D.C. baseball boosters received the news of Northern Virginia's struggles with barely concealed glee.
They also noted that the third bidder, Portland, Ore., faces a difficult fight in its state legislature. The head of that group, David Kahn, predicted victory yesterday but acknowledged that if the legislature rejects the bonding package, Portland's bid is effectively dead.
Hillevi "Dusty" Einseln, left, Jason Ambler, center, and Robert Waffle show displeasure with the County Board's opposition to a ballpark, which reduced Northern Virginia's chances of getting a baseball team.
(Rich Lipski -- The Washington Post)
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The District's bid has troubles of its own in the D.C. Council, but officials said their issues are far more manageable than the others.
The plan envisions three possible sites: at the junction of North Capitol Street and New York Avenue; on the Anacostia River waterfront; and adjacent to Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. None has drawn significant opposition.
Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) has proposed a $339 million stadium financing package that faces opposition on the D.C. Council, but council leaders largely favor some sort of public subsidy.
The city's baseball advocates have long contended that Washington is the only viable new home for the Expos. Following the events that transpired in Arlington, they say the league has two practical choices: Move to Washington or fold the team after the current union agreement, which prohibits contraction, expires after 2006.
"D.C. or contraction is where they are right now, given what's happened in Virginia," said D.C. Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), who as chairman of the Finance and Revenue Committee has vowed to put together a stadium deal if baseball chooses Washington. "I'm sitting in a position where I can make it happen."
Virginia baseball officials scrambled yesterday to revive their bid by exploring legal options to override the Arlington board's position. They also said they have other viable sites, including some they have not disclosed publicly.
"We still have a lot of options that we're going to pursue," said Gabe Paul Jr., executive director of the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority. "I certainly look on this as not a positive development, but it's not going to slow us down."
Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner (D), who was a member of a private group trying to buy a team before he became governor, said he understands the Arlington board's concerns but was disappointed with the letter.
"I continue to support baseball coming to Northern Virginia, and it would be my hope that Arlington County would allow the Baseball Stadium Authority more time to work with Major League Baseball," Warner said through his spokeswoman, Ellen Qualls. He refused to comment about whether the state should impose a stadium on Arlington.
Warner has said repeatedly that fixing the state's financial health is more important than financing a stadium.
Virginia lawmakers said yesterday it would be inconceivable for legislators to override the wishes of Arlington officials to build a stadium. Longtime supporters and fierce opponents alike said there would be almost no support in the General Assembly for such a move.
Telecommunications executive William Collins, head of Virginia's potential ownership group, said they were "blindsided" by the letter from the Arlington board.
"We've done everything that they've asked us to do in Arlington, and hopefully they will reconsider their actions of [Thursday] night because it was totally unwarranted," Collins said. "Obviously, they jumped the gun on Major League Baseball."
Major League Baseball could delay a decision and restart the relocation process in hopes of attracting more viable bidders, though industry insiders suggest there might be few major urban areas left that have the population and wealth to support a team but don't already have one nearby.
"The real problem in baseball is they overexpanded," said former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent. "They don't have any major sites that don't have some defect. . . . The better sites have been taken."
Staff writers Mark Asher, Michael Laris and Michael D. Shear contributed to this report.
