Lets stick together Marlins fans

[Teal Shadow]

I would like to start by saying thank you...Thank you to Mr. Loria, Thank you to the city of Miami, and County officials. A dream that all Marlins fans have had is about to come true. A place we could all call home. Its not over yet...but it so close.

 

Now I would like to address those north county fans. The palm beach/ broward county fans. Why all the negative views toward a new home a little further south? The Marlins can't stay in PPS or anywhere near there. This deal is securing the Marlins future in this area. Would you rather travel an extra 30-45 min. in a car or a extra 2-3 hrs by plane to go to a Marlins game? We all on this board love this team and want whats best from them on the field and off of it. So please understand the Marlins aren't taken the Marlins away from you. The Marlins tried to work with Wayne to no avail. Be happy...it a new era. This is not only be Miami's team, but South Florida team(even though part of deal with Miami officials is to change the name of the team). So with open arms we ask you to stay and root for your FISH even if it a little further south. :thumbup

[zzdunlapj]

I don't even live in South Florida, but I think it is safe to say that 99% of the "northern counties" fans, if given a choice, would like a stadium closer to them, but would rather have the team anywhere in the So. Florida area if it means they are staying.

[PBMarlin]

Edcanes,

 

Don't think for a minute that the northern county fans won't still support the team 100%. They will.

 

I for one will not complain if the stadium at the OB means the team will be able to afford to sign some of our young talent to long term contracts.

 

That being said, the practical nature of the situation is I will not be able to attend as many games. The extra 1.5 hours to get there means I can't make it before the first pitch. I already get home around 11:30pm, and no way I could afford to get home at 1:00 in the morning and still make it to work the next day...so weekday games will be out for me. Period.

 

My attendance at games will drop more than 50%, that is a fact of life that I cannot do anything about.

 

The argument about flying 3 hours to a game is silly...since no fan, whether they live in Miami or elsewhere is going to do that 40 games a year...and likely not even a few.

 

Yes I want to see the Marlins do well, and this appears to be the only deal possible. So be it. I, like everyone else, hopes this works out for the best for everyone.

 

Go Marlins!!

[FishFan24]

I live in Pembroke Pines and while it will be a drive to get to the new stadium, I am so excited and happy that the Fish will FINALLY have a real place to call home. In fact I'm so excited that once I finish school up, I'm hoping to become a season ticket holder.

 

 

It doesn't matter where the stadium is located, just as long as my favorite Baseball team remains here in South Florida. :thumbup

[djm305]

Edcanes,

 

Don't think for a minute that the northern county fans won't still support the team 100%. They will.

 

I for one will not complain if the stadium at the OB means the team will be able to afford to sign some of our young talent to long term contracts.

 

That being said, the practical nature of the situation is I will not be able to attend as many games. The extra 1.5 hours to get there means I can't make it before the first pitch. I already get home around 11:30pm, and no way I could afford to get home at 1:00 in the morning and still make it to work the next day...so weekday games will be out for me. Period.

 

My attendance at games will drop more than 50%, that is a fact of life that I cannot do anything about.

 

The argument about flying 3 hours to a game is silly...since no fan, whether they live in Miami or elsewhere is going to do that 40 games a year...and likely not even a few.

 

Yes I want to see the Marlins do well, and this appears to be the only deal possible. So be it. I, like everyone else, hopes this works out for the best for everyone.

 

Go Marlins!!

agreed, also think about the fact that for every one in your situation there is probably someone who lives or works in downtown Miami or further south in Miami somewhere who makes that same argument about PPS and will NOW be able to attend. There is a Balance there, I think it will work out.

[PBMarlin]

Edcanes,

 

Don't think for a minute that the northern county fans won't still support the team 100%. They will.

 

I for one will not complain if the stadium at the OB means the team will be able to afford to sign some of our young talent to long term contracts.

 

That being said, the practical nature of the situation is I will not be able to attend as many games. The extra 1.5 hours to get there means I can't make it before the first pitch. I already get home around 11:30pm, and no way I could afford to get home at 1:00 in the morning and still make it to work the next day...so weekday games will be out for me. Period.

 

My attendance at games will drop more than 50%, that is a fact of life that I cannot do anything about.

 

The argument about flying 3 hours to a game is silly...since no fan, whether they live in Miami or elsewhere is going to do that 40 games a year...and likely not even a few.

 

Yes I want to see the Marlins do well, and this appears to be the only deal possible. So be it. I, like everyone else, hopes this works out for the best for everyone.

 

Go Marlins!!

agreed, also think about the fact that for every one in your situation there is probably someone who lives or works in downtown Miami or further south in Miami somewhere who makes that same argument about PPS and will NOW be able to attend. There is a Balance there, I think it will work out. You know, I hope you are right, and I hope the Marlins have done their homework.

 

However, if you look at the per capita income....you'll see that Dade County has the lowest, by far, of Palm Beach, Broward and Dade....which means less disposable income for entertainment. It could end up being a situation where the stadium is in the middle of an area with lots of fans who cannot afford to attend. I hope I am wrong, but that is a statistic that cannot be overlooked.

[FishFan24]

You know, I hope you are right, and I hope the Marlins have done their homework.

 

However, if you look at the per capita income....you'll see that Dade County has the lowest, by far, of Palm Beach, Broward and Dade....which means less disposable income for entertainment. It could end up being a situation where the stadium is in the middle of an area with lots of fans who cannot afford to attend. I hope I am wrong, but that is a statistic that cannot be overlooked.

 

 

Wouldn't the Heat be caught in that same situation?

[FreshFish]

I'm in Broward and I'm happy to see the fish getting close on getting a new home.

 

I will continue to attend to games as much as possible.

[PBMarlin]

You know, I hope you are right, and I hope the Marlins have done their homework.

 

However, if you look at the per capita income....you'll see that Dade County has the lowest, by far, of Palm Beach, Broward and Dade....which means less disposable income for entertainment. It could end up being a situation where the stadium is in the middle of an area with lots of fans who cannot afford to attend. I hope I am wrong, but that is a statistic that cannot be overlooked.

 

 

Wouldn't the Heat be caught in that same situation? Yes, they would.

 

However the Heat have average attendance of 15K per game. This will not be adequate for the Marlins to increase payroll significantly.

[Flying_Mollusk]

I would like to start by saying thank you...Thank you to Mr. Loria, Thank you to the city of Miami, and County officials. A dream that all Marlins fans have had is about to come true. A place we could all call home. Its not over yet...but it so close.

 

Now I would like to address those north county fans. The palm beach/ broward county fans. Why all the negative views toward a new home a little further south? The Marlins can't stay in PPS or anywhere near there. This deal is securing the Marlins future in this area. Would you rather travel an extra 30-45 min. in a car or a extra 2-3 hrs by plane to go to a Marlins game? We all on this board love this team and want whats best from them on the field and off of it. So please understand the Marlins aren't taken the Marlins away from you. The Marlins tried to work with Wayne to no avail. Be happy...it a new era. This is not only be Miami's team, but South Florida team(even though part of deal with Miami officials is to change the name of the team). So with open arms we ask you to stay and root for your FISH even if it a little further south. :thumbup

Edcanes, you think this is a done deal even if the state doesnt pitch in? Will the construction start in the fall? The anxiety is killing me. I feel like Woody Allen!

[djm305]

Edcanes,

 

Don't think for a minute that the northern county fans won't still support the team 100%. They will.

 

I for one will not complain if the stadium at the OB means the team will be able to afford to sign some of our young talent to long term contracts.

 

That being said, the practical nature of the situation is I will not be able to attend as many games. The extra 1.5 hours to get there means I can't make it before the first pitch. I already get home around 11:30pm, and no way I could afford to get home at 1:00 in the morning and still make it to work the next day...so weekday games will be out for me. Period.

 

My attendance at games will drop more than 50%, that is a fact of life that I cannot do anything about.

 

The argument about flying 3 hours to a game is silly...since no fan, whether they live in Miami or elsewhere is going to do that 40 games a year...and likely not even a few.

 

Yes I want to see the Marlins do well, and this appears to be the only deal possible. So be it. I, like everyone else, hopes this works out for the best for everyone.

 

Go Marlins!!

agreed, also think about the fact that for every one in your situation there is probably someone who lives or works in downtown Miami or further south in Miami somewhere who makes that same argument about PPS and will NOW be able to attend. There is a Balance there, I think it will work out. You know, I hope you are right, and I hope the Marlins have done their homework.

 

However, if you look at the per capita income....you'll see that Dade County has the lowest, by far, of Palm Beach, Broward and Dade....which means less disposable income for entertainment. It could end up being a situation where the stadium is in the middle of an area with lots of fans who cannot afford to attend. I hope I am wrong, but that is a statistic that cannot be overlooked. That may be so but again there is a balance, there is a much alrger population in Dade not ALL of them are poor and even the ones that are can afford the cheap seats. There is also a good share of people with money down here. You guys up north sure have a skewed vision of Dade County. I think it will be fine.

[PBMarlin]

That may be so but again there is a balance, there is a much larger population in Dade not ALL of them are poor and even the ones that are can afford the cheap seats. There is also a good share of people with money down here. You guys up north sure have a skewed vision of Dade County. I think it will be fine.

You may very well be right.....and I hope you are.

 

Time will tell. The overall increase in fan interest and support that will come with a new stadium could be enough to fill it regardless of where it is built.

[dirtpeddler]

Edcanes,

 

Don't think for a minute that the northern county fans won't still support the team 100%. They will.

 

I for one will not complain if the stadium at the OB means the team will be able to afford to sign some of our young talent to long term contracts.

 

That being said, the practical nature of the situation is I will not be able to attend as many games. The extra 1.5 hours to get there means I can't make it before the first pitch. I already get home around 11:30pm, and no way I could afford to get home at 1:00 in the morning and still make it to work the next day...so weekday games will be out for me. Period.

 

My attendance at games will drop more than 50%, that is a fact of life that I cannot do anything about.

 

The argument about flying 3 hours to a game is silly...since no fan, whether they live in Miami or elsewhere is going to do that 40 games a year...and likely not even a few.

 

Yes I want to see the Marlins do well, and this appears to be the only deal possible. So be it. I, like everyone else, hopes this works out for the best for everyone.

 

Go Marlins!!

agreed, also think about the fact that for every one in your situation there is probably someone who lives or works in downtown Miami or further south in Miami somewhere who makes that same argument about PPS and will NOW be able to attend. There is a Balance there, I think it will work out. :mischief2 I dunno . Is the population south of Miami as large as it is north?

[BroadwayBaby84]

You know, I hope you are right, and I hope the Marlins have done their homework.

 

However, if you look at the per capita income....you'll see that Dade County has the lowest, by far, of Palm Beach, Broward and Dade....which means less disposable income for entertainment. It could end up being a situation where the stadium is in the middle of an area with lots of fans who cannot afford to attend. I hope I am wrong, but that is a statistic that cannot be overlooked.

 

 

Wouldn't the Heat be caught in that same situation? Yes, they would.

 

However the Heat have average attendance of 15K per game. This will not be adequate for the Marlins to increase payroll significantly. dont they make more money on TV spots then with attendance?

 

and i think the point of the flying 2 hours to a game thing was that no one would go.

 

PPS is pretty damn close to me and honestly it would be hell going to a game in downtown but i think i can deal

[gobucks]

PBMarlin,

 

Your demographic information on the tri-county area may be accurate but is very skewed. The numbers for Dade county are skewed downward because there are so many people on the low end of the demographic spectrum. There is a greater number of people in Dade county on the high end of the demographic spectrum than in Broward or PB. Just think overall population.

 

When Merrick Park was being built the Rouse company did a demographic study of the zip codes in the area and found that the 33156 ( i think that was it) zip code was the best demographic Zip code in the state. IMO this precise area will add alot of season ticket holders. This area now needs to take the Palmetto Expressway at 6pm to get to weekday games at JRS - horrific.

 

Some Broward and PB fans will be lost but there will be fans gained . In addition, Broward and Dade fans may get smaller ticket plans while dade fans ( myself) will increase their ticket plans.

[drguava]

I live in Broward and work in South Miami Dade and I will have no problems going to games in the new stadium. I have a 20 game Saturday Package which I also had last year.

 

As far as our Florida legislators they are a joke if any of them had any balls which I doubt because Mr Hueizenga cut them off a long time ago they would have rescinded the $60 million dollars they are giving to Wayne for the Marlins.

 

Do you know that if the Marlins don't get a staadium and they left Florida Hueizenga would still collect the payments from the state for another 16 years I still can believe that nobody in our legislative body questions this.

 

Two years ago our Florida legislators graciously handed out $55 million dollars to build new or upgrade existing spring training facilities for teams from outside of Florida. I have lived here in South Florida for over 20 years and I can tell you that nevermind two years ago but five years ago our schools were already overcrowded and roads congested how come that money wasn't use for those purposes back then. I will make a prediction somehow next year Ft Lauderdale will get the $9 million dollars they need to renovate Ft Laderdale stadium for the Baltimore Orioles of course this will be hidden under the name of the Tourism. I guess we donot get enough tourist here in Ft Lauderdale in March. You all know why this will happen because it does not affect Wayne's bottom line.

 

I have writen to Byrd, King, and Bush concerning my displeasure on how they are handling this issue and I as usual I have received no response. The Florida legislators should have beeen more political when handling this issue especially as it relates to South Florida constituents they should have at least stated if not this year then we will consider next year when the plan is put together but instead they are just being pricks like Mr King saying 'never'.

 

I know I am only one vote but I know come November I am going to vote for change. If the people in charge don't care about my concerns then I am going to use the one avenue available to me.

[FreshFish]

I live in Broward and work in South Miami Dade and I will have no problems going to games in the new stadium. I have a 20 game Saturday Package which I also had last year.

 

As far as our Florida legislators they are a joke if any of them had any balls which I doubt because Mr Hueizenga cut them off a long time ago they would have rescinded the $60 million dollars they are giving to Wayne for the Marlins.

 

Do you know that if the Marlins don't get a staadium and they left Florida Hueizenga would still collect the payments from the state for another 16 years I still can believe that nobody in our legislative body questions this.

 

Two years ago our Florida legislators graciously handed out $55 million dollars to build new or upgrade existing spring training facilities for teams from outside of Florida. I have lived here in South Florida for over 20 years and I can tell you that nevermind two years ago but five years ago our schools were already overcrowded and roads congested how come that money wasn't use for those purposes back then. I will make a prediction somehow next year Ft Lauderdale will get the $9 million dollars they need to renovate Ft Laderdale stadium for the Baltimore Orioles of course this will be hidden under the name of the Tourism. I guess we donot get enough tourist here in Ft Lauderdale in March. You all know why this will happen because it does not affect Wayne's bottom line.

 

I have writen to Byrd, King, and Bush concerning my displeasure on how they are handling this issue and I as usual I have received no response. The Florida legislators should have beeen more political when handling this issue especially as it relates to South Florida constituents they should have at least stated if not this year then we will consider next year when the plan is put together but instead they are just being pricks like Mr King saying 'never'.

 

I know I am only one vote but I know come November I am going to vote for change. If the people in charge don't care about my concerns then I am going to use the one avenue available to me.

great post

[miami15]

The extra 1.5 hours to get there means I can't make it before the first pitch. I already get home around 11:30pm, and no way I could afford to get home at 1:00 in the morning and still make it to work the next day...so weekday games will be out for me.

Who are you kidding? The OB is only about 20 minutes past PPS on I-95, not 90 minutes. And at night, driving from the OB to PBC, you'll only have to drive an extra 15 minutes or so. It really isn't that much worse at all.

[bman8316]

I live down here in Coral Springs, so a new stadium is going to be a long drive. But you know what these are the Marlins we are talking about so I will deal with it, I know that all in all the stadium is good for the team becasue now guys like Lowell and Castillo will be staying and we will have the money to go after some other free agents. I may not be able to go out to as many games as I do now but that is what TV is for and when ever I have the chance I will get up and make sure that I am there supporting the team.

[Accord]

I currently live 90 minutes north of Pro Player and have a 41 game flex plan, there's no way i'll be able to go to 41 games if the team moves even further south.

 

There are just TOO MANY people from Palm Beach and Broward County (mostly Broward) that go to Marlins games, I read an article a few weeks ago, it was in either the Sun Sentinel or the Miami Herald (can't remember) but it said that on average 71% of all fans in attendance at Marlins games are from Broward county and farther north and 79% of all season ticket sales (partial and full) are from residents in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Just because there are a lot of people in Miami with a lot of money means absolutely nothing, because from the statistics it's obvious none of them are willing to spend it on season tickets. These same figures are almost identical to that of the Miami HEAT as well, the majority of people in attendance and the majority of their season ticket sales all come from people in Broward and Palm Beach.

 

It's obvious and it has been obvious for a long time that very few fans in Miami-Dade county support the team, and even right now the majority of fans in attendance are from Broward and up. Broward county has the fastest growing population of any other county in the entire country, people are moving OUT of Miami and into Broward in record numbers, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to move the team even further south.

 

When the stadium is built, it will be packed and fans will be coming from all over, but after the first season the nastalgia and curiosity factor will have worn off and the attendance will be less than it currently is now.

 

I love the Marlins and support the team, but I hate the organization. I'm sure the new stadium will be extremely nice, from what i've heard it will have a retractable roof and more amenities than all of the new modern ballparks that have been recently built.

 

Mabye this is no big deal for those of you who only go to a couple of games a year or even month, but those of us with season tickets or half season tickets (who happen to live in Palm Beach and Broward which happens to be the majority of season ticket holders), it will be absolute hell to drive that far THAT often.

 

Face it, Miami just isn't a sports town. There may be a lot of people in Miami who support the team, but hardly anybody from Miami ever GOES to games and that is what counts. The city and residents of Miami have had their chance and failed miserably, now it's time to allow those of us who truly do support the team in a financial way by actually going to games on a regular basis and spending thousands of dollars a year on season tickets to have a team in our city and area.

 

Also, a lot of the players actually live in some of the upscale areas of Broward and Palm Beach County, a ton of them live in Weston and Boca Raton, so they'll also have to make the big trip south as well which i'm sure they won't be too happy with since they would be making the trip almost everyday during the season. If the new stadium is built, I bet a lot of players would actually move south.

[minus_13]

I read an article a few weeks ago, it was in either the Sun Sentinel or the Miami Herald (can't remember) but it said that on average 71% of all fans in attendance at Marlins games are from Broward county and farther north and 79% of all season ticket sales (partial and full) are from residents in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

 

I call B_llsh_t! -_- If there was even the slightest mention of a statistic like that printed in any newspapers in the 48 contiguous states, someone from this board would have had that posted right away. We are a smarter bunch than that here. :confused Either cite the source for such a ridiculous statistic, or I call B_llsh_t! :thumbdown

[rferry]

The reason why the majority (I don't know about 71% though) of fans that attend games are from the northern counties is that Pro Player is easier for them to get to.

A stadium downtown will attract a larger (poorer, but younger) population from Dade County as well as people from surrounding counties who work in the city.

There will be a shift in the fan base, and it will be one that will grow up as Marlins fans instead of the 8000 transplanted Yankee fans that have packed Pro Player in years past.

[drguava]

There was an interesting article in today's Sun Sentinel regarding our friends in the Florida legislature.

 

First is Mr Byrd he is running for the US Senate the article states: 'he has collected more than $2.3 million, with $1.6 million in the bank, for his upcoming US Senate run, and that's not including the checks he picked up in New York earlier this month when he was playing hooky from the House on a workday, and flying home on a private jet provided by an HMO that's a heavy campaign contributor and happens to be seeking a $140 million mental health contract from the state. Here was his arrogant attempt at damage control when the sordid details emerged: Why don't you call the campaign? I'm here to do the people's work in Tallahassee. The fund raisin committee for Byrd's Senate bid is called Friends of Johnnie Byrd. Among the 1482 who have contributed: H. Wayne Huizenga, Ft Lauderdale hotelier Linda Gill, Swap Shop owner Preston Henn, Boca Raton businessman Steven Scott and Jeb Bush's former business partner Armando Codina'

 

 

Second is Mr King the article states: 'Lawmakers doled out $1.5 million from a homeland security allocation to buy police and fire safety equipment for the town of Welaka and its 586 residents, though the town has only one cop and no fire personnel. Why is this a pressing security need? Well, otgoing Senate President Jim King has a home there and he jokingly said he worries about a middle-of-the-night rubber boat attack on my trailer'

 

Did you guys we really had a chance of getting the tax rebate for the stadium with these clowns in charge.

 

People of South Florida wakeup and make your vote count come November and if feel as outrage as I am pass it on to your family, friends and coworkers we can all make a difference come November.

 

Remember a vote for Byrd is a vote for Wayne!!!!!!

[minus_13]

Remember a vote for Byrd is a vote for Wayne!!!!!!

That's a great quote...

 

I appreciate your political activism, although I am not sure this is the best suited forum for it. :confused

[drguava]

Minus 13,

 

You are correct this is not the forum for it I just letting out some frustration out on how much control Wayne and how he pulls all the strings of our legislators, especially as it relates to sports in this town.

 

Lets Go Marlins!!!!