Ramblings' Journal

Nationals' stadium agreement reached

DC Council Chair Linda Cropp (L) & Mayor Anthony Williams

The Washington Nationals will play in the nation's capitol this year after all, thanks to a late-night agreement hammered out between DC City Council Chair Linda Cropp and Mayor Anthony Williams in Washington last night.

The compromise reached by Mayor Anthony A. Williams, D.C. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp and baseball officials allows private financing for a 41,000-seat stadium on the Anacostia River south of the Capitol but would eliminate a provision voiding the deal if private financing isn't found.

Estimates for the project, which includes land acquisition, street improvements, infrastructure upgrades and refurbishing RFK Stadium, start at $435 million.

The revised deal also splits the liability for cost overruns and missed construction deadlines evenly between the city and Major League Baseball, Williams spokesman Chris Bender said.

The full council is set to vote on the revised proposal today.

I would presume that the team store in Washington's Union Station will start selling merchandise and tickets again later today, after the vote is made official.

Posted by mhking at December 21, 2004 09:20 AM