From the Herald....ballpark to be built on the southwest corner of Orange Bowl property. City Commission to vote on the plan May 6th.

 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/8490079.htm

So GD stupid that you have to sign up just to see an article on herald.com. :plain

The study, commissioned and paid for by FIU, found that 80 percent of the 600 respondents considered themselves Marlins fans and that 73 percent believed the Orange Bowl to be the best site available

 

 

Its not the best site available...its the ONLY site available.

The new Orange Bowl plan comes almost six months after Arriola suggested that property as a stadium site.

 

The Marlins were initially cool to it, but Samson said Tuesday that the property is now considered the team's best option

 

 

 

Hmmmm

Can someone please copy and paste the article? Thanks.

The study, commissioned and paid for by FIU, found that 80 percent of the 600 respondents considered themselves Marlins fans and that 73 percent believed the Orange Bowl to be the best site available

 

 

Its not the best site available...its the ONLY site available.

That is not what the quote says - although the OB site is probably the only one available right now.

Here is the article:

 

BASEBALL

 

 

Marlins extend deadline for stadium deal

 

Marlins President David Samson has extended a deadline for a stadium proposal, even as state funding seems uncertain.

 

BY CHARLES RABIN

 

[email protected]

 

 

Florida Marlins President David Samson said Wednesday that he is willing to extend the team's deadline for a stadium deal by five days so Miami commissioners can vote May 6 on the latest proposal, which city officials said calls for a stand-alone, retractable-roof stadium next to the Orange Bowl in Little Havana.

 

Samson again declined to provide the specifics of the plan to pay for the stadium, but pledged to get a complete package to the Legislature in time for it to consider a $60 million state tax rebate for the team before the annual session ends next week.

 

Miami City Manager Joe Arriola said he would have a plan ready for the team to evaluate by Monday, then would take it to the commission May 6 after final discussions between the city and Marlins executives.

 

Neither Samson nor Arriola would go into detail, but Miami Commissioner Joe Sanchez said it now calls for building a separate ballpark on the southwest corner of the Orange Bowl property.

 

The stadium would be built partly on city-owned parking lots and partly on privately owned rental properties that the city would either purchase or acquire through eminent domain, Sanchez said.

 

When Arriola introduced the Orange Bowl as a possible site in December, he proposed attaching the new ballpark to the 73-year-old landmark Little Havana football stadium. But that dual-facility plan is no longer being considered.

 

Samson said the team still wants a $325 million stadium that would seat 38,000 people and have a retractable roof. He has consistently refused to eliminate the roof to reduce the cost, saying that even the threat of rain would keep potential visitors away.

 

Samson's comments came one day after top state lawmakers all but killed a plan to give the team $60 million in sales-tax rebate money. Both Senate President Jim King and House Speaker Johnnie Byrd oppose the rebate, likely dooming it. But Samson said he hopes to sway legislators.

 

''That's our goal, to put a package together with only state money missing before the session ends,'' he said.

 

While Samson didn't dismiss the possibility of building a ballpark without the state's help, he said, ``It's going to be tough.''

 

So far, the Marlins have committed $137 million and the county $73 million in hotel bed-tax money. Even if the state does give the Marlins the $60 million rebate, that would still leave the team about $55 million short of its $325 million estimate.

 

Some of that money could be made up with the possible sale of Miami Arena. Parking-lot magnate Jacob ''Hank'' Sopher has offered $25 million for the seldom-used city facililty, and Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess says the sale would free up more bed-tax money that could be used for a stadium.

 

The county now gives Miami about $6 million a year in bed-tax money to cover the arena's costs and pay off its bond debt. Burgess would not say how much of that could go toward the stadium.

 

''The sale of the arena is a pot that can go toward baseball,'' Burgess said. ``The sale actually would create more money that wasn't envisioned before.''

 

The new Orange Bowl plan comes almost six months after Arriola suggested that property as a stadium site.

 

The Marlins were initially cool to it, but Samson said Tuesday that the property is now considered the team's best option.

 

Some city officials, including Mayor Manny Diaz, expressed concern that the delay over the site choice might have hurt the proposal's chances in the Legislature.

 

''If they had accepted it in January, maybe we would have had a deal by now and gone hand and hand to the state for funding, and had a much better chance,'' Diaz said.

 

After hearing of the new Orange Bowl plan, the Metropolitan Center at Florida International University released the findings of a poll that focused on the Orange Bowl as the place to build a ballpark.

 

The study, commissioned and paid for by FIU, found that 80 percent of the 600 respondents considered themselves Marlins fans and that 73 percent believed the Orange Bowl to be the best site available.

 

Still, nearly 55 percent of those polled either opposed or strongly opposed using public money to build a baseball stadium.

 

Herald staff writers Oscar Corral and Michael Vasquez contributed to this report.

Thanks Jonny.

Thanks Jonny.

'Bout time you paid attention to me... :mischief

 

No problem...

Pfffft....

This might be a stupid question but -

 

If the only missing piece of the puzzle is the state money and the Marlins fail to get the $60 million this year - why couldn't they move forward and resubmit there proposal next year? They could go about things the right way, have everything well organized and approach much earlier in the session. It sounds like the timing and lack of organization has been the biggest obstacle this time around.

The single most important facet of the new OB deal is that the Marlins have been successful in (physically) separating the two facilities.

 

From what I understand the Marlins will be able to GC (general contract) the building themselves and control their own concessions, two things that were deal-breakers the last go 'round. They will not have to share skybox/clubseat revenue either although their rent will be somewhat higher than in the first deal. Parking is still an issue (both logistically and revenue-sharingwise) because without parking revenue the deal doesn't work for the Fish.

 

Another issue that remains on the table is naming rights. The City wants a single name for the entire project, the Marlins want to close the construction $$$ shortfall for their stadium by selling the naming rights to their facility, the city wants all naming rights $$$ to go to funding the shared aspects of the two projects.

 

One last important $$$ consideration hinges on Hank Sopher closing his deal for the Miami Arena. Conceivably, as much as $180 million (over 30 years) in bed tax $$$ will be freed up for sports-related use, although nowhere near all of it will go the Fish, enough should be there to make sure the facility opens with a retractable roof in place.

 

The big stumbling block appears to be the use of eminent domain to secure the additional land needed to locate the Marlins stadium. Eminent doman is a long and time-consuming process and could take years. I understand there are some 26 property owners involved, creating a potential nightmare for the city and the Marlins and a windfall for the property owners, many of whom are speculators.

The big stumbling block appears to be the use of eminent domain to secure the additional land needed to locate the Marlins stadium. Eminent doman is a long and time-consuming process and could take years. I understand there are some 26 property owners involved, creating a potential nightmare for the city and the Marlins and a windfall for the property owners, many of whom are speculators.

That's what I think also, I've been adding up the sq. footage of the lots in the area, there's more than a few people to deal with.

Is there a possibility that the Marlins are putting together some quick preliminary plans for the OB location just to try & get the $60 million from the state, but later on another site pops up and they switch locations?

Is there a possibility that the Marlins are putting together some quick preliminary plans for the OB location just to try & get the $60 million from the state, but later on another site pops up and they switch locations?

 

Uh huh

'Bout time you paid attention to me... :mischief

 

 

 

What are you, jealous?? :mischief2

 

 

j/k

Is there a possibility that the Marlins are putting together some quick preliminary plans for the OB location just to try & get the $60 million from the state, but later on another site pops up and they switch locations?

 

Uh huh :mischief2

In other words, I wonder if the $60 million is directly tied to their building it at that site with building, lease, parking, etc agreements already in place...

 

I don't see how they could realistically tie them together. There are too many uncertainties and variables. (Heck, they couldn't even find a way to stop paying Huizenga the rest of the $60 million after they realized he only needed 10.)

 

Theoretically the Marlins could just chalk up the $60 million and continue to work on any site they wanted.

 

(not saying I'm rooting for that necessarily, it would be pretty underhanded, just thinking it's a possibility)

The southwest corner of the OB property....

 

so where exactly are we talking about?

The single most important facet of the new OB deal is that the Marlins have been successful in (physically) separating the two facilities.

 

From what I understand the Marlins will be able to GC (general contract) the building themselves and control their own concessions, two things that were deal-breakers the last go 'round. They will not have to share skybox/clubseat revenue either although their rent will be somewhat higher than in the first deal. Parking is still an issue (both logistically and revenue-sharingwise) because without parking revenue the deal doesn't work for the Fish.

 

Another issue that remains on the table is naming rights. The City wants a single name for the entire project, the Marlins want to close the construction $$$ shortfall for their stadium by selling the naming rights to their facility, the city wants all naming rights $$$ to go to funding the shared aspects of the two projects.

 

One last important $$$ consideration hinges on Hank Sopher closing his deal for the Miami Arena. Conceivably, as much as $180 million (over 30 years) in bed tax $$$ will be freed up for sports-related use, although nowhere near all of it will go the Fish, enough should be there to make sure the facility opens with a retractable roof in place.

 

The big stumbling block appears to be the use of eminent domain to secure the additional land needed to locate the Marlins stadium. Eminent doman is a long and time-consuming process and could take years. I understand there are some 26 property owners involved, creating a potential nightmare for the city and the Marlins and a windfall for the property owners, many of whom are speculators.

Two things:

 

1. I was under the impression that the $137 mil that the Marlins have offered included the naming rights (Loria can't just find that cash lying around, he's not worth much more than $400 mil) and this could prove to be a deal-breaker if we can't sell naming rights outright instead of having to share them.

 

2. The eminent domain issue was the main reason the Marlins walked in the first place, because if they aren't able to get the land around the facility for parking, they're actually in worse shape in the OB than in Pro Player because at least Wayne gives 20% of the parking money to us, we get 0% of the "lawn" money.

 

 

If this is the only way to keep the Marlins in South Florida, so be it, but I'll bet anyone that 15 years from now (if they're at the OB) we're going to be b***hing about how dumb and idea it was...

I was under the impression that the $137 mil that the Marlins have offered included the naming rights (Loria can't just find that cash lying around, he's not worth much more than $400 mil) and this could prove to be a deal-breaker if we can't sell naming rights outright instead of having to share them.

Neither the county or the city (or for that matter the Marlins) are funding their contributions with a lump sum payment, rather the entire project will be bonded out and each entity will contribute on a yearly basis.

 

The Marlins contribution will be considered rent.

The single most important facet of the new OB deal is that the Marlins have been successful in (physically) separating the two facilities.

 

From what I understand the Marlins will be able to GC (general contract) the building themselves and control their own concessions, two things that were deal-breakers the last go 'round. They will not have to share skybox/clubseat revenue either although their rent will be somewhat higher than in the first deal. Parking is still an issue (both logistically and revenue-sharingwise) because without parking revenue the deal doesn't work for the Fish.

 

Another issue that remains on the table is naming rights. The City wants a single name for the entire project, the Marlins want to close the construction $$$ shortfall for their stadium by selling the naming rights to their facility, the city wants all naming rights $$$ to go to funding the shared aspects of the two projects.

 

One last important $$$ consideration hinges on Hank Sopher closing his deal for the Miami Arena. Conceivably, as much as $180 million (over 30 years) in bed tax $$$ will be freed up for sports-related use, although nowhere near all of it will go the Fish, enough should be there to make sure the facility opens with a retractable roof in place.

 

The big stumbling block appears to be the use of eminent domain to secure the additional land needed to locate the Marlins stadium. Eminent doman is a long and time-consuming process and could take years. I understand there are some 26 property owners involved, creating a potential nightmare for the city and the Marlins and a windfall for the property owners, many of whom are speculators.

Two things:

 

1. I was under the impression that the $137 mil that the Marlins have offered included the naming rights (Loria can't just find that cash lying around, he's not worth much more than $400 mil) and this could prove to be a deal-breaker if we can't sell naming rights outright instead of having to share them.

 

2. The eminent domain issue was the main reason the Marlins walked in the first place, because if they aren't able to get the land around the facility for parking, they're actually in worse shape in the OB than in Pro Player because at least Wayne gives 20% of the parking money to us, we get 0% of the "lawn" money.

 

 

If this is the only way to keep the Marlins in South Florida, so be it, but I'll bet anyone that 15 years from now (if they're at the OB) we're going to be b***hing about how dumb and idea it was... Your b***hing about it now , give it a rest.... why don't you wait to see how everything turns out before making comments like that....

at least it's not that tacky conjoined facility and importantly a roof. i can't wait to see the sketches of the park. question if they put the stadium so you can see the skyline is the OB in the way? very good developement.

TSwift - all of your comments are always negative. It sounds like you'd rather have the Marlins move out of S. Fla than have the stadium built in the OB. I would rather have it built by the County Line but no ones offering that option. Just be glad that this will keep the Marlins here and that you at least have the option of driving down to the games vs taking an airplane to see the N. Virginia Marlins.

TSwift - all of your comments are always negative. It sounds like you'd rather have the Marlins move out of S. Fla than have the stadium built in the OB. I would rather have it built by the County Line but no ones offering that option. Just be glad that this will keep the Marlins here and that you at least have the option of driving down to the games vs taking an airplane to see the N. Virginia Marlins.

How am I being negative?

 

 

Put the homerism away for just one second and look at this. A month ago, when there were the "polls" conducted here, no one wanted the OB site, now, everyone's treating it like the greatest thing ever. Too many of you are way to overexcited about issues, at least have the balls to stick to your opinions. All along, I've maintained that I think that the OB is a horrible site, it'll turn off more fans than it'll create, and we get zero parking money (the #2 reason we want out of the Pro). As it stands right now, we still don't even have enough money to finance the damn thing, and the city of Miami is pushing hard for us to take the roof off so it'll cost less.

 

My point is: why settle for something that isn't going to help you simply to have it. The Marlins aren't moving out of the state, plain and simple, the Expos have been trying to move for what seems like forever, and that still hasn't worked out.

 

I'm sorry if you find me to be negative when I speak about the stadium, but maybe the truth hurts. If you want me to lie and be positive fine, here it goes:

 

David Samson is one of the most wonderful negotiators the world has ever seen. By continually pushing back the deadline, he gains much needed respect from the parties he's negotiating with. Additionally, his shroud of "mystery" around the stadium is a much needed breath of fresh air; I simply hate it when people clearly map out what they're going to do, especially when dealing with an issue of this magnitude.