WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- A plan to build a stadium for the Washington Nationals is nearly dead given intractable opposition by Washington City Council members, a report said.
Council member Jack Evans, the biggest backer of the proposed new stadium, said he has given up trying to persuade fellow council members to support the $667 million stadium.
"There are not even any discussions about it taking place around here," Evans told The Washington Times.
However, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams reportedly expressed hope a deal could be reached soon.
The lack of progress has frustrated Major League Baseball officials, who say they will not choose an owner for the Washington Nationals from eight competing groups until the stadium issue is resolved.
"Already, the city's failure to complete its obligations prior to Dec. 31, 2005, has jeopardized the new stadium's opening," MLB President Robert DuPuy wrote in a Monday letter to potential owners.
