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For Nats, it's something old, something new
Nationals break ground on stadium
Date published: 5/5/2006
By TODD JACOBSON WASHINGTON--Flanked by orange wrecking machines, abandoned buildings and hundreds of fans and well-wishers wearing red Nationals hats, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams stood on a stage in what will eventually be the outfield at the team's new stadium and thought of what it will become. "This is a little, dusty place," said Williams, wearing a red Nationals hat, "but imagine this place a few years from now." The city officially broke ground on a $611 million glass, steel and concrete baseball stadium to be built for the Nationals yesterday. New team owner Theodore N. Lerner was among the dozens of dignitaries that sunk golden shovels into a patch of sand to signal the ceremonial start of construction less than 24 hours after MLB commissioner Bud Selig selected the Lerners as the owners of the team. And true to form, Lerner laid out an ambitious timetable for the stadium, which he hopes will be ready for the start of the 2008 season. "It's going to take a great deal of work and effort to get done but it's possible to get it done," Lerner said. Lerner, who wore a gray suit and red Nationals hat for the occasion, was joined by many of the investors of his winning group, city government officials, D.C. City Council chair Linda Cropp and even manager Frank Robinson and players Brian Schneider and Marlon Anderson. Jazz musicians provided the soundtrack before officials paraded in front of the group of fans, thankful that the often-contentious search for an owner and stadium was over. The ceremony was briefly interrupted by protesters holding signs and chanting "Feed the needy, not the greedy," but it was mostly a day of celebration. "It's incredible," said Mark Lerner, Theodore Lerner's son and a co-owner of the franchise. "It's a dream come true. I never thought I'd be standing here today but it's something I'll never forget." Truth is, construction has already begun at the site blocks away from the Anacostia River in Southeast Washington, and it stopped briefly only for yesterday's ceremony. Bonds were sold by the city Wednesday to pay for the $611 million stadium, and large wrecking machines churned up chunks of asphalt and swirled dust in the air behind a portable stage brought in for the ceremony as master of ceremonies Charlie Brotman introduced a handful of speakers.
Date published: 5/5/2006
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