Party Poker's Empire Poker has offered to finance baseball
club Expos move to a Washington D.C. stadium for $500 Million.
The somewhat cynical Washington media reported this week that with
a separate deal to bring Major League Baseball to Washington apparently
cratering last week, a "....civic-minded and no doubt extremely
respectable Internet gambling company has stepped forward to try to
save the day."
The reports go on to reveal that Empire Poker, which describes itself
as "North America's leading online poker site," announced
late last week that it would provide up to $500 million to "...prevent
the would-be Washington Nationals from becoming the Lame Ducks."
The company would finance the team's move from Montreal to a new District
stadium.
In return the Empire wants naming rights to the team's new field and
the exclusive rights to all the advertising hoardings inside the stadium.
It has also apparently proposed to put Internet kiosks throughout
the stadium so fans can play electronic poker before, during and after
the game.
Reports are that Empire hasn't heard back from baseball or city officials
yet. But it's questionable whether Major League Baseball or the District
government will want to get into business with a gambling company.
Online gambling companies have in fact long sponsored Expos games
in Montreal.