[Illusion]

WASHINGTON -- The District of Columbia Council voted Tuesday to approve a contract for construction of the new Washington Nationals ballpark.

The 9-4 vote came a day after mayor Anthony A. Williams and other city officials signed a lease for the ballpark with Major League Baseball. The council also took a voice vote to confirm the stadium lease and a $611 million cap on city costs that were approved last month.

The city hopes to unveil designs for the ballpark next week and groundbreaking for the stadium will be in late April, said Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), the council's most outspoken baseball supporter. Evans predicted that the park would open on schedule for 2008, though likely without the finishing touches.

"It probably won't be quite done ... with about six months of work left to do," said Evans.

Ballpark supporters envision it as the centerpiece of a project that will transform an industrial area about one mile south of the Capitol into an entertainment district that will generate some $3 billion in revenues.

The project will be financed through about $535 million bonds to be sold in the coming weeks. Debt service on the bonds will be paid for with rent paid by the team, taxes on tickets and concessions and a special fee levied on the city's largest businesses.

[Willie Bee]

So, MLB finally greased the right palms, huh?

[Illusion]

That's gonna be one expensive stadium.