Deal to Keep Metro Open Late for Thursday's Caps Game Falls Apart

The two sides are still trying to work out a deal, but Evans said he wouldn't count on it happening

UPDATE: Qatar and the Downtown DC Business Improvement District have paid for Metro to stay open an extra hour Thursday night. Check here for more information.

Metro's deal with the nation of Qatar to keep the rail system open late Thursday night for the Washington Capitals' playoff game has been called off for now.

A Metro source says no money has been exchanged, and D.C. Councilmember and Metro Board Chairman Jack Evans says the deal "seems to have come undone."

The two sides are still trying to work out a deal, but Evans said he wouldn't count on it happening.

Evans said Qatari officials attempted to change some language in the standard contract that Metro has about paying to keep the system open late.  

Evans said he is "no longer involved in the negotiations - just in finding entities that are willing to sponsor extended service on Metro." 

As of early Wednesday afternoon, there is no sponsor that has paid to keep Metro open past 11:30 p.m. for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final at the CapitalOne Area downtown Thursday night. 

Evans said the language Qatari officials tried to change involved an indemnification clause that would have required board approval.

Metro did stay open late for Tuesday night's game. Exelon, the parent company of Pepco, paid the $100,000 deposit.

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