Posted on 12/15/2004 5:02:08 PM PST by Former Military Chick
The president of Major League Baseball today rejected as "wholly unacceptable" the D.C. Council's revised plan for financing a new Washington baseball stadium and said baseball officials would cease all promotion and business activities in the city.
In a statement issued early this evening, Bob DuPuy said the stadium financing plan approved by the council late last night after significant changes "does not reflect the agreement we signed and relied upon after being invited by District leaders to consider Washington as a home for Major League Baseball. The legislation is inconsistent with our carefully negotiated agreement and is wholly unacceptable to Major League Baseball."
DuPuy, who also is the chief operating officer for Major League Baseball, noted that the agreement that baseball officials negotiated with Mayor Anthony A. Williams does not expire until Dec. 31 and that city officials may yet make changes to the stadium deal to ease baseball officials' concerns. Still, he hinted that the National League team slated to move to Washington from Montreal could end up elsewhere.
"Because our stadium agreement provides for a December 31, 2004 deadline, we will not entertain offers for permanent relocation of the club until that deadline passes," he said. "In the meantime, the club's baseball operations will proceed, but its business and promotional activities will cease until further notice. We thank the fans of Washington, D.C. for their support and enthusiasm, but given the present uncertainty, any ticket purchaser who entrusted us with a deposit may request a refund through the club's ticket office."
Earlier in the day, Williams also said that the deal to bring a major league team to the city is in "great, great jeopardy."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Dave was in Germany serving out country when Ripken made history, his family knew of his love of the game and taped it for him, it sits now on our shelf of important memories.
With a new team in DC it could be a bad thing for the Os but I see it as a way to challenge the owner into doing what is best for the fans and not his pocketbook. If they choose to continue down that path, they will lose my beloved as a fan, they have already lost his brother a long time Os fan!
So, DC get it together. Start a new tradition. Give the fans what they want.
I only know what I read in the paper, we only own a home in the greater DC area right now (we hope to return after his faithful duty to our country comes to an end) but I think there is room for 2 baseball teams in the hearts of those who live in the greater DC area.
Baseball can't possibly accept a stadium that isn't loaded with taxpayer funded corporate welfare.
It would look bad on the other 20 + owners who manage to run businesses in locations completely funded by the taxpayers.
Gotta bilk someone, and don't worry, Bud Selig and Co are masters at making sure someone else pays.
So I'll say... just damn!
ping
It's gonna be the Orlando senators.
This is wonderful news. Another city saved from the leeches in the entertainment industry.
The problem is MLB is a (normally) illegal trust, that has been granted an antitrust exemption by Congress.
If the people of DC want a baseball team they should be given the opportunity to analyze the cost and make a decision. IF they say no, they say no. Easy fix. The City of DC signed an agreement and then tried to crawfish. DC needs MLB a whole lot more than MLB needs baseball.
Nothing in the agreement, as I read it, restricts DC from seeking private participation in the development deal, but to require it puts in serious jeopardy the ability of a deal to move quickly into acquisition and construction. The cities seldom lose in these deals, they do however often misappropriate and misaccount their gains...
Florida already has one failing baseball team.
If not DC, maybe Charlotte or Nashville. Otherwise, it's 29 teams -- 28 if they shut down the Devil Rays.
Lets go Virginia! We had a shot at the team before DC.
This is the same reason why Los Angeles doesn't have the NFL. I agree that the taxpayer should not have to finance building stadiums.
The stadium in San Francisco is privately financed.
Sounds like some people in N. Virginia should take over hosting the team, just like Maryland took on the Redskins.
How 'bout them ayOs?! You from Balteemore?
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