Nationals shut down operations as deal begins to fall apart

NEW YORK -- Washington's new baseball team shut down business andpromotional operations indefinitely Wednesday as its move to thenation's capital teetered on the brink of collapse.

The decision followed the District of Columbia Council's decisionTuesday night to require private financing for at least half the costof building a new stadium. The September agreement to move theMontreal Expos to Washington called for a ballpark fully financed bygovernment money.

"Yes, I think baseball is now in jeopardy," Mayor Anthony A.Williams said.

A previously scheduled news conference to unveil new uniforms wascalled off and fans who bought tickets to watch the renamed Nationalsnext season at RFK Stadium can get refunds, said Bob DuPuy,baseball's chief operating officer.

Baseball will not resume talks with other cities until afterDec.31, the deadline in the agreement for Washington to put aballpark financing law in place.

"In the meantime, the club's baseball operations will proceed, butits business and promotional activities will cease until furthernotice," DuPuy said.

He did not address where the team would play its 2005 homeschedule if the deal with Washington falls through. It remainsunclear whether baseball would move the franchise to RFK Stadium on atemporary basis, remain at Montreal's Olympic Stadium or go toanother city.

Williams had signed the deal nearly three months ago, and publiclycelebrated the return of major league baseball to Washington, whichhasn't had a team since 1971.

"We had a deal. I believe the deal was broken, and the dream of 33years is now once again close to dying," Williams said Wednesday.

Council Chair Linda W. Cropp proposed the deal-threateningamendment.

"I am not trying to kill the deal," Cropp said. "I'm putting someteeth in it because I'm really disappointed with what I got fromMajor League Baseball."

AP