(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.”