Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - D.C. Council Rejects Lease Agreement with MLB

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...020701727.html

Quote:

Associated Press
Tuesday, February 7, 2006; 9:09 PM

The D.C Council voted 8-to-5 Tuesday night to reject a lease for a Washington Nationals baseball stadium.

The vote came after council members failed in a last-minute bid to draft emergency legislation that would have capped the city's costs for the project.

Members met for more than 2 1/2 hours in closed door session to discuss the cost capping legislation but could not agree.

The move leaves the future of the Nationals in doubt.

District of Columbia Mayor Anthony A. Williams said before the vote that if the deal were rejected, the next move would be up to baseball.

"If we don't get this thing done today, we're going into arbitration," said Williams, who warned construction costs would only increase during the arbitration process.

City Administrator Robert C. Bobb, Williams' top deputy, said after the vote that the administration was disappointed.

The council approved $530 million for stadium construction and land acquisition in 2004, as part of the deal that brought the Montreal Expos to Washington. But it failed to meet a Dec. 31, 2005 deadline to approve a lease on the new ballpark negotiated last year. That prompted MLB to seek mediation, and a new deal was reached last month.

After the city and baseball reached the revised agreement, which includes a $20 million contribution from baseball for stadium construction, Williams negotiated a side deal with construction companies setting a "guaranteed maximum price" for the city at $320 million.

Consultants hired by the council said Monday that the mayor's cap had loopholes, and urged the council to pass its own cap. But members could not agree on the legislation, killing the deal.

While Virginia lost out on the Expos, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said the commonwealth would be ready to accommodate the Nats if it came to that.

"The governor has expressed a willingness to enter into a dialogue, should an opportunity to bring Major League Baseball to Virginia arise in the future," Kaine spokesman Delacey Skinner told WTOP Radio. However, Kaine has not talked to MLB.

As an Orioles' fan, all I can say here is...

PpfffhahahahahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :D

Seriously though, this is big news, as it throws the status of baseball in Washington into doubt.

After six years or so of trying to get the Expos moved to Washington, there is still no ownership group, and none in sight, and no deal for a new stadium.

You cannot tell me:

A) Portland (had ownership) or Norfolk (had stadium) wouldn't have this settled by now.

B) There isn't ownership or stadium money in Charlotte, Nashville, Las Vegas, San Antonio, or any of a half-dozen/dozen cities that would have been more prepared then DC.

Of course, MLB is partially at fault as well for the demand that most of the stadium money come from public funds.

Major story, especially this close to spring training.