Businessman William L. Collins III, whose investor group has spent 11 years and $11 million trying to bring a major league team to Northern Virginia, said yesterday he will end his effort if Major League Baseball does not relocate the Montreal Expos for 2005.
"It's not worth it," Collins said at his annual media luncheon. "Baseball has stated their commitment that the process, the sale and relocation of the club will take place, and we're holding them to that word."
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_____ Boycott the Birds? _____
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_____Stadium Site Survey_____
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The District has narrowed its choices for a new baseball stadium. What's your favorite?
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_____Gallery_____
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The District has been without major league baseball for more than 30 years. Look back at a visual history of the Washington Senators.
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____ Offseason Road to Title? ____
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_____World Series '03_____
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Josh Beckett throws a five-hit shutout to lead the Florida Marlins past the New York Yankees to their second World Series title.
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Gallery
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MLB Commissioner Bud Selig made that commitment following a quarterly owners' meeting in January. The league's 29 other clubs have owned and operated the financially ailing Expos since 2002. The legislation that permits the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority to finance two-thirds of the stadium expires at the end of the year, and both Collins, chairman and CEO of Virginia Baseball, and Keith Frederick, the new chairman of the authority, said the group decided to make no effort politically to extend the legislation.
"This is it; it's now or never," said Frederick, who represents Arlington County on the authority. "Baseball has had plenty of chances to look at . . . Northern Virginia."
Northern Virginia is competing with the District; Portland, Ore.; Monterrey, Mexico; Norfolk and Las Vegas. MLB wants to make a decision before the All-Star Game.
