Merry Christmas Washington Nationals

New York Times

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 - The District of Columbia's City Council narrowly approved today a modified plan to build a 41,000-seat baseball stadium for the Nationals, the former Montreal Expos.The vote was seven in favor and six opposed. The plan approved today was worked out late Monday night by the city's top two political leaders, Mayor Anthony A. Williams and the City Council chairman, Linda W. Cropp. It calls for the city to seek private financing to cover at least half of the stadium's cost to be privately financed, said the mayor's spokesman, Chris Bender. Estimates of the cost range from $440 million to $585 million. Ms. Cropp persuaded fellow council members last week to adopt an amendment requiring that private money pay for half of the new stadium, near the Anacostia River on the city's south side. Baseball officials angrily halted preparations for the team's move in response.

Mr. Bender said that several private financing possibilities already have been investigated by city officials, Mr. Bender said, including a parking meter plan that is expected to generate $100 million in upfront revenue for the city. If no other private deals are found, Mr. Bender said, the city expects to sign onto the parking arrangement offered by the Cleveland-based Gates Group. In return for assurances that private financing is viable, Ms. Cropp said she would drop her legislative language requiring a specific amount of private financing, a demand which had aroused the ire of baseball supporters since they feared that it would torpedo the team's chances of moving here.

As part of the deal approved today, baseball officials agreed to reduce the $19 million in damages the city would incur if the new stadium did not open by March 2008. Instead, the city would forfeit a $5 million yearly rental payment it would earn when the Nationals team plays at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, which it is set to do beginning in 2005. Baseball officials also agreed to split the cost of construction insurance with the city to limit taxpayer liability, Mr. Bender said.

The president of Major League Baseball, Bob DuPuy, took part in the talks between Mayor Williams and Ms. Cropp by telephone, the league said. Mr. DuPuy called the new package "consistent with the stadium agreement" baseball reached with Mayor Williams before the move was announced in September. Mayor Williams said that having a team was not just about baseball, but also about "revitalizing the Anacostia River, creating new jobs, bringing in new tax revenues and creating a new source of civil pride."