March 23, 200521 yr This is pretty interesting news. Capefish, if you don't mind I want to know how high up Ms. Detert is and whether her support would have any impact on the legislation. I'm not privy on who's who in politics. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/flo...la-news-florida Leader goes to bat for stadium The House's tourism chairman wants state to help with project. By Linda Kleindienst Tallahassee Bureau Chief Posted March 23 2005 TALLAHASSEE ? The Marlins' quest for a new downtown Miami home gained momentum in the Florida Legislature Tuesday, picking up encouragement from a key committee chairman who wants to see professional baseball teams stay in the state. Although getting state help to build a stadium is far from a done deal, the head of a key House committee on Tuesday said this year could be the team's best shot, particularly because of the economic development it could bring to downtown Miami and fears the team could leave. "I think they have a better chance this year," said House Tourism Chairman Nancy Detert, R-Venice. "They're in essence being evicted and I think people understand the issue. If it's ever going to happen, this is their best year." The Legislature is being flooded with requests to help professional sports teams and NASCAR but legislators appear ready to whittle that down, being most receptive to tax breaks that will stop teams from seeking new homes in other states. "We've got Grapefruit League issues. We've got NASCAR, the Marlins, the Orlando Magic. I'm glazing over," said House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City. "My own personal political instincts are that the more you have out there, the more mathematically difficult it is to pass." The Marlins are faced with having to leave their current home at Dolphins Stadium when the team's lease expires after the 2010 season. And there is growing concern about losing several Major League Baseball teams that are looking to upgrade or build new spring training venues. Arizona has made it no secret it wants to expand spring training offerings and among the teams that could be approached are the Baltimore Orioles, who train at the city-owned Fort Lauderdale Stadium but do not have a long-term lease. "It's an economic development issue. We need to change the public perception that we give tax breaks to sports teams in an arbitrary manner," Detert said. "These are renters. And it behooves us to keep up the facilities or we'll lose our renters." Miami-Dade business leaders along with officials from the county and city of Miami appeared before the committee on Tuesday to plead their case for a $60 million state sales tax break that would complete their $420 million financing plan for a Marlins ballpark east of the Orange Bowl. "We've been working on this for five years and we think it will have a significant impact on the community," said Ian Yorty, Miami-Dade County's tax collector, adding the stadium could bring an economic boom to the downtown area. "The site is key. It's an underdeveloped area ripe for development." He estimated that the stadium would generate about $8 million in sales taxes giving the state a $6 million profit after the county gets its $2 million rebate. The plan calls for Miami-Dade County, which would own the stadium, to kick in $138 million in bed taxes while the city would provide $28 million in tourist development taxes and the Marlins, $192 million in mostly rent payments. A $32 million parking garage would be self-financed by parking fees. A $30 million gap would be covered by state money. But because that debt would be paid off with interest at $2 million a year over 30 years, the total state sales tax rebate would be $60 million. "The city and county have gone the extra mile on this. It took them four years to get this far," said Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, the House sponsor of the Marlins tax-break bill. "Right now we're cautiously optimistic." In the Senate, Sen. Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah, chairman of the Miami-Dade County legislative delegation, is championing the Marlins' cause. And, unlike the past several years, Senate leaders are willing to listen. "The Senate president remains open minded on this and is giving us an opportunity to work on it," he said. Mark Hollis of the Tallahassee Bureau contributed to this report. Linda Kleindienst can be reached at lkleindienst@sun-sentinel.com or 850-224-6214.
March 23, 200521 yr Very interesting. If you don't mind, I will post the article on the newspage. Thanks for finding it!
March 23, 200521 yr Huizenga, in a twisted way, really helped the Marlins by announcing the end of their lease in 2010. The plan is gaining momentum. Everything is looking up.
March 23, 200521 yr Huizenga, in a twisted way, really helped the Marlins by announcing the end of their lease in 2010. The plan is gaining momentum. Everything is looking up. 718685[/snapback] Very good point. If all works out in the end we can look at having a new baseball stadium, a refurbished Orange Bowl and a state of the art Dolphin Stadium and entertainment complex. Everyone will be happy I've got my fingers crossed! :thumbup
March 23, 200521 yr This Terri Schiavo situation may take the heat off the stadium movement and allow this to succeed without as much friction as in previous years.
March 23, 200521 yr Huizenga, in a twisted way, really helped the Marlins by announcing the end of their lease in 2010. The plan is gaining momentum. Everything is looking up. 718685[/snapback] I, personally, think it was done by Wayne and Jeffrey on purpose for that exact reason.
March 23, 200521 yr Huizenga, in a twisted way, really helped the Marlins by announcing the end of their lease in 2010. The plan is gaining momentum. Everything is looking up. 718685[/snapback] I, personally, think it was done by Wayne and Jeffrey on purpose for that exact reason. 718954[/snapback] No I don't think Wayne did it to be nice. But I am not a Wayne hater, he owns the stadium and he can do with it as he pleases.
March 24, 200521 yr Recent article in the Sun-Sentinel suggests that Wayne would be willing to accomodate the Marlins if they needed to stay past 2010...it always has Wayne saying that he expects the Marlins to get their new ballpark. Encouraging news.
March 24, 200521 yr "They're in essence being evicted and I think people understand the issue. If it's ever going to happen, this is their best year." That about sums it up, at least someone in the state legislature is pushing that as the issue.
March 24, 200521 yr Huizenga, in a twisted way, really helped the Marlins by announcing the end of their lease in 2010. The plan is gaining momentum. Everything is looking up. 718685[/snapback] Looks like Wayne came to the same realization you did after reading the article: He is now publicly backing out on his threat to evict the Fish -- and just in time to change the lawmakers' minds too. What a scumbag.
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