ASHBURN, Va., - The Washington Glory, the newest member of the National Pro Fastpitch softball league, announced today it will play home games at the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University.

“We think George Mason is the perfect home for the Washington Glory,” says Paul Wilson, team owner and general manager. “It’s been a dream of ours to unite with such a prestigious university.”

The Glory is scheduled to play 29 home games in their 2007 inaugural season at George Mason beginning May 26, and continuing through the end of August. Mason has agreed to host the Glory's home games through the 2011 season.

“Mason’s location in the heart of Fairfax is fantastic and very convenient for our fans throughout Virginia, Maryland and the District,” Wilson says. “But, it’s the University’s entrepreneurial spirit, talented administration and gifted student body that really solidified our decision to play at Mason.”

In preparation for the upcoming season, the Softball Complex at George Mason is undergoing significant upgrades. Temporary concessions and bathrooms, along with additional seating and a state-of-the-art lighting system will be added. Many of the changes will be made permanent for the 2008 season.

“The Washington Glory is the only professional sports franchise in Fairfax County, and we’re ecstatic to be associated with their organization,” says Alan Merten, president of George Mason. “This tremendous opportunity enables us to offer a top-flight sports entertainment product to the Washington community, as well as something very special to our students within an academic realm.”

Wilson says the partnership will produce many additional internship and educational opportunities for students in the areas of sports management, event management, athletic training, marketing and finance.

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the official development partner of the National Pro Fastpitch League. The partnership, which began in 2002, is part of The Commissioner's Initiative on Women and Baseball, a league-wide effort to help the MLB and its 30 major league clubs build stronger relationships with female audiences.

About National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names Women’s Pro Fastpitch and Women’s Pro Softball League.

About George Mason University
George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in a range of academic fields. Enrollment is nearly 30,000, with students in 173 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William. This expansion is part of George Mason’s mission to further establish itself as a distributed university in which each of its campuses has a distinctive academic focus that plays a critical role in the economy of its region.

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Media Contact: Lana Torres - (301) 299-4064