@BillyJensen on X
You know what’s great? Baseball. You know what else is great? Dogs. That’s exactly why “Bark in the Park” nights are perhaps the greatest innovation in sports promo history. Dogs at a baseball game, what’s better than that?! But apparently the Washington Nationals have a different view of things.
During a recent edition of their “Pups in the Park” promotion, which they run several times throughout the year, the Nationals also ran another promotion. What was the promotion, you ask? Well, it was postgame fireworks. Perhaps the worst pairing of promotions you could possibly run together.
Only a team based in Washington DC would schedule fireworks on a bring-your-dog-to-the-park night. pic.twitter.com/bR7OjqdGkP
— Billy Jensen (@Billyjensen) April 26, 2025
“Postgame fireworks will begin approximately 20 minutes following the final out,” they announced on the scoreboard alongside a picture of a poor dog seemingly having flashbacks of ‘Nam. “If you or your four-legged friend are not a fan of loud noises, we advise you exit Nationals Park immediately following the game’s conclusion.”
So, at least they gave a warning. But has anybody ever met a dog who did enjoy fireworks? Sure, many of them are unbothered. Those are the extra brave or ambivalent dogs. But even they probably don’t want to be in the ballpark while they’re going off.
“The noise and unpredictability of fireworks lead many dogs to perceive them as a threat,” Purina experts state when discussing why dogs fear fireworks. “This triggers their fight-or-flight response. Your dog may bark at the noises or try to run away and hide. They may also show other signs of anxiety too, like restlessness, panting, pacing or whining.”
Great job, Nationals, you’re literally terrorists for dogs.
“I left immediately after the game and was walking away from the stadium congestion when the fireworks started when a dog that freaked out and slipped its harness by me, right into an intersection and almost got hit by a car where I was waiting to cross,” one fan who attended the game explained.
Now, could that fan have left even earlier? Sure. There are workarounds. But why would anybody think this is a good idea? Has anybody in the Nats marketing department ever owned a dog? What a ridiculous blunder.