Lots of Glass, Capital Views

Spear hinted that architects are considering ways to leave space under the grandstand seats so that they will vibrate as they did at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium during last season's Nationals games and Redskins games of years past.

City officials are trying to accelerate the pace of construction to meet the tight timetable. Allen Y. Lew, chief executive of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, said he will purchase massive amounts of steel within the next few weeks and set a groundbreaking date shortly.

The city has agreed to invest a total of $611 million in the project, including $320 million for the ballpark, which will be constructed by Clark Construction Group of Bethesda, along with partners Smoot and Hunt construction companies. Major League Baseball has promised to chip in $20 million, and the federal government has budgeted $20 million to renovate the Navy Yard Metro station.

Although MLB official have yet to name an ownership group for the Nationals, city officials said they hope one is selected before this season's Opening Day, on April 3.

In addition to developing signature architecture and maximizing stadium revenue potential, the ballpark designers also were charged by city officials with helping foster economic development in a largely industrial area. Williams has said that revenue from the so-called "ballpark entertainment district" will justify the enormous public investment in the project.

D.C. Council member Sharon Ambrose (D-Ward 6), whose ward will be home to the ballpark, said the project "will say to everybody that the Anacostia is not a forgotten river. It's an integral, important part of the District of Columbia, and the fact that we put our most important new building on the banks of the Anacostia sends a message to everyone."

Roughly 70 percent of fans are expected to approach the ballpark from the north, walking along Half Street from the Navy Yard Metro station past mixed-use development.

Shops and restaurants will line First Street to the east of the stadium and possibly Potomac Avenue to the south.

Two large, boxy parking garages are in the stadium drawings, but city officials said they will work with developers to move the structures underground and free the surface for stores, restaurants, condominium units and office space.

Russ Hines, an executive vice president at Monument Realty LLC, one of four development companies named by the city to foster growth in the area, said the stadium design evokes the convention center, which was also intended to encourage economic development.

"They made a glass curtain-like wall so that you can see into the stadium," Hines said. "It is a catalyst for the area, and in terms of its design, this is the appropriate start. It's a high level of quality, and it has a monumental nature to it."

As for the playing field, it is considered large, favoring pitchers over hitters with a 409-foot distance to the center field fence. Tavares, however, said the fence could be moved closer to home plate.

In Viera, Fla., where the Nationals are training, Manager Frank Robinson gave the ballpark a thumbs up: "I like it. It has its own identity."

"It's awesome," outfielder Ryan Church said. "We need something new. Enough of this old-school stuff. When do they break ground?"

After an often bitter 1 1/2 -year fight between the D.C. Council and Major League Baseball that ended just last week with a final stadium agreement, Williams let loose yesterday, donning a green Nationals hat in a nod to St. Patrick's Day. He thanked council members with whom he sometimes did battle over the project, including Chairman Linda W. Cropp (D), who took her own bow.

Then Williams told the crowd that he has long dreamed of a new stadium in Washington, recalling his days growing up in Los Angeles, where his father rooted on the Dodgers with almost religious zeal.

"I feared that after our fight, there would be nothing left," Williams said of the stadium dispute. "But we keep the dream, the flame, alive. We kept it burning. Today, the fog has lifted."

Staff writers Henri E. Cauvin, Dana Hedgpeth and Barry Svrluga contributed to this report.