In a joint press release, the baseball team and city leaderssaid a design and construction fund will be empty by the end ofthis month, forcing developers to halt work at 7 a.m. on Oct. 2. Ashutdown would also likely slow at least some of the ambitiouscommercial development plans for the area.

"We hope that the suspension is a short one and that we are ableto hold theoutstanding development and construction team that wehave assembledtogether and complete this important project," saysLarry Lucchino,president and CEO of the San Diego Padres. "However,at this time we see noway to secure additional temporary cashinfusions without a comprehensivefinancing plan in place."

A city source tells GlobeSt.com that the delay could last wellintonext year, when a new mayoral administration replaces that ofMayor SusanGolding. Though polls show that most city residentsfavor the project, Golding says she won't permit any more publiccash to be pumped into it.