The District of Columbia is playing hardball in a dispute with the owner of Nationals Park, Events DC, effectively threatening to shut down the stadium if Events DC fails to develop the commercial and retail space it promised before the ballpark’s 2008 opening.

According to a Washington Post article, "Under its original agreement with the city, Events DC had pledged to build 46,000 square feet of commercial and retail space around Nats Park, located along the Anacostia River in the Navy Yard neighborhood. But the company — arguing that the “extremely unique circumstances” of the pandemic and other business factors have made those initial plans unworkable — is now seeking to be released from that responsibility. If no deal is reached, the dispute could threaten games, concerts, and other events scheduled at the ballpark."

Events DC spokeswoman Christy Goodman wrote in an email to the Washington Post: "Events DC and the Washington Nationals are eager to move forward with the build-out of the existing retail space and provide more options to the now vibrant Capitol Riverfront community,:

According to the Washington Business Journal, which first reported on this issue, the temporary certificate of occupancy of Nats Park that has been used to operate since Opening Day in March 2008 is set to expire at the end of this month, September. 30, The Nationals’ final home game of the season is scheduled for Oct. 2, Which leaves a hand full of games that still need to be played.

The Nats Report reached out to both the Washington Nationals and the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs but no statement was provided at time of publishing this article.