In that scenario, the team's owners would have had to pay $125 million or more before the stadium was built. That plan, however, included no rent payments from the team to help cover construction costs.
There were two proposed stadium sites, one at North Capitol Street and New York Avenue and one on the Anacostia River waterfront, near South Capitol Street. Putting a new stadium on the RFK site was a backup option. In recent months, city officials have considered a fourth location, on the Southwest Washington waterfront, with part of the stadium overhanging Interstate 395.
Frederic V. Malek, who leads a D.C. ownership group, has praised efforts to cut stadium costs.
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The stadium sites were generally praised, but the financing package met stiff resistance at the D.C. Council, led by Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), who as chairman of the finance committee refused to allow a vote until baseball officials declared their intention to move the Expos to Washington.
He reiterated that position in an interview last week. "Until Major League Baseball makes a commitment to the city, I have no interest in spending one more minute of time on this project. . . . I don't have any indication that Major League Baseball is interested in moving to D.C."
The players' union also objected to taxing the salaries of players who didn't live within city limits. And the idea of moving the Expos to Washington prompted vehement opposition from Baltimore Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos, who is regarded in baseball as an increasingly close ally of Selig.
Angelos warned in an interview last week that a team in Washington would be an "affront" to the Orioles and would lead to both teams failing. He also said that the chances of that happening have lessened as the number of communities bidding for the Expos has grown. "I've stopped worrying about it," Angelos said.
But D.C. officials, including the mayor, said they believe that baseball is serious about moving the Expos and that Washington remains a leading contender because it has a market that is larger and more vibrant than its rivals.
"The representations that have been made to us by Major League Baseball reflect a serious interest in Washington, D.C.," said Mark Tuohey, chairman of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, a quasi-public group involved in the city's bid. "We take those very seriously."
Staff writers Steve Fainaru and Dave Sheinin contributed to this report.
