Reinsdorf to meet with Cropp over Nats stadium

Nov. 30, 2005
WASHINGTON -- City officials will meet with Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf on Thursday to express their concerns about the rising costs of a proposed Washington Nationals stadium.
Reinsdorf, Major League Baseball's point man on lease negotiations, was scheduled for a closed-door session arranged by Council Chair Linda W. Cropp.
The meeting, first reported in the Washington Post, comes a day after Mayor Anthony A. Williams said he didn't think arbitration would be necessary in getting a lease deal done before the Dec. 31 deadline.
Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, wrote city leaders this week to express concern the city would miss that date, which was set forth in the agreement signed last year that led to the Montreal Expos' move to Washington.
Williams urged council members and baseball officials to tone down their public statements. "We're under a lot of pressure. We need some help," he said.
Some council members have insisted they will not vote to approve a stadium lease before baseball selects a new owner for the franchise, purchased by the other 29 teams in 2002. Eight groups are seeking to buy the franchise, which MLB is offering for about $450 million.
Baseball officials have said a lease agreement must precede the selection of an owner.

Source: http://cbs.sportsline.com/