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Friday, July 11, 2008

WaPo: Nationals Withhold Rent on Ballpark

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.

...

Construction crews turned the ballpark over to the team in phases so that there would be time to prepare the playing field and clubhouse and have time for concession workers to be trained. Construction officials said all the revenue-generating portions of the ballpark were completed well before Opening Day. Under their deal with the city, the Nationals receive all of the profits from food, drinks and other items sold.

But office space for team executives, connected to the south side of the ballpark, was not ready until three weeks after Opening Day. Before that, the team continued to use its old offices at RFK Stadium rent-free.

Well, maybe the Nats can make good after that post-ASB sellout streak hits.

Will Shave Off My Listach for an O's Win Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:33 AM | 75 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Chris Needham Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:48 AM (#2852582)

I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for some of these things -- this IS the DC government we're dealing with.

But when I think of the Lerners and that used car salesman Stan Kasten the words that come to mind include:

Eh... nevermind. I don't want to piss off the nanny.

2. Mr2bits Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:10 AM (#2852588)

I know it will never happen, but I will still daydream at the prospect of a major league team being evicted mid-season.

3. Will Shave Off My Listach for an O's Win Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:28 AM (#2852592)

There was this earlier piece about Mr. Lerner always following contracts "to the letter," and I suppose that's how one becomes a billionaire in real estate, so perhaps Mr. Lerner says, "sure, you've spent $600 mil. of your taxpayer's money for us, but gosh darn it, a deal's a deal."

But, then, my secret proletariat leanings were hoping all the vacant storefronts at White Flint meant the Nats are having an Eli Jacobs thing happening.... with revs from the club going to support floundering enterprises.

/Tyson's seems healthy.

4. Chris Needham Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:33 AM (#2852594)

I do smile every time I walk past his stupid building -- the one that blocks the ballyhooed view of the Capitol (and I'm not even talking about the circus tent they just put up) -- and see that it's completely empty.

Since they're playing in an 'unfinished' stadium (despite flogging about how wonderful the dump is during every farkin two-bit broadcast), I wonder if I could get a refund for my season tickets from them?

5. Answer Guy Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:38 AM (#2852596)

Screw Lerner. See who will give him a free stadium in this market.

6. Halofan Posted: July 11, 2008 at 06:09 AM (#2852648)

$3.5 million per yer, per month? What is that a square foot?

7. fra paolo Posted: July 11, 2008 at 07:09 AM (#2852651)

The Nationals owners have already been through a round of arbitration over ballpark costs, including over a demand that the city pay for the team's uniforms.

????

8. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 10:48 AM (#2852665)

The Nationals owners have already been through a round of arbitration over ballpark costs, including over a demand that the city pay for the team's uniforms.

MLB really has no shame.

9. Gern Blanston Posted: July 11, 2008 at 11:13 AM (#2852671)

Glad to see the move to DC has enhanced the former Expos franchise's aura of professionalism and sound management.

10. Chris Needham Posted: July 11, 2008 at 11:36 AM (#2852692)

The Nationals owners have already been through a round of arbitration over ballpark costs, including over a demand that the city pay for the team's uniforms.

They argued that it was part of the "equipment costs" that the city was required to pay.

This is also the ownership group that complained when Ronnie Belliard ordered another dozen bats.

Stupid Aholes.

We'd have been better off with Smulyan.

11. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 11:37 AM (#2852694)

Stupid Aholes.

We'd have been better off with Smulyan.

This is even worse than the A's ownership group. Bud Selig sure picks winners doesn't he? Beware Cubs fans, beware!

12. Dan Szymborski

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 11:48 AM (#2852701)

We tried to warn DC that they were taking it up the you-know-what.

13. DKDC Posted: July 11, 2008 at 11:52 AM (#2852705)

Ted Lerner's a billionaire and I'm not, but this doesn't seem like a very smart way to run a business.

I'm sure the city can find plenty of ways to make life difficult to the Nationals, and I certainly wouldn't blame them if they did.

14. Gern Blanston Posted: July 11, 2008 at 11:52 AM (#2852706)

Bud Selig sure picks winners doesn't he? Beware Cubs fans, beware!

No kidding. I'm preparing myself for the inevitability of Cuban being the high bidder, but being snubbed in favor of that tool from Milwaukee (who owns a share of the Brewers).

15. TerpNats Posted: July 11, 2008 at 12:10 PM (#2852717)

We'd have been better off with Smulyan.

This is even worse than the A's ownership group. Bud Selig sure picks winners doesn't he? Beware Cubs fans, beware!

Nah, Bud will take care of the Cubs, 'cause they're important (just like the Red Sox). The Athletics? The Nationals? Well, we don't want them to get too good -- might lower the national ratings, if you catch my drift.

Anyway, these are the times that try Nats fans' souls. This, injuries and losses galore, the MASN TV ratings fiasco -- and yesterday, Phil Wood, virtually the only guy on D.C. radio who talks baseball and does it well, was among three people sacked from WTEM now that Dan Snyder has taken over the station. I only hope there's no exclusivity clause in his contract that would prevent WWWT from signing him; he'd be the ideal post-game call-in host.

For years, we pleaded in the worst way to bring baseball back to Washington, and that's how it's come...in the worst way. The team's here to stay -- but the infinitely tougher part will be building not only the franchise, but a baseball culture (in the positive sense, not one of defeat and despair), which really hasn't existed in this town since prior to World War II.

16. Brian Oliver Posted: July 11, 2008 at 12:11 PM (#2852718)

The Lerners have a tin ear that rivals any in professional sports today. They seem to be a magnet for negative press. Piss poor MASN ratings. Withholding rent. The list goes on and on. I understand they are in this for the money, but at what point (if ever) does the deluge of negative press become enough?

17. Dan Szymborski

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 12:15 PM (#2852720)

While philosophically, I don't like government getting dirty in their tactics, I would still get a lot of satisfaction if the Nats announced that they intended to follow the letter of the contract. But immediately afterward, announce that all the roads surrounding the ballpark sorely need a major repaving job, which, in order to minimize inconvenience to the public, will be spread over 34 days, in 3 hour blocks from either 7-10 PM or 130-430 PM, depending on the day of the week. Oh, those just happened to be the dates of Nats home games? Oh, I'm sorry, we'd like to provide an accommodation, but that pesky contract ties our hands!

18. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: July 11, 2008 at 12:20 PM (#2852723)

They probably mailed the check but "forgot" to sign it.

19. Chris Needham Posted: July 11, 2008 at 12:20 PM (#2852724)

The mistake the city made was not making sure that Uncle Teddy's money counting chamber was finished before the stadium.

20. Chris Needham Posted: July 11, 2008 at 12:24 PM (#2852727)

Dan -- Nice thought -- only problem with that is that none of us actually goes to the stupid games! and most of us who do, don't drive.

I'm tempted to offer some violent suggestions here, but I don't want to leave a paper (electron?) trail!

21. Dan Szymborski

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 12:29 PM (#2852729)

Dan -- Nice thought -- only problem with that is that none of us actually goes to the stupid games! and most of us who do, don't drive.

I'm sure there are nasty things they could do. How about informing the team that they're only renting the physical land for the stadium and if they want to use city air in their offices, they'll have to pay a special oxygen tax of $25,000 per employee per day? Or that video transmission isn't possible from the stadium until the city does an environmental impact study of all those flying electrons?

22. TerpNats Posted: July 11, 2008 at 12:33 PM (#2852731)

I'm sure there are nasty things they could do. How about informing the team that they're only renting the physical land for the stadium and if they want to use city air in their offices, they'll have to pay a special oxygen tax of $25,000 per employee per day?

Double the tax for Clint (the obnoxious, universally reviled ringleader of the Nat Pack) and you may have a deal.

23. DKDC Posted: July 11, 2008 at 12:43 PM (#2852736)

DC could fulfill its implied obligation to develop a business community surrounding the stadium by offering generous tax breaks to slaughterhouses, tar factories and fish processing plants.

In all seriousness, there are all kinds of minor things the city can do like dragging their feet on permits or being extra-strict on health inspections of the stadium.

I don't think it's prudent to violate the spirit of the contract by enforcing the letter of a contract unless you have no interest in doing business with the counterparty again. That's obviously going to be hard for the Nats to do.

24. Chris Needham Posted: July 11, 2008 at 12:49 PM (#2852740)

DC could fulfill its implied obligation to develop a business community surrounding the stadium by offering generous tax breaks to slaughterhouses, tar factories and fish processing plants.

I like that! Just dump even more raw sewage in the Anacostia and get some well placed industrial fans...

25. Mark R. Garber Posted: July 11, 2008 at 12:56 PM (#2852746)

When you start honoring your own promises and commitments, then you can start criticizing others for not honoring theirs.

This could make for an interesting blowup. Cobbled together from IRC conversations, Zim owes Kevin $10 or something from a game he missed while he was in the hospital and has been slow to send a check and Kevin's attempting to bait Zim until he decides not to pay out of spite, thus ensuring that Kevin instantly has the moral high ground in every interaction between the two for as long as this site exists. I think Kevin's also mad that his public fight with JC got cut off by Furtado.

26. Mark R. Garber Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:09 PM (#2852754)

I trusted everyone at the meet-up game. They promised to compensate me for the tickets at the game and everybody did so except Szym.

Isn't this a private issue between you and him? It sounds like he's got a lot to deal with right now health-wise (his stomach or something?) and airing a personal dispute here just seems immature and petty, even if you're in the right and it certainly wouldn't be the first time you did that.

27. bunyon Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:10 PM (#2852755)

That's not what JC said. (Edit: in response to 28)

28. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:14 PM (#2852758)

I'm just posting this now, before we have any problems, to say that if anyone tries to stiff me on the $54 for the 7/18 meet-up, I am not shy about breaking kneecaps.

29. Mark R. Garber Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:18 PM (#2852763)

It was a private matter 6 weeks ago. Not it isn't. And it's not my fault it isn't. If Szym is going to be self-righteous in his posts, then he has to expect some richly-deserved blowback.

Aren't you the one who falsely stated you were in the military? I take it, then, that it's fair game to bring it up in every post where you make a statement in which your veracity could be questioned?

30. JPWF13

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:20 PM (#2852764)

$15.

It's not the money so much. $15 bucks is nothing to me. But the excuse he gave floored me: he's lazy and it's too much of an inconvenience to go buy a stamp.

How many primates are there? How about 30 of us each mail Kevin a roll of pennies????

31. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:25 PM (#2852769)

I'm just posting this now, before we have any problems, to say that if anyone tries to stiff me on the $54 for the 7/18 meet-up, I am not shy about breaking kneecaps.

Luckily, I have my own tix. I just plan on getting you drunk and then sticking you with the bar tab.

32. Mark R. Garber Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:26 PM (#2852770)

Zim, you should pay Kevin. But encase the money in something like that puzzle box thing from The Da Vinci Code just to piss him off. Kevin has a brilliant ability to cede the moral high ground.

33. AROM Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:29 PM (#2852773)

Dan, you definitely need to pay up. And just to make sure this doesn't haunt you for the next decade, send it certified mail and put a copy of the check and delivery confirmation up on transaction oracle.

34. RJ in TO Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:38 PM (#2852777)

That's a canard.

So does that mean you're ducking the question?

I'll be here all week! Try the veal!

35. Moneyball can't buy you love (Joey B.) Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:48 PM (#2852791)

It sounds like he's got a lot to deal with right now health-wise (his stomach or something?) and airing a personal dispute here just seems immature and petty, even if you're in the right and it certainly wouldn't be the first time you did that.

If you're healthy enough to go to a baseball game, you're healthy enough to pay for the ticket. Who goes to a ballgame with no money anyway?

36. Perros Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:48 PM (#2852792)

Lerner made his fortune by using public subsidies to enrich himself. Why do you think they let him in Selig's CC in the first place?

37. Mark R. Garber Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:50 PM (#2852796)

I mean the accusation if maliciously false.

Hoo-rah, General!

If you're healthy enough to go to a baseball game, you're healthy enough to pay for the ticket. Who goes to a ballgame with no money anyway?

Zim was in the hospital at the time, which is how the whole brouhaha started.

38. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:53 PM (#2852800)

I just plan on getting you drunk and then sticking you with the bar tab.

I'll have you know that no one skips out on a bar tab like me! But anyway, I'm not worried about you, you live in Manhattan, which means you fall under the jurisdiction of my employer. It's the out-of-staters who concern me. That's shifty, untrustworthy types like GGC and Nieportent.

39. bunyon Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:56 PM (#2852809)

When did it start being "Zim" and not "Szym"? I keep thinking kevin is owed money by Don Zimmer. It's a weird thought to have in my head.

kevin, i was just stirring up trouble with my line in 30. I didn't even know you two had an argument.

40. Perros Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:03 PM (#2852823)

You should open up a collection agency, kev, though if you were good at it Dan would have paid up already.

41. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:04 PM (#2852825)

Mail me your address, Kevin, and I'll cover it. Dan doesn't need this right now.

42. RJ in TO Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:05 PM (#2852826)

He does owe me back (and every other Red Sox fan born before 1970 or so) my youth and innocence( re:1978).

Didn't you get part of that back when Pedro whomped him? I know it provided me with an incredible amount of joy, and I'm not even a Red Sox fan. It still remains my second favorite fight, behind only the Robin Ventura/Nolan Ryan brouhaha.

43. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:05 PM (#2852827)

Nieporent is as different in person as you can imagine, RB. I was shocked. I thought he was playing a trick on me, sending someone else in his place.

Your sarcasm detector needs a little fine-tuning.

44. Moneyball can't buy you love (Joey B.) Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:08 PM (#2852831)

Zim was in the hospital at the time, which is how the whole brouhaha started.

OK, my mistake, sorry. If he's really struggling, I'll kick in to help cover it.

45. Dan Szymborski

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:08 PM (#2852833)

Yes, I owe Kevin $15 and I've been slow to pay. I've been to plenty of meetups and SABR conventions and never stiffed anybody before on a ticket or a room or a beer or even splitting up the tip. I haven't written an actual paper check in years (Kevin refused any kind of electronic funds transfer) and physically mail like 3 things a year and I've been a little more concerned lately with trying to physically eat food. It's not to say that I don't owe a debt to Kevin, but that doesn't give him the right to act like a complete ####### about it. God, I covered tickets for 2 1/8 missing primates at a meetup 3 years ago (we ate the ticket 8 ways for the 3rd guy) and I never felt the need to send constant e-mails or insult them in public.

46. Dan Szymborski

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:11 PM (#2852840)

Mail me your address, Kevin, and I'll cover it. Dan doesn't need this right now.

Vlad, I appreciate it, but it's my little debt and I should prioritize and pay the damn thing.

47. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:13 PM (#2852842)

48. Dan Szymborski

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:15 PM (#2852849)

No, Paypal was just one of suggested ways I offered to send you money electronically. Hell, I could Western Union it right now.

49. JPWF13

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:22 PM (#2852859)

Mail me your address, Kevin, and I'll cover it. Dan doesn't need this right now.

Kevin would much rather bytch and moan about getting stiffed than actually getting paid- it's only 15 effing $s- I doubt it acually would hurt Kevin financially to not get paid, and I doubt it'd hurt Dan financially to pay it.

50. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:23 PM (#2852860)

This website fascinates me endlessly.

51. Mark R. Garber Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:24 PM (#2852861)

Don't you have any regard at all for your own integrity and reputation?

Man, really worked up into a froth, aren't we? Maybe Zim should pay you and then him and Jim can send you a bill for the advertising revenues they've no doubt lost from the people you regularly drive off the site.

52. JPWF13

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:25 PM (#2852863)

Don't you have any regard at all for your own integrity and reputation?

see this is where you overdue it, just one dropped reference per thread that Szym stiffed you would work, but beating it into the ground? After awhile most readers will start thinking, gee I'd stiff the SOB too.

53. zonk Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:27 PM (#2852864)

Hmm. So I'll wear an A's cap and an Obama button and annoy everyone. Excellent!

Just to be safe, I'd also pick up a Shea Hillenbrand jersey... spend the day humming any country music tune, and you're probably golden.

54. bunyon Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:28 PM (#2852866)

I think it's pretty clear that the taxpayers of DC should pay Zim's tab. As they should any time someone doesn't pay for a ticket for a Nationals game. In fact, they should be on the hook for every unsold seat at the park. And parking. And a hot dog to be given to a member of the Lerner family.

55. TerpNats Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:33 PM (#2852871)

This is worse than this thread being hijacked by Mets posts.

56. RJ in TO Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:34 PM (#2852875)

Just to be safe, I'd also pick up a Shea Hillenbrand jersey

He's just trying to annoy people, not get himself killed.

Coincidentally, one of my friends has a Hillenbrand jersey - he won it in a contest. He wears it as often as possible to Jays' games, just so he can listen to the baffled reactions of those around him.

57. Guapo Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:35 PM (#2852876)

BTF AID 2008- Help Szymborski pay Kevin the $15!

I wrote a song just for the occasion:

[Guapo]:

There comes a time
When we must lend a helping hand
For a friend who's been feeling rather sick

[Nierporent and kevin]:

We fight about Bonds
the Hall of Fame and the Iraq War
But that doesn't mean that we're all a bunch of pricks

[Backlasher and Treder]:

Look in your heart
but look in your wallet first
It's time for us all to do some caring

[Furtado and Rob Base]:

We all hate Selig
but he has some good ideas
and one of those was: revenue sharing

[Everyone]:

WE ARE THE NERDS
WE ARE THE STATHEADS
WE ARE THE GUYS WHO PLAY DIAMOND MIND BASEBALL IN OUR MOM'S BASEMENTS
There's a point we're making
we're not sure what it is
But it's worth $15 if Furtado promises to close this thread

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WaPo: Nationals Withhold Rent on Ballpark

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