the stadium.

*** definitely eat at Chick and Ruths Delly (old school diner) and get the crab cakes. You only need one, not two .. the best ive had.

*** if there is a Navy home game or any Naval academy thing going on that weekend, Id imagine they would be booked. The Naval academy is right there.

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;1243450]Hijacking the thread


Dan met with Md lawmakers about sports betting and a new stadium.

[url]https://www.google.com/amp/s/wjla.com/amp/news/local/redskins-dan-snyder-maryland-lawmakers-betting[/url]

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk[/quote]

“He specifically said that he was not interested in having the taxpayers pay for any stadium,” Guzzone said

interesting

Re: Home Games
 

[quote=OmahaRedskins;1243169]Coming from Omaha, Nebraska. We would like to stay under 1K plus flights.[/quote]

If you're coming for the weekend then I'd suggest staying in Arlington near a metro. That way you won't need a car and you can get downtown to do stuff pretty easily. Plus there's a lot to do in Arlington. Plenty of nightlife and great restaurants.

I use to live in a condo across the street from The Highlander Hotel. It's pretty cheap ( kind of a dump ) and a couple blocks away from the Va Square Metro. The orange line goes through there and you can take that all the way to Addison Road. I think it's the closest stop from Fed Ex. Some others could tell you if there's still a shuttle that runs to and from the metro.

Also you could walk off the plane and go to Va Square and not have to deal with driving. I can promise you that if you've never been to DC and you're going to attempt to drive good luck.

Re: Home Games
 

Don't waste your time or money staying near the stadium. There's nothing out there and you will definitely need a car. Bite the bullet and stay in DC near the Mall. Its near Metro and all the sites you and your wife want to see in DC. Metro to and from the airport and the game so no need for a car. It's not the cheapest option but I think you will have a much better overall experience than trying to save a few dollars on a cheap outside the Beltway hotel.

Re: Home Games
 

I’ve driven down to stay at decent (not great) and reasonable Holiday Inn type places within a 4-5 miles of the stadium. Some have hotel buses that take you to the game and back. About $100-125 per night with free breakfast. I think something like $25 per person for the bus.

If you stay within walking distance to the stadium (20-30 minutes walk) the quality of the reasonable hotels goes down below what you want. Fly into Dulles to save money and you rent a car to get to Greenbelt. If you’re willing to walk 15-20 minutes from a parking lot you can get into some that only $20.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk