Ein, Mayor Adrian Fenty, league co-founder and tennis legend Billie Jean King, and league President Ilana Kloss had just finished posing for photographs with their custom-made Kastles team jerseys emblazoned with their names, and Ein put his shirt down while he continued to mingle.

It was at that moment that a disheveled, somewhat disoriented-looking man snatched the shirt, stuffed it into his jacket and started making his way north through the art-filled promenade that bisects the City Center parking lot. A staff member had to run the man down and explain that Ein, in fact, still needed it.

Ein, a venture capitalist by trade (he purchased the Kastle Systems security company last year), said his newest undertaking would be focused primarily on charity and community involvement. “Financially, this is not going to rank up there with the great ones, but this may be the best investment I’ve ever made,” he said.

Kloss praised Ein’s job in his first tennis draft, as the team will have the services of Serena Williams for four of its matches this summer.

The temporary court and stadium will be constructed on the parking lot where the old convention center used to be.

“This is no ordinary parking lot,” Fenty joked, adding that “parking shouldn’t be a problem.”

Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans talked about broadcasting the China 2008 Olympics at the facility, to takeadvantage of the fact that Chinatown is only two blocks away.

After hitting the first ball to christen the site, King promised a lot of access to the players for fans, noting every player who signs a contract is obligated to attend two parties on game nights.