There are "indications" that a bid group led by William
Collins has the "financial clout to bring" an MLB team back
to the DC area, according to Bill Brubaker of the WASHINGTON
POST, who wrote that the group is "known in [MLB] circles
for its tenacity." Collins: "Raising money to bring a
baseball team to Virginia will not be a problem. That's the
least of my concerns." But Brubaker wrote that "since
launching" its MLB bid five years ago", Collins' group has
"lost a key investor" in VA "technology investor" Mark
Warner, who "bowed out to run" for the U.S. Senate in '96.
Meanwhile, Fox Sports host James Brown, the "most
recognizable member of the group," is "having second
thoughts about his involvement." Brown did "not comment"
when asked if he is still associated with the group, but
said, "Bill and I have yet to sit down and discuss whether
or not there is a mutual interest there." Collins said that
his "core group of about two dozen investors remains largely
intact." Collins, who plans to invest personally a "minimum
of" $10M in the team, said that First Union is "both an
investor and potential lender, having approved" $100M in
financing for any purchase of a Northern VA-based MLB team.
Collins' Metrocall, the "nation's second-largest pager
company," has gone through "some rough times" since '95, as
the company reported a net loss of $126.5M last year and a
$46M loss for this year's first quarter (WASH. POST, 6/28).
