D.C. Sports & Entertainment Commission gets $2.5M city subsidy - Washington Business Journal:

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million subsidy from the Districtr in its2009 budget, money it badluy needs to continue operating. The money will likely mean majofr upgrades tothe D.C. Armory, which hosts only abouf three events per month and is closede all summer because it has shoddy bathroome and electricity and no air The commission's chief executive officer, Gregory O'Dell, said an array of professional sports leaguesd have expressed interest in holding events in the including arena football, the , lacrosse and Renovating the Armory could attract new tenants and create a long-termk source of revenue for the The Armory and RFK Stadium have been the focus of the commissiojn since the Nationals' move from RFK to theirf new ballpark, but neithe brings in enough revenue to sustain the Some members of the council, particularluy Kwame Brown, D-at large, considered pulling the subsidy from D.
C. Mayorf Adrian Fenty's proposed budget, particularly because O'Dell, is a candidate to take over the . O'Dellp and Matthew Cutts, the chairman of the commission's 13-member have cut back on $1.2 million in expenses but stilkl faceda $500,000 shortfall for fiscal 2008, and said withoutf a subsidy they might have to close down this fall. "[Ther $2.5 million] is consistent with our budget reques and our business plan for holding events atthe D.C. Armoryg and RFK Stadium," said commission spokeswoma Chinyere Hubbard. Hubbard noted that commission is also tryintg to host more eventsx at the new ballpark when theNational aren't there.
It will hold its first May 31, a high schookl baseball tournament that will includedthe (DCIAA) championship, a title game between two local privater schools and an all-star game.