Nationals Offer Free Season Tickets to Fans That Hit Home Run at Nationals Park

The Washington Nationals are shrewd.

In the midst of a letdown season, the team is set to allow season-ticket holders the opportunity to earn their subscription to next year’s games for free. All they have to do is hit a home run.

Sounds easy enough, right? 

Scott Allen of the Washington Post explained the promotion:

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One person per ticket plan is eligible to compete in the “Swing for Your Seats” promotion. ... On or about Oct. 5, the Nationals will notify the primary account holder for every eligible plan with information about how to register for the event.

Fans will stand at home plate and receive up to one swing at up to two pitches from an automatic pitching machine. The Nationals will provide wood bats and batting helmets and they’ll have the final say if there’s any dispute about whether a batted ball clears the fence in fair territory.

Anyone who hits a home run will receive the full payment amount of his or her 2016 ticket plan, not to exceed $10,000. A $10,000 credit will be applied toward the cost of the seats for winners with ticket plans that exceed that amount.

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Allen also noted that when the San Diego Padres ran a similar promotion in 2014, none of the 1,000 fans who gave it a try cleared the fence.

Hm, interesting. Are the Nats, nine games back in the National League wild-card race, really looking to give out free tickets, or are they trying to add an extra bat to the lineup?

Seems like this is a two birds, one stone type of deal.

[Washington Post]