FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 21, 2004
CONTACT: Jerry Burkot 703-971-1732

COLLINS: DULLES SITE “BEST OPPORTUNITY ” FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS

Loudoun County , VA – Virginia Baseball Club Chairman and CEO Bill Collins today called the newly unveiled vision for a ballpark near Dulles Airport “the best opportunity anywhere for the successful relocation of Major League Baseball franchise.”

Speaking at a press conference with members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority and Diamond Lake Associates, Collins embraced the potential ballpark site at Route 28 and the Dulles Toll Road as one that “takes the evolution of Major League Baseball to the next level.”

“We have an outstanding ballpark site, more than 60 miles and two hours away from Camden Yards, in the epicenter of undeniably the best relocation market available for baseball,” Collins pointed out. “The business community is second to none. And we have a fully enacted ballpark financing plan that requires no new local taxes and certainly no tax on the business community.”

Collins also noted that Northern Virginia remains the only potential relocation market with a fully financed and enacted ballpark construction package.

Collins emphasized the sizable and growing nature of the area's business community, and its status as the preferred business relocation destination. “If you are a business looking to relocate anywhere in the country, your choice would be Northern Virginia , as thousands of companies have” Collins said. “When you look where in Northern Virginia to relocate, it is the Dulles Corridor and the gateway to Loudoun County .”

The demographics of this market represent the strongest possible potential for success and growth of any market seeking the sale and relocation of the Montreal Expos. The presence of the business community, with more than 30 companies within a ten mile radius of the ballpark employing more than 1,000 people, and the abundance of families in the area, representing a potential fan base with an average household income in excess of $150,000. “All other potential relocation markets, when you compare demographics, pale in comparison to Northern Virginia ,” Collins stated.

Collins also applauded Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York and Vice Chairman Bruce Tulloch for their vision and leadership of Loudoun County, now the fastest-growing county in America .

The Loudoun County Board, the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority and Diamond Lake Associates joined the Virginia Baseball Club at the press conference at the Center for Innovative Technology near Dulles Airport to release details of the ballpark financing plan, and to unveil a vision for a mixed-use “Town Center” development to be established next to a new 42,500 seat open-air ballpark.

Diamond Lake Associates is a group of leading local and national developers who are working with Loudoun County , the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority and the Virginia Baseball Club to put forth a ballpark/retail/office/residential destination that will establish a new standard for ballpark sites in the 21 st Century.

The Virginia Baseball Club was formed in 1994 to return Major League Baseball to the National Capital area. The partnership is comprised of predominantly Virginia business leaders who are committed to purchase and relocate a Major League Baseball franchise to the Commonwealth of Virginia .

The full text of Collins' remarks.