October 20, 200422 yr How likely is it that the Marlins get the new stadium? I haven't heard anything about the situation in a while. Is there still a possibility outside the Nov. 1 deadline? Are the talks still going on? -- Eddy S., Miami, Fla. Next to the hundreds of letters wondering if Mike Lowell, Carl Pavano and Armando Benitez are coming back, stadium questions are the most popular. Eddy's letter reflects the thoughts of a lot of you who have taken the time to write. Call it a gut feeling, but I think a new stadium is on the horizon. I know others are more skeptical and I haven't talked to the politicians, although I've sat in on a Miami-Dade County Commission meeting before. But in talking with people in the organization, as well as the conversations with team president David Samson, signs are encouraging. In talks earlier this week, the indications I get are that things are plodding along. The team has maintained that it will not negotiate its stadium through the media. The fact that we aren't getting reports regularly on TV or in newspapers doesn't concern me, because team officials are in discussions, pretty much daily, regarding the stadium. The holdup remains the $30 million gap that has been widely reported. For those who haven't been following, the proposed park calls for a 38,000-seat, retractable-roof facility located next to the Orange Bowl in Miami. There are talks of going back to the state Legislature to get the final $30 million. Though that was shot down last May, the political climate likely will be different after the November elections. The team's efforts and those backing the stadium would bring a more organized, detailed plan to Tallahassee to complete funding. Now, there isn't a Nov. 1 deadline to get the stadium built. That deadline is tied into the clause in Lowell's contract. If the deal is done by Nov. 1, Lowell automatically is signed for three more seasons for about $24 million total. If it is not done, Lowell has a player option to either return for $7.5 million in '05 or become a free agent. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...s_fla&fext=.jsp
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