Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-14
Stadium Board
Not Upset by
Griffith Stand

Armory Board ofhcials ar.
hoping for az early meeting
with Calvin 0rlliith, president
of the Washington Baseball
Club. IN order 10 negotiate {
contract that win put the SEN
ators into the city's planned q
million stadium.
George y. Shea, chairman Of
the board IN charge Of con.
structing the new plant near
the National Guard Armory
views the coming negotiation
with optimism, despite Crit.
ntht stated reluctance 20 givl
up his debt-free park anS
transfer 10 q site he personally
does not favor.
II hope that these expressed
statements In the press do moi
represent HIS C0rifnth'sl con.
sidered opinion" Shea said 20
day. -As 10 the site, these de-
tails win be fully developed n,
as and when Mr.. 0rifnth meets
with the board and with repre-
sentatives Of the District, who
win explain not only the new
roads planned for the area, but
also the schedule Of construc-
ton Of the new roads,"
Session Tomorrow
The Armory Board and the
committee that Is to help work
out contracts with Grifnth and
George p. Marshall. owner
president Of the Redskins, viii
meet at e:45 am. tomorrow in
the once Of Commissioner
Robert z. Mclaughlin, q board
member. to discuss contract
proposals. Grifhth has said he
definitely will not subscribe TO
q S0-year lease. Marshall says
he wants TO play In the new
stadium.
"As for the term Of the
lease" Shea said, "this is, of
course. Q matter Of negotiation
which can be worked out only
by Mr.. orifhth and his asso-
ciates and the Armory Board,
at what we hope viii be an
early meeting"
Shea said he agreed with
Builder Morris Cafritz, q MEM
Der of'the Negotiating Commit
tee, that he would lean back
ward" TO see that Qrifnth gets
q good deal"
But with or without the
Senators. Shea emphasized
that the stadium would be
constructed.
Wide Use Planned
THE board has an obliga-
ton to build the stadium" he
said. according to the instruc-
tons Of Congress, which were
approved by the President"
He said the purpose Of the
stadium Is not Just to provide
a place for baseball or football,
but to give the Capital q place
where people-including serv-
Ice. veterans and public groups
may congregate.
I'VE intend to build the sta
dium pursuant to those instruc-
TONS" Shea said.
The stadium is to be financed
by public purchase Of bonds,
with stadium revenues paying
on the interest and eventually
retiring the bonds. Not hous-
ing the Senators could mean q
considerable loss In revenue, a
factor that has led some ON
cially concerned to wonder IL
building plans would be delayed
or ruined.
Success Predicted
Shea and Cafritz, among
others, say definitely not.
Even II the ball club doesn't
come in, the stadium viii be a
success" Cafritz said. II
wouldn't be afraid to UNDER
write the thing myself"
Actually. If stadium revenue
does not meet interest obliga.
lions, the Commissioners can
ask Congress to include the
difference in the budget. II
Congress refuses, the Commits
sioners can borrow the needed
funds from the Treasury De-
partment, with District tax
payers footing the bill, In
GLIDING interest.
Remaining at Grifhth Sta.
dunn is not the only alterna-
tive open to the ball club. There
Is another, one that keeps rear
ing its head-the team could
move to another city. Grifilth
will not comment on tlIat DOS.