Major League Baseball has ceased the business and promotional activities of the Washington Nationals after a deal to build the team a new ballpark in Washington failed.
Nationals VP-sales and marketing David Cope told PROMO that the franchise, which was moved from Montreal at the end of September, had not sold any sponsorships.
Less that three months after announcing the return of professional baseball to the nation’s capital, refunds will be offered to consumers who made deposits for season tickets, according to team spokesman John Dever.
The Nationals is the former Montreal Expos franchise, which was purchased by the other 29 MLB owners in 2002. MLB was in the process of setting up a new front office staff for the team when it pulled the plug.
MLB made the decision because the District of Columbia City Council voted to change the financing plan for a new ballpark in that city. MLB chose to move the league-owned team to the city because officials there promised to build a publicly financed stadium, then voted Tuesday for an amended deal to only partially finance it.
“The legislation approved by the District of Columbia City Council last night does not reflect the agreement we signed and relied upon after being invited by District leaders to consider Washington as a home for Major League Baseball,” said MLB President and Chief Operating Officer Bob DuPuy in a statement. “The legislation is inconsistent with our carefully negotiated agreement and is wholly unacceptable to Major League Baseball.”
MLB announced the franchise shift on Sept. 29, and team and corporate logos, as well as game hats, were unveiled Nov. 22. Cope was hired by the team on Nov. 23. The team’s uniform unveiling was scheduled for yesterday, but instead the team store was closed down.
DuPuy said in a statement the league will not entertain offers for permanent relocation of the club until after the Dec. 31 deadline for a ballpark agreement passes.
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