Marlins Stadium thread

[dave8721]

Since the last couple got closed due to a certain loony member I'll start another one.

[dave8721]

The County proposes a new funding model that shifts more of the risk to the Marlins side and has the Marlins put up most of the "up front" money but has the County paying a bigger share over the long run. Sadly they are still fixated on the Orange Bowl site:

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stori...ry/341334.html

BASEBALL
New Marlins stadium plan unveiled
A new plan was unveiled to build the Florida Marlins a ballpark at the Orange Bowl that involved shifting the timing and burden of payments between the team and Miami-Dade County.

BY CHARLES RABIN
crabin@MiamiHerald.com

Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess offered the Florida Marlins a revised plan for the Orange Bowl site Tuesday that shifts a large out-of-pocket cash burden to the ball club, yet costs the county more in the long term.

Burgess' plan, detailed in a cramped third-floor County Hall conference room with Major League Baseball in attendance, prompted team officials to break a year-long silence on publicly discussing stadium issues.

Team President David Samson called the next 10 days ''critical,'' and said for the first time that if a deal can be brokered, the team would play at the Orange Bowl site.

''We're absolutely willing to look at that,'' said Samson, who was digesting the plan's fine print late Tuesday evening. ``We're not site-specific. We're South Florida specific.''

Burgess, surrounded not only by MLB officials but five county commissioners, said the plan ``minimizes risk to the county.''

The big reason: The Marlins would have to come up with $155 million on the front end, more than triple the $45 million previously discussed.

Yet the team would end up paying less in the long haul for the facility, now budgeted at $525 million. Before, the team's overall burden over many years would total $207 million. Now, it stops at $155 million.

The county's share, meanwhile, would shift as well.

Before, the county would have put up $145 million in bonded tax revenues. It also would have floated a $162 million bond issue that the team would have repaid over decades through gate and concession receipts.

Now, the county will put up $199 million in mostly tourist tax dollars and chip in $50 million from a General Obligation Bond. While that $249 million total is less than the $307 million previously discussed, the county would not be getting additional payments back from the team.

After seven years of failed efforts to find the two-time World Series champions a new home, Burgess said: ``We have a funding plan in place we think works -- finally.''

He said the new formula means public financing would be lowered from 95 percent to about 70 percent. ''Getting away from public financing is good,'' Burgess said. County commissioners will meet Tuesday to discuss the plan.

CITY INVOLVED

Also needing to sign off on the deal: the city of Miami, which would need to put in $121 million, mostly from tourist tax dollars.

Watching it all unfold is Major League Baseball, which believes South Florida warrants keeping the franchise. ''I've got a lot of reading to do tonight,'' said Irwin Raij, an MLB attorney.

The Orange Bowl site became available -- and the preference of some county commissioners -- when the University of Miami announced its football team would play next year at Dolphin Stadium.

Not long after, county leaders managed to shift $50 million in bond money planned to renovate the OB for the Hurricanes to instead help the Marlins build a state-of-the-art facility.

The cost has jumped from a recent $490 million estimate to build at downtown Miami's Government Center.

When complete -- the goal is to open the gates by April 2010 -- the 37,000-seat stadium would feature 60 private luxury suites, a retractable roof and natural grass.

The Marlins would be responsible for cost overruns, and the city of Miami would be on the hook for building a 6,000-car garage. The county would own the stadium.

The team would be required to enter into a non-relocation agreement.

The new details emerge as fan morale took a hit after last week's trade of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, the Marlins' two most recognizable stars and last remnants from the 2003 World Series champions.

WANT TO STAY

But with a relatively healthy radio and television audience, MLB and owner Jeffrey Loria have expressed a will to stay in South Florida.

The Marlins have said for years they're in dire need of a new facility. Dolphin Stadium, owned by H. Wayne Huizenga and on the county line, was built for football. Loria has consistently cut payroll, saying the majority of parking and concession money goes to Huizenga.

Samson believes that if a stadium is built, the team that traditionally stands near the bottom in payroll and attendance could draw crowds back. ''We've seen markets completely turn around with new stadiums,'' he said.

Tuesday's meeting started as a simple get-together of Commission Chairman Bruno Barreiro and Commissioner Jose ''Pepe'' Diaz, who co-chairs the county's sports commission. It mushroomed as word spread. Soon in attendance were Commissioners Natacha Seijas, Joe Martinez and Carlos Gimenez.

Martinez and Gimenez expressed concerns. Martinez questioned Raij about the Marlins' ability to come up with the money. Before leaving the meeting, Gimenez noted that the team's share would dip. ''Now we're at $155 million,'' he said. ``That's all I've got to say.''

[AddictedToSpace]

Hopefully this proposal goes through. Some people will cry that the team isn't paying enough. But you got to remember that the stadium will provide construction jobs followed by the jobs to run the stadium. It will help revitalize the area as well as attract some investors to the neighborhood. They definitely need to rename the team to the Miami Marlins if so much money is being put by up the city and county. But most importantly there has to be a no relocation clause and sign them up to a 40 year lease.

[kevinkagy]

Miami Marlins sounds much better than Florida Marlins.

Let me get this straight, they want to completely demolish the Orange Bowl to build this or they're going to work with the Orange Bowl now to make it baseball friendly?

[spellbound]

The Orange Bowl will be completely demolished. Actually, that will happen regardless of whether a ballpark happens.

The name has long been slated to become "Miami Marlins" if the team moves. That's a done deal.

The OB site itself? Horrendous. But there appears no other alternative.

[kevinkagy]

Originally Posted by spellbound

The Orange Bowl will be completely demolished. Actually, that will happen regardless of whether a ballpark happens.

The name has long been slated to become "Miami Marlins" if the team moves. That's a done deal.

The OB site itself? Horrendous. But there appears no other alternative.

What ever happened to the idea of moving it to Downtown by the Miami Arena?

[theDirector]

Is it possible to use the the site of the Miami Arena and/or use the arena and transform it into a baseball stadium? That site would be better and turn that area around big time.

[spellbound]

Originally Posted by kevinkagy

What ever happened to the idea of moving it to Downtown by the Miami Arena?

Money and land acquisition issues killed it. Still, I think it was a colossal blown opportunity by the city. It would have given Miami the same asset that has helped revitalize so many other downtowns. The Orange Bowl site is destined to be one of the very worst in baseball.

[noland123]

It will be a sad day when they tear the Orange Bowl down. I remember them tearing down the Gator Bowl to build the new Altell Stadium here in Jacksonville and selling off the memorabila it was a melancholic experience. I just hope a new baseball stadium supersedes the the Orange Bowl Site.

[SoBe99]

This deal seems destined to fail. Just a few weeks ago, the Marlins said the OB site would force them to reduce their contribution to the stadium ($45M), because it was less value to them than downtown.

Now this new deal asks the Marlins to Increase that $45M to $155M. Their payments (which is only share of ticket sales/concessions passed on to fans) would be less, but thats over 30 years.

Seems like this deal is getting further and further apart. I don't see much of a chance the Marlins owners paying $155M. Their history of paying as little payroll as possible and trading away expensive players shows how cheap they are.

[Mdxavita]

interesante noticia

[brickell]

If they city can't pony up $50M for the tunnel, why would they agree to do this? I love the Marlins but I can't support any public funding with Loria at the helm.

[theDirector]

I would rather have a tunnel than a stadium.

[dave8721]

Originally Posted by brickell

If they city can't pony up $50M for the tunnel, why would they agree to do this? I love the Marlins but I can't support any public funding with Loria at the helm.

Its pretty much assumed that once the stadium is built, Loria will sell the team for a huge profit (George Bush style). Maybe building the stadium is the only way of getting rid of him?

[FTL Beach Bum]

Originally Posted by spellbound

The name has long been slated to become "Miami Marlins" if the team moves. That's a done deal.

Interesting how that little notion wasn't mentioned in the article this time around. But I'm sure it still holds true.

And, if and when that happens, I shall begin referring to them as "The Team Formerly Known As The Florida Marlins".

[Architek]

I agree with everyone else I would rather see a tunnel than a another stadium which is controlled by greedy rich b*s*ards.

and spellbound please don't make me provide research that proves that stadiums do not help revitalize areas...

[brickell]

Originally Posted by dave8721

Its pretty much assumed that once the stadium is built, Loria will sell the team for a huge profit (George Bush style). Maybe building the stadium is the only way of getting rid of him?

That's exactly what I'm afraid of. I'd almost rather see the Marlins fail, just to see Loria fail. The thought of Loria making any more money off this team than he already has just sickens me. He killed baseball in Montreal trying to do the same thing. MLB bailed him out and he's trying it again here. I hope he gets the bloat.

[BornInTheGrove]

Originally Posted by Architek

and spellbound please don't make me provide research that proves that stadiums do not help revitalize areas...

I'm sure there's evidence for and to the contrary of how stadiums impact their surrounding area.

I have seen evidence on this message board of brand new stadiums revitalizing run down neighborhoods

[Hia-leah JDM]

The tunnel issue with Miami was, because the money would come from money that was going to be used to help jones district which is ofcourse some of the worst neighborhoods in the city, and some commissioners dont think it will help downtown, but Im pretty sure with the public push the tunnel has had in recent days they will aprove it.
Now with the Marlins stadium, the Orange Bowl site is destined to be the new stadium and somehow we need to make the best of it. If its approved by the county and city which seems to be where its heading, I canty possibly see the Marlins not comprimising with this, they are really time restrained.
Lets hope this section of Little Hvana becomes an awesome sports part of town, and the city puts initiatives in helping the area improve. optimism

[MAH45462]

Check this out:

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/071213/story1.shtml

There is now a proposal to also build an MLS soccer stadium as part of the complex, stemming from discussions between the City and the MLS. This would be awesome! Especially since it would be built in the heart of Miami's soccer-crazed immigrant community. Not only would it be great for getting an MLS team back, but it would also be perfect for hosting friendly matches of Latin teams.