Tom Maloney, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Cushman Realty Corporation's Walnut Creek office, brokered the nearly 80,000-sf deal for which EA is paying $40/sf. Maloney tells Globest.com that in a time of economic downturn Electronic Arts expansion is bucking the current trend in e-business.

"The fact that Electronic Arts is adding space within California Plaza represents a positive development for the market," says Maloney. "Because Electronic Arts has an eight year lease they also had the ability to arrange for a substantially lower lease rate."

Maloney says the location offered Electronic Arts the best opportunity to retain current employees and attract future hires with its close proximity to BART, major freeways, and affordable housing. Electronic Arts posted revenues of more than $1.4 billion for fiscal 2000. The company markets its products under three brand names including EA SPORTSTM, EA GAMES and EA.COM.