Posted on 12/15/2004 7:04:10 AM PST by ZGuy
WASHINGTON - Baseball fans in the nation's capital might not have long to cheer their new team. The District of Columbia Council voted 7-6 Tuesday night to approve legislation that would finance construction of a ballpark. But it contained a provision that could cause the baseball commissioner's office to reopen the search for a long-term home for the Expos franchise, which has been tentatively renamed the Nationals.
The legislation was amended to require private financing for at least half the stadium construction costs, a provision not contained in the September agreement between baseball and Washington Mayor Anthony A. Williams.
"We will review the amendments and the legislation as passed and have a response (Wednesday)," said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer.
One response came almost immediately: The team postponed a news conference scheduled for Wednesday to unveil its new uniforms. No explanation was given.
"I am not trying to kill the deal," said council chair Linda W. Cropp, who introduced the private financing measure. "I'm putting some teeth in it because I'm really disappointed with what I got from Major League Baseball."
The amendment passed on a 10-3 vote after Cropp threatened to withhold support from the overall package if the provision wasn't approved. Cropp said she didn't think the change violated the city's agreement with baseball, but would pressure Williams to find a private financier.
Williams refused to answer questions after the vote.
"We'll have to see how baseball reacts," said Councilman Jack Evans, a baseball proponent. But he said he expects the council will have to change the legislation to keep the deal alive.
"We'll have until the end of the year to change this," Evans said.
City Administrator Robert Bobb said city negotiators were talking with baseball officials, but he didn't expect the owners to accept the change.
If the law stands, baseball's most likely response would be to have the team play the 2005 season at Washington's RFK Stadium while baseball's search committee resumes negotiations with cities that want the team.
One option could be Las Vegas, which was among the cities competing for the Expos and is still lobbying for a team. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman campaigned at last week's winter meetings, arriving accompanied by showgirls wearing feathered headdresses.
Baseball opponents in Washington said the change makes the deal more equitable.
"All we're asking for is private financing for half the stadium," said Councilman Adrian Fenty, who voted against the final legislation. "That shouldn't be a problem."
The Montreal Expos (news) became the first major league team outside the United States when they started play in 1969, but attendance at Olympic Stadium slumped over the past decade and the franchise was bought by the other 29 teams before the 2002 season. In 2003 and 2004, some of the team's home games were moved to Puerto Rico to raise revenue.
From the start, baseball owners insisted a publicly financed stadium for the team be a component of any move.
When the council gave its initial approval to the law on Nov. 30, it called for the city to issue $531 million in bonds to finance the plan. Baseball owners approved the Expos' move Dec. 2. on the condition that financing be put in place consistent with the deal, and that arrangements to prepare RFK Stadium for use in 2005 satisfied baseball commissioner Bud Selig.
Washington's new team would start play April 4 at Philadelphia and play its home opener April 14 against Arizona at RFK Stadium.
Monterrey, Mexico; Norfolk, Va.; Northern Virginia; Portland, Ore.; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, also tried to land the Expos.
Buffalo is problematic because of weather.
The top media markets without a team are: Washington #8, Sacramento #19, Orlando #20, Portland #24, Indianapolis #25, Hartford #27, Charlotte #28, Raleigh-Durham #29, Nashville #30.
For purposes of TV, Washington is the big prize. The only thing that would be comparable is somewhere in NC where the Charlotte and R-D areas would broadcast the games. Sacramento already shares the SF and Oakland markets and Orlando shares the Miami and Tampa Bay markets. It's clear that DC is the first, best option for MLB. Plus, it's a moneymaker for the team. In DC, the stadium could be made entirely of luxury boxes.
That $1 billion surplus Virginia has could build a Loudoun County Stadium. They had a deal - and if Linda Cropp sinks it, then Northern Virginia should be willing to step in.
Jeez, why can't they use RFK? (Aside from the fact that it's in a neighborhood that makes Fallujah look like Rodeo Drive, that is.)
}:-)4
That's a good point from the investor side.
I always thought stadiums were municipal endeavors designed to increase the general desirability of the city and to increase tax revenues over the long term.
But it seems Cropp is a dunderhead and just doesn't get it.
Last month she almost nixed Mayor Williams' plan to have the new stadium over on South Capitol Street, which is from every perspective an ideal spot. Close to major roads, slightly rundown and in need of renovation, not too far from downtown DC, etc. (did they ever decide what to do, or is that still undecided).
Cropp's absurd alternative was to go next to the existing RFK way out on East Capitol Street, a place where few people want to go and with no real possibility of urban renewal. The traffic out there from Virginia fans would be miniscule, and enhanced tax revenues would be negligible.
Cropp can't think beyond the nose on her face, or more likely the reach of her extended palm.
There are always options. Richmond. Charlotte. LA. Austin.
Prolly more places than I am thinking now.
There always options. Its real estate. There a lots of houses. Lots of boats. Lots of cars.
Cropp will have to go. Somewhere I've got my 1974 Topps "Washington Nat'l League" cards packed away - I'm still awaiting the arrival of Nate Colbert & Co.! Please don't tell me we're in the middle of a repeat performance, only this time brought on by politicians rather than Mother Nature!
good point.
Virginia has a $1 billion surplus, and you want to use to support millionaires (players) and billionaires (owners). How bout giving some tax relief to the little guy. Geez, this is a conservative site, wanting taxpayers to pay for the fun and games.
Virginia (correctly) rejected MLB's welfare-for-millionaires pitch.
That money belongs to the taxpayers of Virginia, and should be refunded.
No corporate-welfare stadium deals. We chased them out of Virginia once, and if they try to slither back we'll do it again.
God, not Loudoun County. That would be like putting a team in Siberia. If you're going to do NoVa, Crystal City is the way to go.
Absolutely not, unless the owners are willing to pay for about $100 million worth of additional roads and Metro capacity on top of everything else.
Finally, a post that belongs on FR rather than DU.
Personally, I hope that the whole three-year mess, capped with this wedgie from the DC Council, will help cure major league sports of the habit of demanding that the taxpayers buy them a new stadium as soon as the paint starts to peel on the old one.
San Francisco refused and was able to keep their team, though I think their were some tax and zoning incentives. Any others?
If the cities want the owners to pay 50% or even more then the cityies should give them tax breaks and not take any extra revenue from the stadium.
If I was an owner I would tell them I would pay 100% of the cost, IF and only IF, they NOT collect taxes on the propety improvements, Food, parking, ticket sales etc. They would get increased taxes form the employees and the hotel tax revenue would go up.
You need to stay in either Arlington or Alexandria counties (maybe some parts of Fairfax close in) if you want to do NoVa. Otherwise, fans from Maryland have no incentive to stop going to Orioles games.
Congested downtown turdville DC needs a baseball team like I need a gaping, bloody, sucking chest wound.
Three main reasons: space, money, and traffic.
The proposed Northern Virginia site at Dulles is a HUGELY more attractive - and practical - site!
You need to take a look at Cincinnati. What a mess! Mike Brown threatened to leave if he didn't get a new stadium, then the Reds jumped on the bandwagon and demanded a new stadium, as well. The stupid taxpayers of Hamilton County voted for a 1% sales tax increase to pay for them. Guess what? The tax revenue isn't even close to what they thought it would be. They were also going to develop the land around the stadiums, but never did. Cincinnati and Hamilton County are both in the red. Not much revenue is being generated by these white elephants. On the other side of the river, Kentucky is booming from their well-planned development -- all without sports stadiums.
Who cares if baseball is being played in the desert all summer as long as the fans and players are nice and comfortable inside a temperature controlled domed stadium?
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