While they arrived Virginia-side in just 2005, the baseball franchise now known as the Washington Nationals has a long history dating well beyond their tenure in the nation’s capital. Founded in 1969, the then-Montreal Expos joined the National League alongside the San Diego Padres. Though their relocation would not come until decades later, almost immediately speculation as to the Expos home was underway. For the first 8 seasons of their existence, the Expos played in a temporary home. Jarry Park Stadium, a small, lackluster field originally seating just 3,000 occupants, filled that role for the Expos, ironically similar to the miniscule attendance draws the Expos garnered during their final years in the city. The stadium was expanded to seat 28,500 by the inaugural opening day, though as the facility was minted with an expiration date, it was never upgraded to level of quality that prevailed in most MLB stadiums. Following the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, the Expos moved into Olympic Stadium, a structure that would remain their official home until they eventually left the city entirely in 2004.During their Montreal years, the squad was defined by a losing tradition, often developing young prospects but never realizing the fruits of their labor until the ballplayers had since moved on to greener pastures. Throughout the late 1980′s, the Expos perhaps enjoyed their most fortuitous run in franchise history, eclipsing the .500 mark on the season 5 times in 6 years, winning a franchise record 91 games. Still, even their loftiest efforts were ultimately tempered by some form of disappointment, as their 1987 finish was still good for just third in a competitive division. Ironically, the Expos thrived as the MLB on the whole ailed, winning their only division championship in the strike-shortened season of 1981, but ultimately losing to the Dodgers in the NLCS. In 1994, the Expos had a lofty 6 game lead in the NL East before a player strike ended saw an early season end, with no post-season competition taking place.Due to a predominantly losing history and a lack of fan support, the Expos were considered for contraction when the topic was first broached in 2002. Fortunately for the Virginia/D.C. area, Major League Baseball instead decided to relocate the franchise, but once again the team had no certain home. The Expos split time during the 2003 and 2004 seasons between Montreal and 22 “home” games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Over time, Northern Virginia, the Norfolk area and D.C. emerged as the finalists to house the new franchise. Eventually, the team would move to Washington in 2005, though even this did not immediately end the franchise quest for shelter. The D.C. Council took some convincing to approve new stadium plans and the subject was met with a considerable opposition throughout certain sectors of the community. After 3 years playing in RFK Memorial Stadium, Nationals Park, a state of the art facility built special for the franchise opened its doors in 2008, giving baseball in the area a permanent presence for the foreseeable future.