[SmootSmack]

The cost to fund the stadium and the renovation of the surrounding area would come from rent paid by the owners, the top 11% of business owners in Washington, DC and people who go to the games.

DC today is not the same DC of 30 years ago. For one thing, it's more affluent. There are a lot more big businesses here which means more money and clients for luxury boxes, the most important aspect of any pro stadium. Public transportation wasn't the same 30 years ago either. Now with the Metro train system it's much easier to get around and especially around downtown DC and this has created a broader region because the suburbs (Northern Virginia, Montgomery Co.) can now be considered practically a part of DC itself. And as it was the population has grown significantly anyway.

When the MCI Center was built in DC's Chinatown seven years ago that area was a total dump, but thanks to that stadium a lot of businesses set up shop there and completely revitalized the area and raised its property value. A baseball stadium could do the same for the Anacostia Waterfront, which has the potential to be beautiful. Several companies have committed to building stores, offices, condos/apartments in that area over the next couple of years with the understanding that people will start coming there to attend baseball games and shop, eat, and even live there. As it is now, anyone who goes there is really just going to one of the clubs there late at night and that's it. A friend of mine recently bought a one-bedroom condo out there thinking that it's value is going to up in a couple of years. I wonder how she must feel now.

Linda Cropp took a gamble because baseball knows that DC is the best option for relocation which, ironically, is the reason it would really rather not move here. DC has always been the "threat city" for baseball and its owners. MLB used DC in the past to secure better stadium deals in Houston, San Diego and Pittsburgh (among others). "Build a better stadium or we'll threaten to move the team to DC" If DC gets a team, what becomes the "threat city" Even worse than taking that gamble is that Linda Cropp basically reneged on a deal that she knew about and had not objected to. Tuesday was not the first time she had read the agreement, she knew full well what it was and what it entailed. What she did was a classless move that does not bode well for the future of baseball in Washington, DC

And what do you mean all 3 of us? That more of your witty sarcasm oozing through?