DC Mayor Vincent Gray said that before his term ends in January, consummating a $300M deal to build a stadium on Buzzard Point for DC United is one priority that "looms above all the others," according to DeBonis & O'Connell of the WASHINGTON POST. While the plan "has supporters on the DC Council, there are new questions about whether Gray has the political clout as a lame duck to get the deal approved in his final months in office." Gray will "have to navigate political obstacles that include concerns about the deal’s structure, pressure from advocacy groups and the fact that his two possible successors will be weighing in during a general election campaign." DC Council members also "appear to be in no rush to act" ahead of the council's summer recess. Even Gray "expressed only halting optimism that the deal will be done before he leaves office." Gray said, "It’s hard to be confident about anything at this stage." While he expects that he will "take a personal role in pushing the deal through," Gray said that more advocacy "will be needed." Gray: "We think the people in the District of Columbia who care about a soccer stadium -- and there are many, many people -- need to stand up and express their sentiments about this" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/1).
