LivingSocial to Fund Extended Metro Service Throughout Nationals’ Postseason Run

Online daily deal website LivingSocial will fund extended Metro service throughout the Washington Nationals' stay in the postseason if necessary, WMATA announced Thursday.

“LivingSocial is in the business of creating great local experiences, and we want to be sure DC fans can enjoy the city’s first baseball playoffs in 79 years without worrying about how they will get home,” LivingSocial CEO Tim O’Shaughnessy said in a statement released by Metro. “DC is our hometown, and we love this city. This is just a small way to say thanks to our local customers, merchants, and employees for making Washington such a great place for us to live, work, and grow.”

Over the summer, the D.C. Council approved a bill to save LivingSocial almost $33 million in taxes in order to keep D.C. as its hometown and make sure half of its new hires are Washington residents.

The Washington Post first reported the involvement of a "third party" earlier Thursday afternoon. LivingSocial and Metro's agreement ends a month-long debate among the Nationals, WMATA and the city over who should pay for extended service in the event that a Nationals postseason game runs long.

Event organizers are required to put down a $29,500 deposit for an extra hour of service. WMATA refunds whatever is left of the deposit based on how many riders take trains during the extended period. For example, 5,229 customers used Metro after Madonna's concert at Verizon Center Sunday, so the actual cost to the arena was only $1,472.

With LivingSocial's funding, fans attending postseason games -- which typically start later than regular season games -- at Nationals Park will not have to choose between staying at a game and being stranded afterward.

“This is a win-win for all parties involved and we appreciate everyone’s willingness to come together to prepare for such an exciting time in the city’s history,” Nationals Vice President of Government & Municipal Affairs Gregory McCarthy said in the statement. “October baseball is back in the nation’s capital and we look forward to the positive impact this event will have on Washingtonians across the region.”