Dynamo Reach Out to its Sponsors/Season Ticket Holders

Houston - FOX 26 Sports has obtained a copy of a letter Houston Dynamo ownership will be sending this week to its sponsors and season ticket holders.

The letter is from Dynamo co-owners, Anschutz Entertainment Group, represented by president/CEO Tim Leiweke, Gabriel Brener and former boxing great Oscar de la Hoya.

The letter outlines the Dynamo's progress in building a downtown soccer-specific stadium and why the organization believes it will be one of the top facilities in Major League Soccer.

Dear Friend of Dynamo Soccer,
On behalf of AEG and the Dynamo ownership group, Id like to say thank you for your on-going support of the organization.
Houston has established itself as a great soccer city which was once again reinforced with the sellout crowd for the recent MLS All-Star Game. We are proud of the Dynamos accomplishments in its first five seasons and look forward to a bright future.
That future includes the construction of your very own $80 million soccer-specific stadium and we are pleased to announce that progress on the stadium project has been substantial over the last few weeks. The purpose of this letter is to officially update you on the latest information.
Here are the highlights:
§ We intend to open the stadium in the spring of 2012.
§ We intend to break ground by the end of 2010.
§ The timing of the ground-breaking will be dependent on our ability to close private financing deals with our banking partners and finalize the lease agreement with the Harris County/Houston Sports Authority. These discussions are progressing and on schedule.
§ We have hired the ICON Venue Group to oversee the construction process. ICONs track record of building world-class stadiums is unparalleled in our industry.
§ ICON has recently named Populous as the lead project architect.
§ Preliminary designs have been developed and more detailed work is underway.
§ We have received multiple bids for general contractor and hope to name one soon.
§ Preliminary work is underway as private utility companies are relocating wires and pipes to prepare the site for construction.

The stadium is contemplated to have upper and lower bowls with canopy roof structures along both sidelines and will create the finest game experience for our fans of any stadium in our country. It will seat approximately 22,000 fans and include 34 luxury suites, 1,000 club seats, and a stadium club. Sightlines should be spectacular with fans right on top of the action. More specific details on the design will be unveiled as we make further progress.

We are confident that this downtown location will be the best in MLS, providing a great experience for fans and valuable opportunities for sponsors, including a naming rights partner, which we are currently pursuing.

We are very focused and determined to get this project underway, and appreciate your patience in the long process. We are almost home and look forward to sharing future updates as they become available.

Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Timothy J. Leiweke Oscar De La Hoya Gabriel Brener