Posted on Fri, Mar. 26, 2004

 

MARLINS

 

Ballpark cash plan elusive in Legislature

 

Halfway through the legislative session, no bill has been filed for a finance plan that would give the Florida Marlins a ballpark.

 

BY MICHAEL VASQUEZ AND ERIKA BOLSTAD

 

mrvasquez@herald.com

 

TALLAHASSEE - A day after lobbying Gov. Jeb Bush and key lawmakers in an attempt to win public financing for a new stadium, the Florida Marlins on Thursday faced the very real prospect of coming up empty in the state Capitol -- again.

 

Senate President Jim King gave the ballclub little hope, saying ''there's just not enough time'' to pass a proposed sales-tax break that would net the Marlins $60 million.

 

Halfway through the legislative session, no bill has been filed that would give the Marlins what they are looking for.

 

''I don't think it's worth considering this session,'' King told reporters. ``And the reason for that is there isn't even a bill yet.''

 

The Marlins are working to piece together a deal to build a $325 million stadium. The team says it will contribute $137 million, and Miami-Dade County has offered $73 million, leaving the Marlins $115 million short. During previous efforts to find money to build a stadium, the Marlins also sought help in Tallahassee, and failed each time.

 

Even if the Marlins could cap off their World Series win with another improbable victory in the Legislature, the team still needs to find $55 million to reach the $325 million figure, which itself is seen as a conservative estimate for building such a facility.

 

Team President David Samson remained optimistic Thursday that a plan could be finalized by the team's self-imposed May 1 deadline.

 

''We have 38 days,'' Samson said. ``Didn't it take God like seven to do the whole Earth? I think in 38 days I'm fairly confident that we can do a stadium deal.''

 

There are several bills making their way through the Legislature that deal with other stadiums or convention centers, bills that in theory the Marlins could try to piggyback on and add their tax-break proposal. But King warned that pushing through money for the Marlins in the waning hours of the session risked giving the appearance of a ``boondoggle.''

 

''I don't want it to look like we're doing something that the citizens are going to feel we rushed through just deliberately at the last second, because we didn't have the support of the citizens,'' King said.

 

Marlins executives have the backing of the governor and several lawmakers from Miami-Dade, but King's opposition remains a huge obstacle, since, as president, he can keep any bill from being voted on by the full Senate.

 

Another hurdle is that the tax break being considered for the Marlins is in fact currently reserved for the Orlando Magic basketball team, which is putting together plans for its own new home.

 

Marlins executives must not only convince the Legislature they deserve the money, but they must also coax the Magic into waiting to receive another tax rebate in the future. Magic officials declined to comment Thursday.

 

If everything falls into place for the Marlins, they would be able to keep the first $2 million in sales tax revenue generated yearly over the next 30 years by their new South Florida ballpark, the exact location of which remains in limbo.

 

Sales tax money collected in addition to the $2 million would go to the state as usual.

 

Such a break already exists for the Marlins at Pro Player stadium, but it applies to the site, not the team -- meaning that if the Marlins move, stadium owner H. Wayne Huizenga gets to keep it. Marlins officials say they are stuck in a bad lease at Pro Player, and lost $17 million last year.

 

The governor cited the team's ''unique circumstances'' when explaining his support for the proposal. In lobbying for a second tax break, Marlins executives told legislators they expected the team to rake in about $2 million more in sales tax money at a new retractable-roof stadium than it does in its location at Pro Player.

 

If those projections pan out, the state would get roughly what it does now in sales tax from the Marlins, while the team receives much-needed funding to build a new facility.

 

But should the Marlins make less money at their new home than expected, the state could take a financial hit as well.

 

''In their scenario, everybody wins. . . . It's a beautiful world,'' said state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, a Miami Republican who is also second-in-command in the Senate.

 

Diaz de la Portilla said he is skeptical of the Marlins proposal, but could be persuaded to support it.

 

''It's still on life support,'' he said. ``But we are entering Easter now, and if you're a Christian like I am, you believe in the resurrection.''

 

Herald staff writers Kevin Baxter, Marc Caputo and Gary Fineout contributed to this report.

 

Doesnt look good for any funding to come from the state. :confused

 

 

Article

King seems dead set againt it.

 

Mr. King we promise free hot dogs for you at the new Marlins stadium.

 

 

 

''We have 38 days,'' Samson said. ``Didn't it take God like seven to do the whole Earth?''

 

please let Loria do all the talking Mr. Samson.

:banghead

How come we waited till the last minute to go to the state?

 

I agree with you HC, the comments don't help the cause at all.

Samson is in way over his head in trying to deal with the state. The Marlins are trying to do this on their own without the help of a lobbyist. I read in another article that a south florida representaitve said if the senate pres says theres too little time, thats not a good sign. well, duh, why didnt you at least introduce a bill yet? if you wait around, of course nothings going to happen. The Marlins are not going to be able to sweet talk the state legislature on this one. I sure hope being able to use the Magic rebate will work. The idea of using past legilsation is probably the only chance the Marlins have left. Why do the Magic have that money sitting around for whenever they want to use, while the Marlins need it now and cant have any?

How come we waited till the last minute to go to the state?

 

I agree with you HC, the comments don't help the cause at all.

 

We had to wait until the County resolved their conflict with Miami Beach.

I would echo what Ross said and in addition the PPS guys have more lobbyists than you can shake a stick at. Let's face it the Marlins are in a hatchet fight without a hatchet.

We had to wait until the County resolved their conflict with Miami Beach.

 

 

I thought that the issue with MB was already resolved?

 

 

 

And how come is it that when every other sport team in the state needs money for a new stadium, everything seems to come together. However when it comes to the Marlins, the whole thing seems crumble in no time at all. :thumbdown

It's because of all the FOOTBALL people. They seem to hate baseball! I am still hearing about how the MARLINS runined the Dolphins season last year! I hear people talk bad about the Marlins wishing they hadn't made the post-season so their precious Dolphins wouldn't have had to play on that Clay Infield early last season, which they feel caused them to loose to the patriots. I, of course, get angry at comments like that because we have WAYNE H. (Owner of the Dolphins) to thank for that Clay Infield we have to share with the Dolphins. PISSES me off something aweful!

We had to wait until the County resolved their conflict with Miami Beach.

 

 

I thought that the issue with MB was already resolved?

 

 

 

And how come is it that when every other sport team in the state needs money for a new stadium, everything seems to come together. However when it comes to the Marlins, the whole thing seems crumble in no time at all. :thumbdown

The issue with Miami Beach was only resolved a couple of weeks ago.

 

And yes, the PPS guys are at the root of the Marlins problems, both inside the county and in Tallahassee.

 

It will be interesting to see if the Orioles/Broward gets the tax credit they are asking for from the legislature.

Hell, I'll lobby for the Marlins. I am in Tallahassee...

 

That fat bastard King is just a typical, lifer politician. If he gets his cut of this, it would go right through. Boondoggle. Ha. You mean that has NEVER happened before in the history of Florida politics, Mr. King? Finish your cheeseburger and allow the bill to be voted on.

 

Seriously, this is politics. And if Samson should hold his tongue, as he should - drawing ridiculous comparisons between creating the cosmos and a stadium deal - the representative from Miami (de la Tortilla or whatever his name is) should shut his stupid trap too. Drawing comparisons between the Marlins' effort for a stadium and the Resurrection of Christ!? What the hell are these people f'in smokin!?

How does it look for the marlins now that King is stirring some trouble? does anyone out there know how politics works up in Tallahasse and if there is any way the Marlins can convince King into accepting the proposed tax rebate? :confused