gj4marlins

Not sure of the source here, but if even a hint of George B's post is true in the Fish Bytes blog on the Herald site, we may just lose the yellow. http://miamiherald.typepad.com/fish_bytes/2011/10/new-home-run-celebration-sculpture-at-marlins-stadium-a-work-of-art/comments/page/2/#comments

That would make sense, but the judge had set an end of the day hearing for today to make her ruling when she granted the extension until October 2nd. I am sure the Marlins and the legal team are pushing for a timely ruling. Lets hope that comes soon. :thumbup

Well it's Thursday at 4:30 P.M. - Not a post or any news so far as we expected. Does anyone know if the hearing today went on as scheduled for Judge Cohen to make her decision? :whistle

BTW - I am not panning the OB Deal or picking a side. I just know that the legal system moves at a snails pace, and Braman fully intends to exhaust all the legal options available to delay this for years if not able to derail it entirely. At least another more immediate option no matter how genuine or self serving at least deserves an investigation and not a quick dismissal by MLB, Marlins, City, and/or County. The legal hassles we are currently in have the potential to delay this even longer than Dupay mentioned in his article. We can't even get a Rendering from the team until the legal challenges clear up at this point. The banks will not release or finance bonds with a legal proceeding pending, and the list goes on and on for the challenges ahead with the "One Option".... :confused

Fair point on the Charity comment...My reason for inclusion of Straub's demolition action was an earlier reference to that being a possible cost to us in switching sites. I think MLB has done the job of throwing our objections out there in the public...Site too small (Which is not the case using the Arena Blvd land and a buffer up to Metrorail Tracks would be bigger than the Twins current acreage), Utility and Railroad Tracks a barrier and cost to development, Loss of the 50 Million Bond at the OB....How about we allow Straub to answer to each of these concerns and provide greater details of what he means in detail when he says he would "Finance it himself" and then on the backside answer 'What he wants in return" besides the deed on the OB land....Here is a scenario which is a possible positive to the Marlins... 1) Straub demolishes Arena and clears site at his own cost 2) Straub offers to trade a Buildable and decked acreage of land over the tracks and utilities to the city/county in exchange for the OB land - The Twins New Ballpark is being built over Railroad Tracks and a Freeway on an 8 acre site...Albeit this is without a roof, but the supports for a rollout of the roof at the OB site were originally rendered on two rails...These rails could jut out over the Metrorail Tracks elminating the need for extra Real Estate for the roof 3) Straub inherits the 50 Million at the OB for a park or whatever he deems as a Public good on that land 4) Straub includes the 50 Million in HIS financing offer to us therefore a wash to the Marlins, City, County All of this is based on a non-educated understanding of Straub's intention and offer. All I am saying is I wish the media would provide a factual forum or open a true discussion much like we had for MLB to present the objections. This forum would allow all of us to answer the tough questions in regards to Straub's true intentions and offer of financing assistance. :cool

Rather than focus on the negative of the site, perhaps if the Global Agreement is sent to a sure defeat by order of referendum we should look at the advantage gained by going to the arena site. The value of having the Metrorail and Metromover station infrastructure and downtown office population outside your door more than offsets the higher upfront cost. If you eliminated arena blvd and built right up to the tracks, and in the case of a retractible roof supports over the Metrorail there is more than enough space for a Minute Maid or New Twins Ballpark like acreage for a ballpark. Straub is already taking on the arena demolition costs, and perhaps if the requirement to discuss a land swap could be the request to provide a decked and continuois 10-15 acre site over the Tracks and Substation etc....Are there issues yes, but to just dismiss this as a fallback option should the OB site be tied up for years by the lawsuits and referendums is foolish. The Arena site long term is the much better location, and if Straub is willing to finance the portion beyond the Marlins contribution and the counties available bed tax non property tax contribution that is exempt from referendum and legal challenge, then the least all parties can do is listen. MLB is taking the stance as a public front to the judge and her pending decision. If the legal appeal process takes years, look for the Straub and Miami Arena site to come back into play. I for one am rooting for this since for the long term success of the ballpark and team, they need to be downown with a public transportation support system. The OB site lacks the public transportation that helps to support Urban Ballparks nationwide, and will be a huge hindrance to long term success. Unless the planned Streetcar as part of this global plan is re-aligned to reach the OB site (Which somehow has never been mentioned or explored), the Miami Arena site is much more viable as a location. I loved the Govt Center location, and the Miami Arena site offers the same benefits. As always we will have to stay tuned to the proceedings...I will take a ballpark in Biscayne Bay if it means we get a new home and long term stability. I am just pointing out that we can't disregard any and all options at this point. The legal proceedings and referendums could tie the OB option up for years. Straub wants to move at a quicker timetable. Should we not at least hear what he really has to say and is offering? :whistle

The things I would like to see... 1) View of Field from all Concourses....Complete walkway around park like Citizens Bank Park in Philly. 2) Conine's Corner...Left Field Themed Corner named after Mr. Marlin 3) Marlins Hall of Fame with a Museum Like Display of our Two World Championships and Celebrations, along with Franchise Firsts and a history of the Miami Marlins. 4) "Barger Way" - Year Found Attraction and Street Fair like entrance to honor Carl Barger and themed rival to Yawkey Way in Beantown. Lets give John Henry a place to rival his hallowed shrine. Will feature bars and restaurants, Marlins Team Store, and Year Round entertainment and Tours. 5) The Teal Monster in Left Field....One of our few salvagable features along with the Hot Tub we can extract from the Dump in Miami Gardens. 6) Metrorail, Metromover, or Streetcar access a must for success of the Ballpark 7) Fully retractible roof and A/C like Minute Maid in Houston. All this talk about a Sail like roof and any mention of non-climate control is nonsense and hopefully a non-starter. 8) Water Feature like the Fountains in Kansas City. One of the most beautiful features rarely duplicated or copied. Mabe can incorporate a "Jumping Marlin" when our young bashers knock one out of the park. 9 Seating Neighborhoods similiar to Petco Park in San Diego 10) A Distinctive feature i.e the Warehouse at Camden, Ivy at Wrigley, and could involve the Teal Monster 11) Miami Themed Foodcourt....I.E Joe's, Versailles, News Cafe, Wet Willies, Clevelander etc... 12) Battting Cage, Pitch Count Amusements etc... A few suggestions and love to hear your feedback,additons, suggestions.... We have had so much pain and many false hopes the last 10 years ...Hopefully the vote comes our way tommorrow and we can start to dream of the fun stuff.... :notworthy

Lets hope its calm before a Marlins 9th Inning Rally - The quietness has us all worried a similiar result or last minute shutout may occur :banghead

Looks like the Politicians are out again to sink any chance of a Bill to Help the Marlins. Look at the amendment that was just added today to HB323. Basically says that if this bill passes an equal 2 Million Dollars would have to be matched to EVERY School District that is within the Same legislative area as the Public Sports Facility receiving the same subsidy. Funny - When the State was looking to help Scripps I did not see a MATCHING ALLOCATION amendment? Guess a Sports Team does not qualify as a business or corporation worthy of State Assistance. Anyone care to take a stab at interpreting the consequences of this amendment. Ever hear of a Poison Pill? I am afraid we have been given one :banghead http://www.myfloridahouse.com/Sections/Doc...mp;Session=2007

Just to report...HB323 passed Favorably - Next onto the Policy & Budget Council - Also an HB1079 update Added to Second Reading Calendar Friday, April 20, 2007 1:55 AM Bill referred to House Calendar Friday, April 20, 2007 1:55 AM Looks like all the momentum is in the House - Hopefully this gets to a vote and sent down to Senate next week. Lets not take it to the last day as always seems to happen. :whistle Anyone with any further insight is always welcome on the board.

Well it looks like Diaz de la Portilla's political play caused the Bill to be Temporarily Postponed today by the Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee. Any word or updates on where this leaves the entire process is of course welcomed. Another year - Same BS :banghead On a positive note in the House HB1079 is in readings and almost to the floor to the house. Hopefully this bill survives and ultimitely gets us the rebate of the 2 Million a Year.

We have the next step in Legislative Process scheduled... Policy & Budget Council On agenda for: 04/13/07 10:00 AM Last Event: Added to Policy & Budget Council agenda on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 4:06 PM There seems to be movement on this Bill in the House, but little or no concurent movement in the Senate. Anyone with any insight as to when this will move forward in Senate if the House Committees and Floor Vote approves the Bill? Hate to get shutout again as a non-agenda item. :whistle

Hey Cape - Very good question. In reviewing the text of the bill this line would seem to tie the Certification to the Facility, not the team IMO - Prohibiting a Facility from receiving more than one certification for any professional sports franchise. This would mean that Joe Robbie/Pro Player/Dolphin Stadium/Wayne's Garbage Dump/ would only be entitled to the one certifcation they already have for the Marlins. The Dolphins could get the second one, but more importantly the New Marlins Stadium owned by Miami-Dade County would be eligible for one certification for there franchise - The Marlins. A rough stab at interpretation, but in reading through all text that is only related entry that could answer the question. Lets hope this passes today as the next positive step towards the stadium. Also not sure if anyone saw that the City of Miami offering OB Renovation Plans. Could this send us back Downtown? I for one Hope so, as the OB is not a good site for the Baseball Stadium compared to a Downtown Site near Metrorail and Daily Office Worker Population. :cool

Looks like next Hearing in Committee Scheduled - Ignore last post, as it comes from frustration of waiting for news and updates. Hopefully this will be next in line of Positive Votes. HB 1079 - Professional Sports Franchise Facilities Last Event: Added to Economic Expansion & Infrastructure Council agenda on Monday, April 02, 2007 4:27 PM On agenda for: 04/04/07 1:00 PM

This is feeling like Deja-Vu as the days tick away in Trailerhassee towards a closing without a Stadium Bill passing or being voted on the floor. The lack of recent news is very discouraging, but as much a part of April every year as Opening Day for Marlins Fans. :banghead

Any idea on why things are so quiet this week on boards and in Ballpark News Updates? No word on any Committee Meetings in Legislature on Ballpark Bills? I start to worry as every day closer to that final gavel closing the Legislative Session draws near. Cape? SoFlaFish? Marlins2003? Any updates? :mischief2 :cool

David1 - Thanx for Sharing the Awesome Pics. This Ballpark would be unique, and one of a kind in design plus something the Marlins Fans could be proud of for the next 30 years. I for one hope it can be altered to a Downtown Site, as the OB is horrible from a Public Transportation and Highway Access perspective, plus a neighborhood that would have none of the bars, and "life" of a Wrigleyville or Fenway. My main question from your design is will the Concourses be ENCLOSED and AIR CONDITIONED? Hard to tell what is design detail in the lattice-like work outside, and what would be enclosed in shearing and/or windows. I think I can speak for every last Marlins Fan when I say I hope to never have to stand in line to get a Hot Dog or Beer and sweat again like we have too at the Garbage Dump in North Dade. I hope all the councourses are A/C Interior Designed with open views of field on all levels like in most new parks. The best example I have seen is Citizens Bank Park in Philly where you can walk around entire park and never miss a pitch. Please enlighten me and the board with anymore details you can provide.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/sou...-home-headlines In regards to the Orange Bowl Location, I think thats a horrible choice. As a Hurricanes Season Ticket Holder I do not mind going six days a year and walking a mile and a half from the Courthouse, but for 81 days that a tough sell. Unless Miami-Dade plans on running Metrorail or Metromover to the OB, the better plan would be to sell the Orange Bowl Property to an Affordable Housing Developer, and take the proceeds to buy Downtown land around Miami Arena for the Ballpark. It is right next to existing Metrorail and Metromover stations, and surrounded by redevelopment property that could someday become a small "Wrigleyville". The Orange Bowl property has no such potential, and is already built out with residential property. I do not see those properties being redeveloped. JMI :whistle OB = Residential Neightborhood = Affordable Housing plus Valuable Land Sale Downtown Miami/Miami Arena Lots and Redevelopment = Urban Location on Transit Lines Public Perception = Ballpark + Affordable Housing = Win/Win OB Land Sale = 5 Million an Acre x 35 Acres = 175 Million Ballpark Land Downtown = 9 Million an Acre x 18-20 acres = 175 Million City of Miami Contribution = + 84 Million Bond Dollars + Land + Annual Tourist Tax Dollar Subsidy from Miami Arena

Just more heartache in a long and frustrating process. Keeping the fans in the dark seems to be the norm for this front office. Guess they are too buy throwing hissy fits with there over-achieving manager, or training for the Mini-Me Triathlons to worry about solving our long term future and stability as a franchise. Anyone with anymore details would be appreciated today. Capie? Gobucks? Someone shed some light on this latest delay. I had the 28th circled on my calendar, and am quite disapointed. :mad

Awfully quiet in here on this subject all weekend. Come to think of it awfully quiet in all the local media for such a big "event" to have taken place in negotiations on Friday. Not questioning its authenticity - Just frustrated as always with the lack of news, and the two step forward and three steps back the stadium always seems to take. Anyone know if MLB still going to meet in New York this week with Hialeah, County, and Team? Expecially if we turned our back on there own deal. :banghead

Sounds like Loria has had a productive weekend...First according to our "sources" on this board he killed a deal in Miami for a New Stadium on Friday. Next on Saturday he wants to kick out the Manager that has us 4 games out of the Wild Card Lead, and maybe more impressively than that just 4 games below .500 - Had I asked any of you what the chances of that were back in April most of us would have stated not likely. Have any of you had as productive of a weekend as Loria has? I hate to see what the 3rd strike will be on Sunday :mischief2

Actually Beetle...I posted it to field responses from Marlins fans that feel slighted by the Same Owner being praised for his work with the Dolphins in a market he treated so poorly. Its your call, but that was the reason for the posting. Thanx :whistle

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writ...mike/index.html http://www.miamidolphins.com/pressbox/pres...D=4539&lid=4539 The man should never be forgiven for 1997. I wish he would sell the Dolphins so I could root for them again. As long as Wayne owns them they will be cursed like the Bambino for treating South Florida like a piece of trash. Imagine if the Dolphins won a Super Bowl with Dan Marino, Zach Thomas, and the Marx brothers then turned around by Pro Bowl Sunday and traded them for Trent Dilfer, Jeff Lageman, David Boston, and a Gatorade Water Cooler. Then then he would tell us all he could not afford them because he was charging his own team too much rent. Hope he gets taken out with the "garbage" that made him rich. :thumbdown

Here is the Sun Sentinel brief on the Homestead and Spring Training Bill: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/flo...la-news-florida I want any solution to keep the Marlins here in South Florida. MLB negotiated this deal to give the Marlins to Samson and Loria in exchange for the Expos and a 30 Mil loan that does not have to be paid back if no stadium deal done within 5 years. Does that sound like 2 guys that should be negotiating to save our baseball team? I know we do not have a choice, but its very frustrating to all of us on this board and any fan of the 2 Time World Champions.

Would that be the well connected person that has "reportedly" offered 50 million plus land to the Marlins to build a stadium in the most optimal spot? I sure wish we would hear the REAL other side of the story from the Marlins, but they have been pretty mum on that end. I am sure he wanted too much of the parking and/or gameday revenues, plus like I previously stated asked the team to come with at least a matching cash amount up front. I guess we will never know as he and the team say the deal is dead :-(