Authors to sign sports-themed books

As the public information officer for the Loudoun County school system, Wayde Byard is one of the best-known local officials. In winter, children, parents and school staff members eagerly anticipate hearing his voice on phone alerts announcing weather-related school closings.

Now Byard is directing his voice toward a new audience, as the author of a history of the Washington Redskins. His first book, “The Burgundy and Gold Standard,” has been published by Mascot Books, which is based in Herndon.

Byard and two other local authors will sign their sports-related books Tuesday at an event in Ashburn. Joining Byard will be Andrea Alexander, who has written two sports biographies for children, and Ann Good, author of “Washington Nationals A to Z.” The event will raise funds for Glory Days Live, a nonprofit group Alexander is launching to raise money and equipment to help children from low-income families play sports.

Read on…

Washington Post, July 24, 2016

Deal valued at $1.4 million

Loudoun County’s controversial eight-year, $2 million marketing agreement with Washington’s NFL team was worth $1.4 million in marketing value last year, according to a report from the county’s Department of Economic Development.

Washington Post, April 30, 2014

Supervisors defend deal again

Is Loudoun County’s marketing agreement with Washington’s NFL team helping attract businesses to the county? That’s the question a growing number of critics are asking about the controversial agreement.

Washington Post, March 31, 2014

Supervisors defend deal

Members of the Board of Supervisors defended Loudoun County’s controversial marketing agreement with Washington’s NFL team during a budget work session Thursday, calling it a valuable economic development tool for the county but not saying how it promotes tourism.

Washington Post, March 15, 2014

The Post’s Tom Jackman comments on the issue here.

Marketing agreement criticized

Buried 784 pages deep in Loudoun’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2015 is a $500,000 expenditure that has caused grumbling in the county’s rural business community. The expenditure represents Loudoun’s payment to the Washington NFL football team as part of an unusual eight-year marketing partnership.

February 26, 2014

The Post’s Tom Jackman weighs in on the story here.