Nats still haven't paid the rent; Stadium still not done

WASHINGTON (AP) - With the first season at the Washington Nationals new stadium nearly over, the team owners still haven't paid rent that was due in the spring.

The Lerner family contends the ballpark is not "substantially complete."

With the rent in dispute, and sales tax revenue from the ballpark below expectations, the city has had to use funds from a special business tax for debt service on the stadium project. But D.C. Chamber of Commerce president Barbara Lang says that tax source wasn't intended to be a stopgap for lower stadium revenues.

D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission chairman Matthew Cutts says his agency is in the process of hiring a law firm to handle the rent dispute.

Information from: The Washington Post

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)