"They are playing games there; the fans are paying the money to see the games; and no one I know of has asked for a refund. The city is banking on this revenue...It seems unreasonable at this stage that the team would not fulfill its obligation."
(D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray, via Washington Post, 7/10/2008)
Deadbeat Ted says: Pay rent? Hell no!
Rocky romance continues: Lerner Family vs. The District: Round 11. Washington Nationals Public Relations Machine Working overtime this summer!
According to the Washington Post, the Nationals are refusing to pay rent at Nationals Park, claiming that the Stadium is incomplete (via Washington Post):
More than midway through the baseball season, the Washington Nationals' owners have failed to pay $3.5 million in rent for the District's new ballpark, contending that the state-of-the-art stadium is still incomplete.
...
A "punch list" of hundreds of items remains incomplete, according to team officials.
We have to ask: Is "Major League Baseball team" on the Lerner's "punch list" of incomplete items at Nationals Park?
(AP Photo by Jacquelyn Martin)
I think the slimiest thing mentioned in the article is the not paying the sales taxes on the ticket sales. Not paying the taxes collected in February until September strikes me as wrong. This isn't a real estate deal where they get to have an escrow account.
Posted by: Simon Oliver Lockwood | July 11, 2008 at 09:56 AM
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot, and hitting your dead horse at the same time...
Of the 42,132.321 Nationals fans left in the world (I counted last night, don't ask) how many are now pissed off enough at the high ticket prices and sh|tty team that something as chintzy as this won't make them start watching Washington Mystics, or worse DC United, games?
Next thing you know, the Nats will start paying all their players late so they can earn extra interest, and requiring you to pay a "bathroom services deposit fee" each time you buy something at concessions because they know you'll use the crapper later.
Posted by: ckstevenson | July 11, 2008 at 11:26 AM
It's all in the name of being tough businessmen, I guess. But I think SOL useds a word that sums it all up nice and tidily: slimy. ..
Posted by: The Nationals Enquirer | July 11, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Hey, they don't pay their employees either, so don't feel so bad. That place has had so much turnover, I bet that less than 10% of the opening-day workforce is still there, mostly because of payroll issues.
Posted by: vendor71 | July 11, 2008 at 01:42 PM
If this is Round #11, how have the first 10 rounds been scored?
Posted by: Sec 114, Row E | July 11, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Let's see Sec114, Row E...probably a draw up to this point? Lots of cheaps shots and low blows from both sides, that's for sure...
Posted by: The Nationals Enquirer | July 11, 2008 at 07:08 PM