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NLL National Lacrosse League

NLL places franchise in Portland

May 11, 2005 - National Lacrosse League (NLL) News Release


The National Lacrosse League announced today it has awarded a franchise to the City of Portland, Oregon for the 2006 season, which begins in January. The Portland franchise (www.nllportland.com) becomes the league's twelfth team, and will play its home games at the Global Spectrum-managed Rose Garden as the arena's newest tenant which includes the Trail Blazers of the NBA and the Winter Hawks of the WHL. The league's 2005 season concludes on Saturday with the Edge NLL Championship Game, live on NBC and The Score at 3:30pm Eastern/12:30pm Pacific.

"Today's announcement not only brings us to another great city in Portland and another first-class arena in the Rose Garden, but it brings us to the US Pacific Northwest for the first time in our history", said NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings. "We look forward to seeing the NLL continue to grow across North America. The sports fans of Portland are going to love their newest professional team."

The Portland team is owned by one of the leading business families on the West Coast, with Angela Batinovich, 24, as the majority shareholder and managing partner of the franchise. Angela enters the National Lacrosse League as the youngest owner in major professional sports. The ownership group has partnered with Global Spectrum, who has a successful history in the NLL with one of the leagues original franchises, the Philadelphia Wings.

Angela comes from an entrepreneurial business background, which included the creation of a highly successful line of contemporary women's clothing called Bat's Daughter. The California native now turns her focus to building a successful professional sports franchise in her new home city of Portland, where she will reside full time in June.

"This is an exciting time for the National Lacrosse League and the Portland community, as we bring a major professional franchise for all sports and entertainment fans to enjoy in the Northwest," said Angela. "Our team will bring an entertainment option to Portland that features high-energy, action-packed affordable fun."

Angela and the ownership group have partnered with Global Spectrum, managers of Portland's Rose Quarter, which includes the 20,000-seat Rose Garden and 12,000-seat Memorial Coliseum. The Philadelphia-based company is part of one of the world's largest sports and entertainment firm in Comcast-Spectacor, who has a longstanding partnership with the Philadelphia Wings of the National Lacrosse League. The Wings are one of the founding teams of the NLL and are one of the most successful franchises since the league and team were formed in 1987. Global Spectrum has entered into a similar partnership in Portland with the NLL expansion franchise, including providing resources in areas of marketing, sponsorship, ticket sales, publicity, promotions, game operations and presentation. Global Spectrum's Eric Blankenship, Rose Quarter Director of Marketing, and Eric Nemeth, Rose Quarter Marketing Manager worked with the Philadelphia Wings from 2001-2003.

"Global Spectrum has a fantastic relationship with the National Lacrosse League through our experience with one of the league's most successful franchises, the Philadelphia Wings," said Global Spectrum's Mike Scanlon, General Manager for the Rose Quarter. "We anticipate similar success with the NLL in Portland, as we add our third tenant to the complex that will bring a fantastic major league sports and entertainment option to the Northwest."

Robert and Andrew Batinovich are both minority partners of the franchise. Robert "Bat" Batinovich (Angela's father) retired from Glenborough Realty Trust (NYSE: GLB) in 2003 and now serves as Chairman of the Board. He founded the predecessor company, Glenborough (www.glenborough.com), and its affiliates in 1978 and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Andrew Batinovich (Angela's brother), Glenborough Realty Trust's co-founder, was appointed Chief Executive Officer in August 2003 and continues to serve as President and director, which he has served since September 1997. The third minority partner is long-time family friend business partner, Wallace Krone, President of Krone Enterprises.

TEAM NAME: The team name will be chosen by the fans. The "Portland NLL Name the Team Contest" has begun on www.nllportland.com, where fans can submit their favorite team name for the expansion franchise. The names will be collected and analyzed and a winner will be selected at a future date.

The Rose Quarter in Portland, OR, includes 20,000-seat Rose Garden, 12,000-seat Memorial Coliseum, 6,500-seat Theater of the Clouds, 40,000-square foot Exhibit Hall and the Rose Quarter Commons. Home to the National Lacrosse League's new expansion franchise, NBA Portland Trail Blazers and the WHL Winter Hawks, the Rose Garden is a $262 million multi-purpose arena that opened in the fall of 1995. The Winter Hawks also play in Memorial Coliseum, which opened in 1960 and served as the original home of the Trail Blazers. Memorial Coliseum is attached to 40,000-square foot Exhibit Hall and seven meeting rooms. The Commons, Portland's largest outdoor public plaza, connects the Rose Garden and the Memorial Coliseum and can accommodate up to 5,000 people for outdoor events. Ovations Food Services is the official food and beverage concessionaire for the Rose Quarter.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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