Metro Will Stay Open An Hour Later Thursday For Nats Game

WASHINGTON, DC — If you're taking the Metro to the Washington Nationals' playoff game against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park Thursday night, there's good news: Metro has decided to keep trains running an extra hour to help you get home, along with everyone planning on attending the Wharf D.C.'s grand opening in Southwest.

Metro says it will stay open until 12:30 a.m. to accommodate the 40,000+ fans who will fill the seats to watch the Nationals attempt to win their first ever playoff series against the defending champion Cubs, according to the Washington Post.

Initially, the Metro was expected to close at its usual time of 11:30 p.m. Since first pitch isn't until 8:08 p.m., and games routinely last for well over three hours, tens of thousands of Nats fans who want to see the whole game were likely to find themselves stranded.

The Post quoted Metro spokesman Dan Stessel, who claimed the Nationals had not even requested that Metro stay open late. While local sports teams can request Metro to stay open past operating hours, they must pay Metro $100,000 per hour for the privilege.

The Nationals, for their part, sent out an advisory in advance of the game warning fans that Metro would close early and to make alternate travel arrangements, like bikes or the D.C. Circulator. However, that will no longer be necessary -- unless the game goes extra innings, of course.

Image via WMATA