April 13, 2005

National Guard naming-rights deal hits quagmire

The deal to rename the Washington Nationals (and D.C. United) home field to "National Guard Field at RFK" is apparently off - or maybe on. Or maybe some sort of muddled quantum waveform. The scoop according to various D.C. news sources:

On Monday, [U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee chair John] Warner had objected to reports that the Guard was close to finalizing a three-year, $6 million deal with the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission that would have renamed the stadium National Guard Field at RFK. ... "Everything is still on the table," said one city official with knowledge of the closed-door talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are ongoing. "But it won't be called National Guard Field." (Washington Post)

Amid negotiations stretching deep into last night and set to resume this morning, city officials, Warner and Pentagon officials are now working on some other type of military theme for the name, perhaps one involving the entire armed forces. (Washington Times)

Warner, R-Va., who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, backed off on objections to a plan to have the National Guard involved in a sponsorship deal, bringing up the possibility of including other branches of the armed services. "I'm optimistic we can reach a meeting of the minds," said Warner. (WUSA-TV)

Lieutenant General Steven Blum says they shouldn't have to buy the label. He says "I think we've earned it in blood." (WJLA-TV)