We Pay, They Play

From the Evolution of the Ballpark poster.

In "Sultans Of Swap," Stephen Pearlstien, business columnist for the Washington Post, comments on the figures bandied about for the acquisition of the Washington Nationals Baseball team. The price of $450 million leaves a $150 million profit for the other teams to split up. Pearlstein makes the point that this price reflects the particularly good scraping of the public trough that the team will benefit from in terms of a sweetheart stadium deal, not to mention the high attendance figures that the team is achieving.

One possibility, he says that the final lease is still being negotiated and he holds out hope that the District government might be able to get some more favorable terms...

Photographer: Susan Biddle/The Washington Post. DC Council members Marion Barry, Kwame Brown, Vince Orange, former council member Frank Smith with Jon Ledecky and co - bidders for Washington Nationals, the Hidary's. They gathered on baseball diamond outside Barry Farm Recreational Center in SE Washington.



AP photo.

Mayor Anthony A. Williams acknowledges the accolades of the fans at the Washington Nationals' home opener. The mayor, who has a reputation for being aloof and out of touch, was in demand for autographs and handshakes. (Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)

At the announcement last fall.