hmorgan78

I heard the Marlins were sending out daily emails to point out the inaccuracies in the Miami Herald's coverage of the stadium. Has anyone seen this? Where can I get a copy? most likely to tv stations not fans Actually, I heard it was for fans and commissioners ... not the media. A friend of mine said someone was talking about it at the contractor meeting this week.

I heard the Marlins were sending out daily emails to point out the inaccuracies in the Miami Herald's coverage of the stadium. Has anyone seen this? Where can I get a copy?

Not sure if this has been mentioned before, but whether it has or not, it bears repeating. Last week on the radio, city commissioner Tomas Regalado revealed that seven different Norman Braman businesses had contributed to his mayoral campaign. SEVEN! And big shocker here ... Regalado is a vocal anti-stadium guy. Hmmmm ... :mad

Hi all. I heard that commissioners are getting bombarded with letters from stadium haters. I know this has been pointed out before, but the commissioners email addresses are all on the stadium website. It couldn't get much easier. You just have to type out a few sentences about supporting the stadium. Certainly its been delay after delay but this would be a really bad time for all of us to lighten up on the pressure. If all they hear from are these people, we can kiss the Marlins goodbye. Please write the commissioners. All of them. It can be short and simple. Encourage your friends and family to write too. If you've already written your commissioner, send the same letter to all the rest of them. Keep the pressure on.

I saw a clip of the protest on the news. It looked like there were maybe 20 people there. 20 protesters? Well check out the stadium website. Looks like there were only 2 Marlins fans (See the photos here) at the mayor's thing. If they outnumber us 1 to 10 on Friday, we have not even the slightest shot. Now really isn't the time for apathy. Make sure to turn out. I'll be going to the county meeting for sure and see if I can make it to the city.

Just voted. And how about this -- why don't we all send reporter Charles Rabin emails about how he needs to write about all of us who support the stadium. He seems hell bent on ignoring the positives of this project and only talks to those against. Even today's story about the mayor's speech has a negative tone regarding the stadium. Email Rabin and let him know your willing to go on the record in support of the stadium. Tell him he needs to start doing some balanced reporting over there at the herald. crabin@miamiherald.com

I've got news for everyone: I hear there were alot of protesters at the mayor's speech today and only one or two guys supporting the stadium out in the trenches. We need to have a much better showing Friday for that final push or we'll be crying in our Cheerios come saturday. Squeaky wheel gets the grease and there are too many undecided votes waiting to hear who shouts the loudest. Make signs, paint your faces, wear your Marlins gear. Whatever it takes. OK, maybe you don't need to paint your face but you get the point.

not marlins owned... ... Toronto, ON M6K 3M1 CA I think the Canadian address is more an indication that it may be official rather than not. I wonder how official this is. In the last few years, the Marlins' graphics department has demonstrated a glaring lack of talent. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that hideous-looking construction page came from them. Though the same thing. I like it. Besides, it's just a placeholder until the real thing goes up. but I think it's fun. I especially like the fact that this means we're getting close to some good news! i t will be good to have a new place to get information about the stadium other than the Herald.

sometimes i cant stand the herald. they are always pushing all of this negative publicity towards the stadium. i think they have been against it since day one. the only one who has written anyting positve about the new stadium and marlin fans is greg cote. they can't even let us marlin fans have one full week of enjoying sweet victory without stuffing this crap down everybodys throat! if samson, loria, county mayors & other county officials are not worried then we shouldnt either, it's in the bag... up your butt, miami herald!!!! I wrote the herald a letter to the editor today. We'll see if it gets published. That's something we all need to be doing. The email address for letters to the editor at the herald was posted on the "public purpose" post.Go write a letter. You can also register for a user name and post comments on herald stories. Its really up to us to make the herald be fair. But I'd be careful about assuming the stadium is "in the bag." Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Apathy gets us nowhere. I'm new to this forum but it seems like there are some pretty vocal people on here. What good does it do to vent among those who are in agreement with you. Make noise where it counts.

http://www.dailybusinessreview.com/news.html?news_id=50311 Marlins ballpark: Right time, right place August 25, 2008 By: Robert Starkey I have been involved with numerous ballpark projects across the country as a result of my consulting relationship with Major League Baseball and several of its clubs. In reading a recent Urban Forum column, I believe several important facts were ignored and welcome the opportunity to provide accurate information about the new ballpark planned for the site of the historic Orange Bowl football facility. The team?s agreement with Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami calls for a first-class ballpark that is fully climatized with a retractable roof, air conditioning, real grass playing field, 37,000 seats and amenities similar to the MLB ballparks in San Diego, St. Louis, Houston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee. In contrast to open-air Dolphins Stadium, the new ballpark?s design and amenities will improve attendance by providing certainty of comfortable conditions, rain or shine. This assures games will start on time and will be uninterrupted, allowing fans to come from a greater distance with the certainty of seeing a game. The other four clubs with retractable roofed ballparks (Phoenix, Houston, Seattle and Milwaukee) have clearly enjoyed the benefits of providing protection for their fans from uncertain weather conditions. The scale and design of the new ballpark will correct the deficiencies inherent in playing baseball in a football stadium, including poor sightlines, excessive seating, daunting spaces and other shortcomings that fans now suffer in the cavernous 75,000-seat Dolphins Stadium. In short, for Marlin fans, the new ballpark will be the antithesis of Dolphins Stadium. Orange Bowl site qualities With regard to the proposed Orange Bowl site, a few pertinent facts and characteristics are noteworthy: Familiarity. Since 1937 the site has been accepted and recognized as a place for major sporting events in South Florida. The new ballpark provides the opportunity to preserve that legacy and carry it forward to future generations. Infrastructure. Fans are also familiar with the existing infrastructure, including access ramps to and from Interstate highways. Modification and upgrades to existing infrastructure should be less extensive than preparing a new site never before used for major sporting events. Site Development Opportunities. The 37,000-seat ballpark uses less than half of the existing 42 acres. Under the agreement, the balance will be used by local government for a multi-use city parking facility of at least 6,000 spaces, for retail, and for other uses to be determined, possibly including a hotel. Surrounding Development Potential. In Little Havana between Miami International Airport and the Performing Arts Center and planned museum complex, with the Medical Center to the north and Downtown and the Government Center to the east, the location has attributes of other ballparks that have successfully spawned development in nearby and often underutilized spaces. Location Dynamics. The site is within one mile of active labor forces, including several thousand jobs in medical services, local government and higher education, with additional facilities planned for the near future. Ballpark agreement terms The contributions and protections provided to the public by the team are both significant and progressive relative to other middle market ballpark transactions. Team Financial Commitment. The team?s contribution of 30 percent of the capital budget is higher than the industry average of 20 to 25 percent private participation cited in recent discussion. Additionally, over the lease term, the team is committed to pay approximately $100 million for the city?s parking structure through pre-purchase of spaces. Finally, the team will assume 100 percent of the ballpark overrun construction risk and contribute to a capital improvement fund. Other Team Commitments. In addition to the above financial commitments, the team has agreed to a 35-year ironclad lease and nonrelocation agreement, use of the facility for up to 16 nonprofit community events, an affordable ticket program, donations worth more than $1 million every year as well as a name change to the Miami Marlins. MLB Commitments. In connection with the agreement, Major League Baseball has agreed to provide unprecedented resources including a $1 million matching LEED grant, a $3 million contribution to build a Baseball Academy in Hialeah, selection of Miami as a venue for the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and the potential for a future All-Star Game. Additionally, construction of the new ballpark will create approximately 1,500 full-time equivalent jobs over the three-year construction period, and will allow many local firms to be part of the construction process. These are the facts that readers should know about the new Marlins Ballpark site and agreement. The new ballpark will provide a place where this most diverse of communities comes together to pursue the Great American Pastime. Robert Starkey, president of Starkey Sports Consulting, based in Minneapolis, has been an economic and financial consultant to MLB for 15 years. He served as an adviser to the Commissioner?s Blue Ribbon Panel on Baseball Economics and has been involved in ballpark initiatives throughout the league. Before forming his own company in 1999, Starkey led the Sports Consulting Practice Group for Arthur Andersen.