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SAL1 Lexington Legends

Two million games for two-millionth fan

July 30, 2005 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


The Lexington Legends are preparing to celebrate a major milestone in its five-year history. On Thursday, August 4, 2005, one fan will walk into history by becoming the 2,000,000th person through the turnstiles.

The Legends will present the lucky fan a prize package that's unprecedented. The fan will get a pass for two million Legends games! That means that the winner can attend Legends games for 28,571 years! The fan gets to enjoy a dinner party at the Maker's Mark Club and watch Thursday night's game from a luxury suite at Applebee's Park.

The two millionth fan will also receive a prize package from Fayette Heating Air valued at 1,300 dollars. The package will include a full house duct cleaning and a 1-year maintenance agreement.

The two millionth fan promotion is just a part of the Legends season long fifth anniversary celebration presented by First National Bank.

The Lexington Legends has operated profitably since its 2001 inception and is the flagship of Ivy Walls Management Company, and the standard bearer for a great value for the entertainment dollar.

And this is just the beginning of this economic success story here in north Lexington.

Minor League Baseball is an organization that has endured more than a century of social, political, and cultural changes. Through the pioneering spirit of its membership and leaders, minor league baseball has evolved and remains a vital component of the American landscape. Today, minor league baseball touches the lives of people and cultures throughout the world.

Last year, a record-setting 39,887,755 fans attended regular season games, breaking the attendance record that had stood since 1949. Total regular season attendance has increased in 19 of the last 23 seasons and has surpassed 33-million in each of the last eleven seasons. This enormous fan base is centered on minor league baseball's attractiveness to all spectrums of our communities - the young and the young-at-heart, families of all sizes and varieties, and diverse economic sectors - all coming together for America's favorite game.

Minor league baseball is the most dramatically increasing asset in today's economic landscape.

As the sport evolves, so do the ownership and operating models that under gird its success. With our fundamental mission of providing safe, clean, affordable, and great entertainment, Ivy Walls Management Company, under the direction of Bill Shea, Chairman of the Board and Principal Owner, coupled with the leadership of Alan Stein, Chief Operating Officer and minority owner, is moving aggressively toward our goal of acquiring six or seven teams within four classifications (Class Low A, Class High A, Class Double A and Class Triple A) in the next two years anticipating full operations by the '07 season. The results of this approach will see Ivy Walls Management Company, collectively drawing big-league attendance of two to three million annually with major league revenues of $35-50 million without the major-league expenses of gigantic stadia and high salaried players.

Such a bold plan is based on the success of a community-centered, community-oriented minor league baseball club in Lexington, KY. Throughout its five year history, this Single A club has broken attendance records, won a league championship, and was sold for more than any other minor league team in history regardless of classification. The template, the processes, the passion, and the means have come together to define a new legacy for minor league baseball.

To succeed, we at Ivy Walls Management Company know we must perpetuate baseball as our national game with such safeguards that inspire absolute public confidence in our integrity and methods. We also know that we must provide that special magic of baseball at affordable prices to large and diverse populations in the most enjoyable surroundings possible. Ivy Walls Management Company, is charged with creating a unique business model incorporating successful operations from one locale, translating its values and actions to other venues, along with the identification and implementation of streamlining processes and consolidating costs.

Our approach is simple and focused on our fans. We are all about bringing clean, safe entertainment to communities where fans get great value for their discretionary dollar, and more importantly, their discretionary leisure time. We have a history of raising the bar on the fan experience by knowing our business and setting realistic goals that are imbedded in long-term community commitment.

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William H. Shea, better known as Bill, is the President and CEO of Buckeye Partners, L.P. This publicly owned company owns and operates nearly 5000 miles of pipeline delivering 1,500,000 barrels per day of refined petroleum products including gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, heating oil and kerosene in 14 states. Buckeye is headquartered in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

Bill has been a baseball fan for many years spending his family vacations touring major and minor league parks throughout the country. With his professional history of profitable operations and enhancing excellent franchises in strategic geographic locations, Bill envisions a similar experience in minor league sports, continuing to grow the company while maintaining the risk profile that our investors desire.

Alan Stein, Founder of the Lexington Legends, and President of the Legends, the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays, and Lexington Properties, is also the Chief Operating Officer of Ivy Walls Management Company.

Persistence, dedication and personal sacrifice have paid off for Alan Stein and his beloved Lexington, KY. It had been his dream for over twenty years to bring the best of professional baseball to Central Kentucky. Alan poured his tremendous energy and enthusiasm into turning his dream into a reality. The success of the Lexington Legends and Applebee's Park have made him a national leader in the sports industry and follow a long history of personal and business success. In addition, he is well known nationally for his volunteer efforts and humanitarian work with countless charitable, civic and service organizations. Alan Stein has now set his sites on creating a model for a national company that will be an industry leader in owning and operating multiple Minor League Baseball Clubs.

Check out the Lexington Legends Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from July 30, 2005


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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