Mayor Williams signs stadium lease

[KingJ]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Ai1.S7NZlUlOb5.6mChKnLURvLYF?slug=ap-nationalsballpark&prov=ap&type=lgns

Next step:

"The council was set to vote Tuesday on the contract with Clark Construction Inc. to build the stadium. That deal includes a "guaranteed maximum price" for the city of $320 million for construction. Land acquisition and infrastructure costs are not included."

[efin98]

Who pays for the construction overuns over the "guarenteed maximum price" of $320 million?

[Tideman80]

Confirmed on WTOP... now that was quick, wasn't it. They are talking designs next week and ground breaking in a month....

Finally...lets get an owner and play some baseball.

[Monarchs29]

Tideman80 - "Finally...lets get an owner and play some baseball."

I agree. The next thing that BS should do is make the announcement. ASAP!!! Preferably, before the end of the week! Certainly, before the season begins!

[Tideman80]

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/...=.jsp&c_id=was

Looks like they are going to fastrack the sale of the team.

:gt

[Peorgie T]

Looks like they are going to fastrack the sale of the team.

:gt

I would guess that the selection has already been made subject to tweaks relevant to the final lease agreement. It'll be nice to see some real marketing of the team for the first time. I hope they organize a fanfest in Farragut Square this summer to make the Orioles store continue to feel welcome in that location.

[1995hoo]

I take it that we are to believe that the mayor signing the lease is enough to bind the city to the lease and that the signing need not be ratified by the city council?

Given the nature of the city's government, I think I'll believe there is a new ballpark when I actually attend a game there.

[KingJ]

It'll be nice to see some real marketing of the team for the first time.

Yeah, used car dealerships were advertised more last summer than this team.