Stadium Vote Delayed Until Mid-January

WASHINGTON - A D.C. Council vote on a baseball stadium lease will not happen until at least mid-January, a top city official said Wednesday.

"We're doing a lot of analysis. We're putting together a lot of alternative options that we can present," said City Administrator Robert C. Bobb.

While Mayor Anthony A. Williams was home ill on Wednesday, Bobb said the mayor was speaking daily with members of council and his staff about ways to get a lease agreement approved.

"This needs to work through the council's legislative calendar, once we present our final proposal," said Bobb. The proposal must be presented to Major League Baseball president Bob DuPuy and the 13 council members.

Williams had the original lease agreement pulled from consideration by council last week when it became clear he lacked the seven votes needed for approval. Investment bankers are requiring council approval of a lease before they will allow the sale of nearly $535 million in bonds to cover construction costs.

Among the options being promoted to gain council support are the sale of development rights for land surrounding the stadium, to help offset cost overruns for the project.

"There are a number of options and alternatives on the table. Development rights is one of many points being discussed," said Bobb, declining to provide specifics.

The Williams administration contends development rights would generate ample revenue and be an economic boon to the city. The mayor wants the 41,000-seat stadium to be the anchor of a new shopping and entertainment district one mile south of the U.S. Capitol.

"It's the right location for the baseball stadium," Bobb said.

The agreement between MLB and the District of Columbia government - which led to the relocation of the Montreal Expos - called for conclusion of a lease agreement by Dec. 31. MLB owns the franchise now known as the Washington Nationals and refuses to name new owners until a lease is finalized.

MLB officials also have the right to pursue arbitration to come up with a leasing agreement. Bobb said while he wants negotiations to continue, he would not be surprised if baseball officials exercised the arbitration option.

Bobb said MLB officials continue to hold direct talks with the chairman of the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission about the stadium lease and other issues related to the Nationals franchise.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)