FishOrFamine

The kid is up for an Espy. You can vote for him: Garrett Wittels for Best College Male Athlete

Sammy was saying something that every 7th inning they will have a stadium fact on the screen. Anyone know the other ones? Something about the same amount of metal as the Eiffel Tower? i believe that was posted on opening day. it said the roof of the stadium is going weigh the same amount as the eiffel tower. I believe today's fact was that it could be the very first stadium that is silver certified by some environment group That was at the last home game ... it's going to be LEED certified which is the standard for green building in the U.S. Silver is a pretty big deal because that means you're doing much more than the bare minimum to qualify. I think Washington is LEED certified, but definitely not silver so if the Marlins pass the test, they will be the first.

Alot of teams have some simply atrocious announce teams. so true.... I have mlb.tv and I watch as much baseball as possible and more than half of the broadcasts are unlistenable. I think if some of the people here that hate Tommy and Rich had some perspective as to how bad it could be, they wouldn't hate so much. I watch a lot of other teams and I hate announcers like Hutton. Rich is fine. The main thing I hate about Hutton is his never ending whining about ball and strikes and calls in general. Listening to him is like listening to the typical fan that thinks his team ALWAYS gets shafted by the umps. I think this constant whining is the reason he's so popular with fans. Yes, other announcers whine but Hutton is one of the worst at it. There is a fair bit of whining, but it really could be sooooo much worse. For a big city market, those guys do give a game that kind of hokie, hometown appeal.

Finally coming together ... :arms

Feels like a soap opera. :bangdesk

If you're speaking, be sure to get a sign-up card before the meeting. You have to turn one in or they don't let you give remarks to the commission. They should be handing them out while you're waiting in line to go in. That's how it worked at the city. It's an exciting day for Marlins fans!!

if you cant be there monday then atleast send out some last minute emails and phone calls to your local commissioners. this is it. do or die. I know this has been posted like 100 times, but just as a refresher, below are the commissioner's email addresses. And don't forget, Natcha Seijas doesn't use email so you need to fax letters to her. District 1 - Barbara J. Jordan District1@miamidade.gov District 2 - Dorrin D. Rolle BMorris2@miamidade.gov District 3 - Audrey Edmonson District3@miamidade.gov District 4 - Sally A. Heyman district4@miamidade.gov District 5 - Bruno A. Barreiro district5@miamidade.gov District 6 - Rebeca Sosa District6@miamidade.gov District 7 - Carlos A. Gimenez carlton@miamidade.gov District 8 - Katy Sorenson District8@miamidade.gov District 9 - Dennis C. Moss district9@miamidade.gov District 10 - Javier D. Souto District10@miamidade.gov District 11 - Joe A. Martinez District11@miamidade.gov District 12 - Jos? ?Pepe? D?az district12@miamidade.gov District 13 - Natacha Seijas Fax: 305-375-2011

i going try be their this one easyer for me to go to their should have it 9am not 1pm because this going to be long meeting I agree. Definitely going to be a long meeting. But that works better for busy people. It's good to have people there early to make an impression, so if you have to leave, better to show up for a little bit than not at all. And for all those who can't get there at 1, you know you can show up later and it will still be going. I just hope we get a vote out of it. Let me rephrase that. I just hope we get a stadium out of it.

i feel more confident that we will get the 7 votes needed at the county level than I did about todays vote This vote is going to be tougher than the city. Apathy won't get us a stadium. My big fear is being outnumbered by protesters. This extra month has given them time to be better organized. Stadium supporters in the room really does make a difference in the overall process.

County meeting starts at 1 p.m. this coming Monday. I was at the city for a little while this morning and it was about 50/50 as far as supporters and protesters go. As far as speakers, there were 33 positive, 31 negative and 4 or 5 that I couldn't tell what they wanted. But there were only a few fans ... the pro folks were mostly out of work construction guys and business folks. County vote will be much tougher so people need to show up. The metrorail and metromover go to Government Center so no excuses. If people would speak, that would be even better, but at the very least, SHOW UP! Let the commissioners see real people who want this thing built. :gofishb GO MARLINS!!!!

Below are the ones from this week. Some of the business groups have been forwarding them around, but it looks like they originate from info@marlinsnewballpark.com. I'm guessing if you email that and ask to receive it, they will send to whoever wants it. No reason not to. Enjoy! Setting the Record Straight - March 9, 2009 A recent column in The Miami Herald says a study found restaurant workers in cities with Major League Baseball teams have lower wages than in other cities. A follow-up study by the same University of Maryland professors found their earlier research was wrong. Their new study says: ? Sports franchises ? "lead to higher wages in these indirectly related occupations. The evidence is, therefore, that professional sports is a complement rather than a substitute for dinners out, hotel stays, and retail sales. The evidence also suggests that a substantial portion of the effect comes from additional hours of work rather than higher hourly wages." ? Both NFL and MLB franchises have positive and statistically significant impacts on the average weekly wages of workers only indirectly linked to the sports environment. Stadiums built in the past 10 years in other major cities, including Cleveland, Denver, and San Diego, transformed the surrounding neighborhoods into major entertainment districts. Restaurants, cafes, bars and shops cropped up in neighborhoods of mixed-use development. Some examples: ? 90 new restaurants and $2 billion of redevelopment in Denver's Lower Downtown section ? 6,500 new jobs in the area around the Cleveland Indians' Gateway park. ? $3 billion in economic development in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter around the new Petco Park. For more information, please visit www.MarlinsNewBallpark.com. Setting the Record Straight - March 10, 2009 Today's Miami Herald published a story that contains both incorrect and misleading information regarding the Marlins new ballpark. Issue 1 To set the record straight, the Marlins are contributing more of the financing to the stadium, parking and public works project than the amount credited to the Marlins in the Herald story. In fact, the Marlins are contributing: ? $155 million or 30 percent of stadium construction ? $90 million for the parking facilities, through a guarantee to buy almost all parking spaces for all games ? 100 percent of cost overruns As we've noted and The Herald has ignored, the Marlins and Major League Baseball are financing a greater percentage of construction costs for a new stadium project than most other MLB cities that have built new stadiums in the past 10 years. Issue 2 Regarding the 35-year financing plan for the stadium, county officials have provided substantive data that shows the public investment makes sense. According to county officials, the best and most responsible way to make projections on tourist tax growth is to take an historical approach with the knowledge there will be ups and downs in the market. Over the past 25 years, the following taxes have averaged the following: ? Tourist Development Tax ? 5 percent growth ? Convention Development Tax ? 7 percent growth ? Professional Sports Franchise Tax ? 6 percent growth Declines in Miami-Dade's tourism industry are historically followed by larger and steeper recoveries, according to County Manager George Burgess. Tourism tax numbers for January aren't going to drive the entire ballpark deal. There's absolutely no reason to believe the market won't recover. We have seen worse and rebounded. This is a particularly good time for investment. Construction costs are low. And the project will provide much-needed jobs and local spending for Miami at a time when the City and County could use an economic boost. For more information, please visit www.MarlinsNewBallpark.com. Setting the Record Straight - March 11, 2009 Today's news media published material that contains misleading information regarding financing of the Marlins new ballpark. Issue 1 To set the record straight, The Miami Herald continues to use $1 billion+ figures when talking about the long-term financing of the stadium based on its own internal analysis. Today's column, much like previous stories, misleads the public into thinking this is all public money. The truth is, The Miami Herald coverage is not applying its own analysis to the Marlins contributions to the project, which includes financing, interest, stadium rent payments and parking payments. By looking at the Marlins' contributions during the next 35 years, the team's payout will be more than $600 million plus all cost overruns. Issue 2 Today's Miami Herald column, in discussing the long-term availability of tourism taxes to fund the project, continues the newspaper's focus on the single month of January, when bed tax dollars exhibited a decline. We need to rely on long-term data that includes past recessions, the impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a variety of other economic highs and lows to navigate Miami through this economic downturn. Keep in mind, tourist taxes have exhibited marked growth during the past 25 years. ? Tourist Development Tax ? 6.14 percent growth ? Convention Development Tax ? 7.61 percent growth ? Professional Sports Franchise Tax ? 5.55 percent growth Issue 3 In line with The Miami Herald, Miami Today published a story this week that also uses a $1.8 billion figure when discussing long-term financing. But the story incorrectly says this is all public funding and fails to credit the Marlins' contribution that is in excess of $600 million, plus all cost overruns. Issue 4 Miami Today published a column this week about a Miami developer offering the former Miami Arena site as a location for the new Marlins ballpark. The column completely ignores the fact that this site has already been carefully evaluated and was rejected for several reasons: ? There is not enough land ? MLB does not have any options to buy property there ? Costs to build on the arena site, particularly relating to infrastructure improvements, would be much higher than at the Orange Bowl location ? Utility buildings and power lines would have to be relocated ? The railroad line at the location would have to be relocated It is important to remember that Straub has never contacted the Marlins directly about his plan. For more information, please visit www.MarlinsNewBallpark.com.

Not to beat a dead horse, but now more than ever, the city commissioners need to hear from the supporters of the stadium. The mayor is right. Enough is enough. It's time to get down to business and stop playing ping pong with this deal. It's time to get the thing done. WRITE YOUR COMMISSIONERS!!!

Actually, the Marlins and government officials have all said the stadium could be used for concerts and stuff. And truth be told, there are actually a lot of acts signing up to perform in venues like this. I think it was Bruce Springsteen who actually did a baseball stadium tour a few years back ... wasn't that long ago. But there are lots of acts playing in these types of stadiums. So this thing would have a function outside of the baseball season.

:batman David Samson Addresses Fans

Im' sorry, all that just went over my head. What does #3 mean Instead of needing 9 yays, it would only take 7 to pass.

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. Well it was 11am on a Tuesday. Well we've got two meetings to deal with on Friday and I think the point is we need to make sure fans show up. If the protesters can turn out 20 people at "11 a.m. on a Tuesday" I think that we should anticipate those numbers will significantly increase Friday. Definitely a valid point to be made.

Below is a snippet from a Miami Herald editorial that ran in 2003 after the Marlins won the World Series. Back then, the Herald understood the value of this team. It's a shame they have forgotten ... ____________________________________________________________________________ November 2, 2003 Section: Editorial Edition: Final Page: 4L MARLINS LET THEIR PLAY SPEAK FOR THEM HERALD STAFF OUR OPINION: THEY DESERVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR A NEW BALLPARK The Florida Marlins who won the 2003 World Series are a completely different organization from the group that won baseball's biggest prize in 1997. It isn't just that the 2003 team is different - only three players remain from the '97 team - but so, too, are the owner, management and, most important, the team's business approach. With better leadership, a World Series championship and players who are living proof of what teamwork can accomplish, the Marlins have emphatically demonstrated why they deserve a new stadium, fully supported by our community. Yes, there is similarity in the 2003 and 1997 Marlins winning the World Series. But the similarity ends with the W in the win columns. Community asset Today's Marlins have shown that a baseball team can be an economic driver - and a community asset. South Florida's response, in turn, shows how a sports team can help to build and unify a community - and create community pride. Pride and unity are intangibles, but they are the glue that helps a community define itself. An inkling of the Marlins' economic value is shown in the flurry of interest by businesses around the Orange Bowl lobbying to build a stadium there. More clearly, the Marlins' economic potential was shown in the $50 million that poured into South Florida during the World Series run. With a new stadium and their achievements on the field as a competitive team, the Marlins would be able to tap into a bigger TV market, and Greater Miami would benefit from the resulting images.

:disco Here's two more ... Wed. Feb. 11 2pm-4pm La Palma Restaurant 6010 SW 8th street Live remote on WAQI 710 Radio Mambi Thurs. Feb 12 7am-9am La Carreta 8701 SW 40th St. Live broadcast on wqba 1140 am with Oscar Haza Show up and show your support ... or if you can't call the radio stations during these hours and tell them you want the new stadium!!!

Here's a plan - kidnap the family of whoever has the key vote and only release them if the stadium vote is approved. Hey, its worth a shot.... That's the quickest way to get a unanimous no. Then they dont get their family back.... Providing they dont find out they are actually being hidden in Billy the Marlin mascot costumes :whistle What has to be the results in order for us to get the stadium? Isnt an 8 to 5 vote a winning count? Please, someone explain. We need 9 yes votes because it has to be a two-thirds majority. Simply majorities don't work for this one.

i sent letters to all expect for seijas district13 has no email.................... could i get 2 the county office on the metro? Yes ... its at government center so you can get there by the metro

Forget about going to each individual commissioner's webpage. The stadium website has all of the commissioners listed with hot links to their email ... you just have to go to one page and click on each email. Simple enough. We really need to make some noise. And don't forget to show up on friday!!! Commissioner's email addresses are all here ... you just have to click each one.

A call to arms has been posted. website updated Meeting Information posted Let's just make sure everyone remembers to show up on Feb. 13 and we shouldn't have to worry about Question 1.

It's a good move. Offseason should get more exciting form here on out! :pumpkin

Point taken. Just voted. Thanks for the alert!! :thumbup

I have to agree with those that list rain as an issue, especially for the Marlins. Let's throw all the back and forth out of this one and deal with the facts ... the Marlins play during a little thing meteorologists like to call "THE RAINY SEASON!" Heck, the height of their season falls at the height of the hurricane season. So rain IS an issue. It's not an excuse ... it's a real issue. No one likes to sit around and get rained on. I was at Sunday's Dolphins game. I got rained on. It sucked. But I stayed in my seat like a lot of other people. And the fans that were there stayed until the very end because there are a lot of good fans in this town. And we were soaking wet by the final whistle. One of the biggest differences for me in attending a Marlins game in the rain and a Dolphins game in the rain is frequency. I'll skip a Marlins game in the rain because I know I have more chances to go to a game. With football, you've only got like what ... 8 home games or something? Not to beat a dead horse :banghead but that's one of the major reasons I think the new stadium will make a difference in attendance. A roof means I don't have to choose between watching on TV and staying dry or sitting in the stands and getting drenched. But that's another conversation. That's not to say I don't love the Marlins. But I can't go to every game, so I'd rather go to ones where I can stay dry and not have to get idled by a rain delay. Look, Miami has great athletes, great teams, great traditions (even the young teams) and great fans. Sure, fans may be frustrated in all sports but the Marlins showed some real promise this year and I have high hopes for 2009. The Dolphins are showing some real moxie. And hey ... as of right now, the Heat are undefeated so we have reason to be excited. I can't really speak on the Panthers because I'm not a hockey fan, but I've got friends who are and they think they're great so I say Go Panthers! This is South Florida. We love our sports teams!!! :wave