2007年VOA标准英语-New Baseball Stadium Takes Shape in Nation's Ca

By Parke Brewer¹
Washington, D.C.
30 April 2007
 

These are the opening weeks of the 2007 Major League Baseball season, and by this time next year fans in the nation's capital will be watching their team in a brand new stadium.  VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer recently took a tour of what will be the new home for the Washington Nationals and has this report.

The Washington Nationals' new baseball stadium (artist's rendering)

For those who drive down Washington's South Capital Street they can see the new stadium for the Washington Nationals taking shape.  What they cannot see is a home plate in the ground, already placed at what will be the focal point when the stadium is full of baseball fans.

Four hundred construction workers have been busy working two shifts, and soon that number will reach 1,000.  Ground was broken last May at the site by the Anacostia River, less than two kilometers from the National Mall.  The framework is expected to be complete by July and the stadium will be ready for next season. 

With the opening one year away, Washington Nationals officials gave a special tour to members of the media.  Team President Stan Kasten says he is constantly asked if the stadium will be completed on time. "You cannot have any doubts that we are opening this ballpark in April '08," he says.

The stadium will cost $611 million, paid with public funds and to be leased to the team.  It is expected to be much more than just a place to watch a baseball game.  The city hopes the new stadium can revitalize the broken-down Anacostia area and bring in lots of tax revenue.

It will replace the Washington Nationals current home, RFK Stadium, which is 47 years old.  RFK has been showing its age for some time, and many fans look forward to the move.

"I'm very excited about it,” says one Nationals fan. “It's going to be nice to have a new stadium.  I like to have that newer feeling stadium, a lot of new amenities³.  Nice ball.  I'll miss RFK but definitely looking forward to the new stadium."

Another baseball fan says, "As much as I love RFK, the fact that we don't have sky boxes or suites⁴, from a business perspective, I think the new stadium will help that.  It stays in line with what the business of baseball is doing with stadiums."

In fact, the Nationals' new stadium will feature three categories of suites.  The most expensive will cost $400,000 dollars per year and have many luxury features and benefits.

The stadium, which will seat about 41,000, is being constructed mostly of concrete and steel, with 3500 pieces of steel making up the bowl structure.  In all there will be about 44,000 cubic meters of cast-in-place concrete.

Inspiration for the exterior⁵ look of the new ballpark is taken from the East Wing of Washington's National Gallery of Art.  When the stadium is finished it will be state-of-the-art.

Nationals President Stan Kasten says, "We are truly building the latest of Washington's monuments, a building that will be instantly recognizable as the premier⁶ baseball venue² in the country."

On clear days, most fans in the upper deck will even get a view of the Capitol building.

1 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

2 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

3 amenities   

n.令人愉快的事物；礼仪；礼节；便利设施；礼仪( amenity的名词复数 )；便利设施；（环境等的）舒适；（性情等的）愉快

参考例句：

• The campsite is close to all local amenities. 营地紧靠当地所有的便利设施。
• Parks and a theatre are just some of the town's local amenities. 公园和戏院只是市镇娱乐设施的一部分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 suites   

n.套( suite的名词复数 )；一套房间；一套家具；一套公寓

参考例句：

• First he called upon all the Foreign Ministers in their hotel suites. 他首先到所有外交部长住的旅馆套间去拜访。 来自辞典例句
• All four doors to the two reserved suites were open. 预定的两个套房的四扇门都敞开着。 来自辞典例句

5 exterior   

adj.外部的，外在的；表面的

参考例句：

• The seed has a hard exterior covering.这种子外壳很硬。
• We are painting the exterior wall of the house.我们正在给房子的外墙涂漆。

6 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。