MIAMI -- The Florida Marlins' self-imposed deadline for an agreement on a new ballpark passed Monday with the site and financing still undetermined, so team president David Samson set a new deadline.

 

 

Samson said the team now has until May 1 to reach a deal that would allow the new stadium to open in 2007 and ensure the Marlins' future in south Florida.

 

 

Samson earlier said a March 15 deadline for an agreement was needed for a 2007 opening. Architects now say they can build a ballpark to open that year if there's a deal in the next 45 days.

 

 

The Marlins don't want to wait later than 2007 for the increased revenue they expect a new home to generate.

 

 

"There's a lot more work to be done," Samson said. "But we're confident that 45 days from now, we'll stand before you celebrating the Florida Marlins staying in South Florida."

 

But the Marlins appear no closer to settling on a site than they were four months ago, when the push for a new ballpark intensified after the team won the World Series.

 

 

Samson said the Marlins remain open to any site in Miami-Dade County, where financial support is the most promising. However, he all but dismissed the Orange Bowl location favored by the city of Miami.

 

 

"No plan has been presented to the team that has been acceptable to the team at that site," Samson said.

 

 

Samson declined to say what might happen without a new ballpark, but he said owner Jeffrey Loria won't sell the team and is "committed to South Florida."

 

 

Loria bought the team in February 2002. His predecessors, Wayne Huizenga and John Henry, were unsuccessful in their pursuit of a new ballpark.

 

 

Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas said the county is following the team's lead in choosing a site, and he said there has been progress toward a new ballpark.

 

 

"It's moving slowly, but it's moving in the right direction," Penelas said. "I remain optimistic that by May 1 we'll be able to do something."

 

 

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and City Manager Joe Arriola didn't return phone calls seeking comment.

 

 

The Marlins want a new home because they receive only a small percentage of the revenue from concessions, parking, signage and suites at Pro Player Stadium, which is owned by Huizenga. The team proposes a 38,000-seat ballpark with a retractable roof designed to help attendance by eliminating the threat of summer showers.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1760512

You know, I would like to actually see these architects and hear it from their mouths that this stadium will only cost $325 Mill/w roof, what it would look like and that it can actually be ready by Opening Day 2007.

 

 

And you would be pretty confident too if you predicted 91 wins last season and nailed it right on the head :shifty