FOUND

The following has been sent out as a news release.

Within 48 hours, nearly 1,300 people had signed a Statement of Support for a new downtown baseball stadium on the Friends of Omaha United for a New Diamond (FOUND) Web site (www.ourfound.com) created by Omaha businessman Stephen Brennan, Ph.D.

“I never imagined we would be looking at this much support so early,” Brennan said. “More than 70 PDF versions of the Statement of Support, which is designed to be physically circulated, were also downloaded from the Web site. And we recently posted a poster for people to download and display to encourage even more support.”

Citing comments he’s received from visitors to his Web site, Brennan noted, “It’s impressive, the number of positive comments I’ve received from people who were previously in favor of saving Rosenblatt. I’ve received several comments from people who are dismayed by the intimidation tactics used by the Save Rosenblatt proponents.”

In addition to shouting down new stadium proponents at public meetings, opponents are aggressively looking for every opportunity to make it appear that their point of view is the majority view, according to Brennan. “It’s frustrating for supporters to find a way to speak out,” Brennan said. “Interestingly enough, even a few opponents put comments on our Statement of Support, only to receive comments from other posters thanking them for signaling their support.”

Following is a sample of the typical online comments Brennan has received from stadium supporters:

“It’s time for the majority of people of Omaha to stand up to the intimidation tactics of the few, the loud, Rosenblatt supporters. Those Rosenblatt supporters shouted down any and all progressive speakers at Westside last week. It’s time to let the city know who the REAL majority is.” – Mark Kresl

“I have changed my mind about ‘saving’ Rosenblatt. I live near the stadium and wanted to save it, just for the nostalgia aspect. Now that I have seen the plan for the new stadium downtown, and the prospect of expanding the Zoo onto the old stadium property…it seems a ‘no-brainer’…An expanded Zoo will prosper in South Omaha for 365 days every year – not just two weeks a year!” – Floyd Matula

“Build it. Don’t be intimidated by the vocal minority. Be progressive, Omaha.” – Doug Saxey

“Many of the same arguments were brought up during the debate for the Qwest and look how unfounded they turned out to be. Shortsightedness by those afraid of any and all change or those with an economic interest in staying at the Blatt should not be allowed to cost Omaha the CWS.” – Tom Umthun

“I was skeptical in the beginning. Today I am convinced there is not a downside to this project. This project will not only benefit Omaha, but the entire state of Nebraska.” – Mike Cogswell

“We have an opportunity to create an absolute gem downtown, keep the CWS for years and enhance the Zoo. It is a real winner for Omaha.” – Bill Mack

“Aside from the CWS, building a new stadium will provide for some great economic growth in our downtown area, as well as room for expansion of our already awesome Zoo. It is time for people to stop living in the past and start thinking about the future…Build the new stadium!” – Chaeli Fortina

“A new facility downtown will clean up the county fair image of the CWS and offer fans something to do in between games. It is hard to go to an all-day two-session at Rosenblatt. If you do not want to be in the stadium for 10 hours there is no other option.” – Lynn Meyer

“I was born in South Omaha, grew up in South Omaha and love Rosenblatt, but the success of the Qwest Center and the future growth of the city is reason enough to move the stadium to downtown. Stubborn people that resist change need to see that many of us non-vocal residents now have to be heard in support.” – Larry and Linda Boukal

“A stadium has nothing to do with tradition. The people of Omaha, and Nebraska in general, are the tradition of the CWS.” – Steve Wooden Jr.

“This is a no-brainer. Lock this thing up for many years to come before we lose it for good!” – John Lessig

“I can’t find a single negative, NOT ONE, in building a brand new state-of-the-art baseball stadium next to the Qwest Center to house the CWS for the long-term future of the event. Can you imagine the awesome sight that will be for folks driving into town from Eppley? I can see all kinds of new hotspots sprouting up all around NODO, and that part of town will become a definite destination.” – Larry Anderson

“I began attending games at Rosenblatt with my grandparents who had season tickets to the Omaha Cardinals and Omaha Dodgers. As I grew older, I had the privilege of being on the field in my capacity as batboy with Omaha University and UNO baseball teams. Finally I played on the field in high school. So don’t tell me about tradition. I’ll put my history and tradition up with the majority of ‘Save Rosenblatt’ supporters. The time of band-aids on Rosenblatt is long past. It probably should have been done before now. The new downtown stadium is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do three critical things for Omaha’s future:
• Get a very long-term contract with the NCAA.
• Add to the tremendous redevelopment of downtown Omaha.
• Open the doors to tremendous redevelopment of the Rosenblatt area in conjunction with the Zoo.
• All this and the cost to the taxpayers is about the same as a renovation to Rosenblatt. Look at the numbers, folks. It can’t get any plainer: building the downtown stadium is the right thing to do.”
– Steve Priesman

“A new downtown stadium is a win-win for everybody. Omaha gets a new state-of-the-art venue for the College World Series, as well as the Omaha Royals and Creighton (should they choose – and why would they say no?), and the zoo will have room to continue their wonderful expansion. It is forward progress and that is what is needed. I believe the committee will be sensitive to Rosenblatt and what it has meant, and can bring those elements to a new stadium…We can not afford to lose the College World Series. It is part of the fabric that makes this a great city.” – Debra Leigh

“It would be interesting to see how many of these supporters of ‘Save Rosenblatt’ are also the ones who are collecting hundreds if not thousands of (tax-free) dollars letting people park on their lawns. They’ve had the CWS in their neighborhood for how many years and have done nothing, nada, zip with the area. It still looks blighted.” – Tom Kaspa

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(OMAHA, Neb., March 14, 2008) – Generating public support for a new downtown Omaha ballpark is the goal of a citizen advocacy group being formed by Omaha businessman Stephen Brennan, Ph.D. Brennan has created Friends of Omaha United for a New Diamond, or FOUND, to show the NCAA that support is strong in Omaha for a downtown stadium to serve as the new home of the College World Series.

Brennan decided to organize support following a public meeting he attended at Westside High School, where he was booed by members of the Save Rosenblatt group while making a statement to the CWS Stadium Committee. “I applauded Mayor Mike Fahey for having the political guts to bring this forward and take the heat that he’s taking,” Brennan said. “I also thanked Ken Stinson for his shuttle diplomacy with David Sokol. That brought out the boo-birds right away.

“The meeting was volatile, but I know there are people who favor the project who were intimidated by the Rosenblatt organization,” Brennan said. “So it made me want to come forward to provide a voice for people who have positive views about the new downtown stadium. I believe there is broad-based support across the community for a new ballpark that will benefit everyone in the city.”

Brennan said this is his first experience with organizing a grassroots organization of this type. He has created a Web site (www.ourfound.com) where people can sign a “Statement of Support” for the new stadium. He also hopes to find volunteers who will help him circulate the statement.

“We’re looking for an easy and a non-intrusive way for people to come forward without being intimidated or having people behind their shoulder yelling at them,” Brennan said. “I’m hoping members of the service organizations that are entrenched in the College World Series history and working with the visiting teams will come forward and be a positive part of this effort. I am looking for volunteers.”

A former teacher and coach, Brennan has a Ph.D. in performance and health psychology from UNL. He is owner and president of Peak Performance Consultants, which he founded in 1987. His client roster includes several local businesses, colleges and coaching groups.

Citing the plan for a downtown stadium, Brennan said he was impressed with the analytical approach taken to arrive at the recommended site. “Having the Qwest Center and a new ballpark in the same area as you drive into Omaha from the airport or across the bridge from Council Bluffs is going to be great,” Brennan said. “Building a new stadium downtown will show that the City of Omaha is progressive and that we’re serious about keeping the College World Series.”

Although Brennan grew up in South Omaha and has attended games at Rosenblatt his entire life, he described arguments to save the aging stadium as based on emotions rather than facts. “The infrastructure at Rosenblatt is going to be gone in another 10 or 20 years,” Brennan said. “And the entire area around Rosenblatt would not be the same that it is now if the city creates a Clean Zone, which the NCAA requires.”

Recalling the controversy surrounding the planning of the Qwest Center, Brennan said, “We’re a big family and families argue, but once the argument is decided, people resolve their differences.

“When you consider that Omaha can have a state-of-the-art ballpark with an open concourse and all its other fan-friendly features for the same cost to the public as a renovated Rosenblatt Stadium, the new stadium just makes sense. And once the Rosenblatt area is developed by the Zoo and there’s more activity there, South Omahans will be proud of the improvements to that area.”

Brennan applauded private donors for their commitment to building a new stadium. “Rosenblatt Stadium has been great, but it’s time to move forward,” Brennan said. “For years, we’ve been making changes at Rosenblatt, and they’ve been good changes, but how long do you keep going with a 60-year-old stadium? So a new downtown ballpark is the best idea.”

Brennan is also impressed with the design team that produced the site analysis and preliminary plan for the downtown stadium. “There’s so much architectural and design talent in Omaha that I’m sure this new stadium will be a phenomenal combination of new architecture, combined with the tradition and spirit of Rosenblatt,” Brennan added. “I really think once this stadium is completed, it will be a source of community pride and a championship venue for the College World Series for decades to come.”

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