WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — The Washington Commanders’ exclusive negotiations to bring a stadium to D.C. have some specific stipulations that, if not met, would allow either party to call time on the deal.
The District and the Commanders have about two-and-a-half months to get the council to vote “yes” on a new stadium complex, per the redevelopment term sheet.
If the council hasn’t taken up the vote on legislation related to the term sheet by July 15, the mayor or the Commanders can choose to pause or terminate exclusive negotiations. There is wiggle room, though – the parties can extend exclusive negotiations by mutual agreement.
Under the term sheet, the mayor or the Commanders can also choose to pause or pull out of the deal “at any time the Council votes against or materially changes” the corresponding legislation, or if the Stadium Contribution (defined as being funded by the District incrementally over four fiscal years for eligible capital costs, including stadium infrastructure) is not included in the budget when the council votes on it.
City Administrator Kevin Donahue said Wednesday the term sheet “allows for flexibility as to when the exclusivity period ends.”
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“If the council’s voting on the second vote on say [July] 17, by mutual consent, the exclusivity extends to the second vote,” he explained.
The D.C. Council has up to 70 days after receiving the budget to vote and adopt it.
On Tuesday, councilmembers passed an emergency resolution to set a new budget transmission deadline of May 15 for the mayor. Chairman Phil Mendelson said under that budget schedule, day 70 would be July 24.
“The mayor’s imposed deadline for the Commanders’ stadium, which she negotiated with the Commanders but not with us, of July 15 may be impossible for us to meet,” he said during Tuesday’s council meeting.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said Tuesday she expects the council to vote by July 15. “It’s going to be very important that the deal advances or it would fail,” she said.
Right now, though, councilmembers remain mixed on the proposal.