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D.C. Baseball Stadium Cost Could Exceed $700 Million
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Nationals President Tony Tavares and other Major League Baseball officials declined to comment yesterday, citing ongoing negotiations.
Critics who object to the public investment in the project said yesterday that if the District gives parking revenue to baseball, it would negate the impact of the $20 million payment.
Baseball "offers to help with $20 million, but they'll get that back and then some over time," Catania said. "It's outrageous. . . . That's not a true advance of $20 million in a way one would expect a partner to share some of the costs."
Baseball will receive all parking revenue from the 81 games each season, except for tax money that goes to the city. Baseball's negotiators also argued that the stadium agreement signed by baseball officials and Williams last year stipulated that baseball would get parking revenue on non-game days.
Mayoral spokesman Morris characterized the deal as a victory for the District.
"Instead of letting Major League Baseball keep all the money from its parking lot, we've cut a deal where we keep two-thirds" of all parking revenue on non-game days, Morris said. "Even better, Major League Baseball is still going to give us the $20 million upfront."
But council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) said baseball's contribution is "totally illusory. It doesn't deceive any thinking person."
Staff writer Thomas Heath contributed to this report.
