The competition to host the team pits Northern Virginia against the likes of Las Vegas, Portland, Washington State, Monterrey, CA, Mexico, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. While there are other proposals for different areas in Northern Virginia, the Diamond Lake mixed-use project site has become the de facto stadium plan for the region.

Diamond Lake Associates--which consists of developers Beazer Homes, Centex Homes, and Van Metre Homes--is the mastermind behind the multi-faceted, multi-million dollar Diamond Lake development. Located within close proximity to Washington Dulles International Airport near Dulles Toll Road and Route 28, Diamond Lake will feature nearly 6,000 condominiums and townhomes, five million sf of commercial space including office buildings, a retail center, a hotel and a regional conference center.

One of the reasons why Diamond Lake's proposal is such a favorite is that it will save the state a fairly large amount of money. "The projected development figure for the baseball park was $442 million," Diamond Lake Associates spokesman Mike Smith explains to GlobeSt.com. "But with the infrastructure that the Diamond Lake builders are willing to do, the figure goes down to $360 million; so Diamond Lake is absorbing $82 million of the stadium's total estimated cost."

Diamond Lake Associates is going to develop the mixed-use project with or without the stadium, but, as Smith says, "what a jewel of a centerpiece a baseball stadium would be." The project is also desirable because it would put the stadium in an area with highly desirable demographics. As per the US Census Bureau, Loudoun County is the fastest growing county in the nation. "There is no better community in America to host Major League Baseball's relocating franchise because of the compelling corporate growth and population of residents living in the area," Loudoun County Board of Supervisors chairman Scott York says in a prepared statement. "As we know, both are critical to the success of a ball club."

Major League Baseball's relocation committee is currently preparing to give Selig its suggestion for the Expos' new locale. Selig has the last word and is expected to announce the decision on July 15 or 16, around the time of the All-Star break.

Instant Insights /

$360M Baseball Stadium Could Become Centerpiece of Mixed-Use Project

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