Given a second chance, the return of Major League Baseball to the nation’s capital became a virtual certainty Tuesday after the District of Columbia Council passed a stadium financing bill without a provision that had threatened to kill the move a week earlier.
By a vote of 7-6, with Chairman Linda W. Cropp siding with the majority, the council approved building a 41,000-seat stadium on the banks of the Anacostia River in southeast Washington.
“I’m proud to say finally and at last we have risen above the fray, and the Washington Nationals are rounding third and heading for home,” D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams said at a news conference Tuesday night.
Last week, the council approved a stadium bill, but with an amendment — added by Cropp after more than 10 hours of debate — that required at least 50 percent private financing. If private financing was not found, the deal would be off.
Major League Baseball called the amendment “wholly unacceptable,” shutting down the Nationals’ business operations and offering refunds to anyone who had sent in a $300 depositfor season tickets.
Tuesday, after the council voted to reconsider the passed bill, Cropp offered a new amendment that removed that language from the legislation.
The District will continue to search for private financing to pay for at least half of the project. Original estimates put the cost of the stadium at about $440 million, but subsequent studies said the price tag could be as much as $584 million.
In addition, Cropp won two other concessions from Major League Baseball from the original deal.
The District and baseball will now split the cost for insurance limiting the city’s liability on cost overruns and completion delays. Originally, that expense was to be borne by the city.
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In addition, baseball waived its right to compensatory damages if the ballpark is not ready for the 2008 season. Instead, the Nationals would not have to pay rent for RFK Stadium for that season. The team’s rent for the first three seasons at RFK is $5.3 million a year. If the ballpark isn’t ready for the 2009 season, the District would be liable for $19 million in damages.
Cropp and MLB agreed to the changes in negotiations that ended late Monday night.
Commissioner Bud Selig said he was pleased the council “approved legislation consistent with the terms of our original agreement.”
In Washington, the Nationals team merchandise store was to reopen Wednesday morning at 8. The team will also be accepting deposits for season tickets. Their first home game is scheduled for April 14 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.