Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-07-17

time late yesterday 70 clear up
the Senate. 1t permits the I
bonds &c the public TO finance
the arena, to be set beside the
Anacostia River between
Constitution and independents
avenues.
Between the bill and law
now is only President Eisen-
hower's signature.
Still between the stadium
dream and reality stand Calvin
Grifnth, reluctant to sign up
his Senators ball club. and
months Of hard work by citizen
volunteers.
Mr.. Grifith said he never
has given "even oral agree
ment" to a stadium contract.
He'll sit down and talk with
the Armory board members. he
said. But officially he MAIN
tanned a tight-lipped mo COM
ment" on terms.
Predicts Construction
He predicted the. stadium
would be built regardless of
the Washington ball club.
Whether it could remain SOL
vent without the Senators was
q question nobody could answer
today. If the Senators do use
the stadium. they stand to lose
$50, 900 through loss Of rentals,
concessions and parking. &C
cotding to Mr.. Grifhth.
The club owns Griffith Sta
dunn, the present ball park.
Howard University is known to
be interested in buying it. Seri-
Gus negotiations are not under
way. Yet, sale of Griffith Sta
dunn is one of the conditions
Mr.. Griffith's board of direc-
tors has demanded before clos
ing any contract with the new
stadium sponsors.
If the team becomes q leaser
Of q new stadium rather than
resident owner of the old. Mr..
Grifith was believed ready to
insist on an annual cash guar
antee regardless Of stadium
revenue. This would assure
him q profit in bad as well as
good years at the stadium.
Marshall Enthusiastic
George Marshall, president Of
the Washington Redskins foot
ball team, said his contract with
the stadium could be consum-
mated in 10 minutes.
An enthusiastic stadium
booster, Mr.. Marshall wants 10
per cent of gross receipts. Now,
he pays Griffith Stadium 12.5
per cent of total take. Since he
controls no concessions at Crit
nth Stadium, he does not ex-
pect to handle any at the new
center.
He was confident the stadium
would boost business for both
the Redskins and Senators by
some 10000 additional paid adj
missions for the football season
and 100000 for baseball.
At this rate, Mr.. Marshall
said, the Redskins alone could
contribute $150,000 yearly to
the stadium. That would be
enough to pay of half the in
terest on bonds, he said.
Hometown Boy
I'VE are a hometown organi-
cation. and ! am a hometown
boy" Mr.. Marshall said.
Wen do everything we can
to see that the stadium is built
as fast and efficiently as Con-
gress passed authorizing legis-
lation."
The earliest possible date
that new stadium gates could
be opened to the public APP
peared to be 1861.
Mr.. Marshall already has
contracted with Griffith Sta
dium to play there through
1860. he said,
Optimism keynoted commu-
nifty reaction despite the un-
certainty of contracts with the
| two clubs.
Commissioner Robert E. Nc
Laughlin said the stadium
would be a boon to business
throughout the Metropolitan
Area.
Legislation gives the Ma
TONS Capital stadium very
much needed for many years
in the past and a facility that
will be very much used for
years in the future" comment
ed Senator Bible. Democrat Of
Nevada, Senate District Com
mittee chairman. who spon-
sored the bill in the Senate.
Representative Harris. Dem
ocrat Of Arkansas. the father