Marlins looking a bit like the old Expos

For years, Bud Selig & Co. fretted about getting a new stadium for the Montreal Expos. When that failed, relocating became just as big a problem.

 

The Expos have landed in Washington as the Nationals and, unless something goes haywire, will get a stadium in 2008.

 

With that fiasco out of the way, I wonder if the Florida Marlins are the next Montreal Expos. News reports out of Miami are alarmingly similar to what we read and wrote about the Expos five or six years ago.

 

Just the names ? and dateline ? have changed. Could it happen again?

 

"I don't think so," says Bob DuPuy, Major League Baseball president. "But it's very bothersome for the commissioner that three ownership groups have tried unsuccessfully to get what is absolutely necessary ? a new stadium for the Marlins."

 

DuPuy dispatched a letter May 12 to the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County telling the politicians they have until June 9 to revise their financial plans for a new ballpark or ...

 

"It wasn't an ultimatum," DuPuy insists. "What was I supposed to do, say I'd like a report sometime when you get around to it? You have to put in a date. I gave them a month, asking where are you and where are you going?"

 

Meanwhile, cities such as Las Vegas, Portland, Ore., and Monterrey, Mexico, are waiting in the wings, ready to make a pitch should the Marlins reach the stage where they cannot continue in Florida. That time hasn't arrived.

 

Jeffrey Loria, after a 10-hour flight from France on Thursday, declined comment other than to say, "We're reviewing our options."

 

Loria, who owned the Expos before selling them to MLB, has been working in earnest the last three years to get the new ballpark. The former Expos owner has kept a low profile, being careful not to taint a sensitive situation with threats of moving.

 

Yet what's going on in South Florida is puzzling.

 

"This is clearly a major league market," Selig says. "It certainly has the demographics, and we want to be there. Without question, this team needs a new stadium. They've tried desperately to get one, and it's frustrating."

 

On the field, the Marlins have been extremely successful, producing championship baseball. They arrived in 1993 as an expansion franchise and in 1997 won their first World Series. In 2003, manager Jack McKeon guided them to their second title.

 

They've had three consecutive winning seasons and entered this interleague weekend at home against Tampa Bay trailing Atlanta in the NL East by a half-game.

 

With those credentials, getting a new stadium shouldn't be a problem. But owners Wayne Huizenga, John Henry and now Loria couldn't convince governments to help build the facility.

 

One of the major problems in this area is the uncertainty of summer weather. Late afternoon showers are almost a daily occurrence, causing many would-be fans to stay home. A retractable roof is a must.

 

The Marlins want a $420 million, 38,000-seat ballpark with an "umbrella." A plot of real estate near the Orange Bowl in downtown Miami has been selected.

 

The Marlins have been playing at the Dolphins' football stadium since they joined the National League. That facility ? n?e Joe Robbie Stadium, then Pro Player Stadium, now Dolphins Stadium ? is dreadful for baseball.

 

Add to that the Marlins have one of the worst leases in baseball, and you can fill in the blanks.

 

According to the Associated Press, city and county officials pledged $166 million toward the new ballpark. Loria agreed to pay $192 million in rent, and a $32 million parking garage was expected to pay for itself.

 

The problem? A $30 million gap that was supposed to be funded by the state. The Marlins asked lawmakers for a $60 million tax rebate, but the Florida Senate ended its session May 6 without hearing the measure.

 

There's an outside chance Gov. Jeb Bush will call the legislature back for a special session, but there's no guarantee that will happen or the measure will be approved.

 

DuPuy offered some solutions to cover the $30 million gap in his letter. He also stated "the Marlins are one of the only teams currently expected to continue losing money through 2006."

 

DuPuy didn't say it, but the franchise is also a drain on MLB's revenue-sharing pool because of its red ink. It's unlikely a stadium at best will open before 2009.

 

"The commissioner is disappointed that after all the efforts over nearly 10 years by three ownership groups that a financial plan for a new stadium did not come to fruition this year when it appeared to be so close," DuPuy says.

 

Selig let the Montreal situation drag on for what seemed to be an eternity before finally pulling the trigger on the Expos move.

 

If anything, he learned a lesson with that experience and probably won't be so patient a second time.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/co...-ballpark_x.htm

We are not like the old Expos, cause we actually have won championships, and about the stadium, we will get it done, cause we are spending money, and building this ballclub, and as I see it fans are becoming crazy about baseball in South Florida, soon the vision many had about Miami being a gold mine for baseball will become a reality, just watch!!

the expos were a franchise that was crippled by the strike and alienated its own fan base with repeated fire sales.

 

oh, and this guy should get his facts straight - we've had two consecutive winnings, not 3, unless they decided to end the season now without telling me.

I'd also like to say that I disagree with the idea that PPS is "dreadful for baseball." While it's not the greatest stadium in the world, it's certainly more than adequate, and Wayne's putting the screws to the Fish on the lease is the more pressing reason to have a new park built, not necessarily the stadium itself.

I'm a big Marlins fan. BUT...........

 

I see what the guy is trying to say. We are not like the Expos at all in regards to the fact that we've won 2 championships where the Expos never won squat. But other than those 2 years, the other similarities are there:

 

1) Fans don't show up to games

2) A lot of people hate the stadium

3) Ownership has attempted and has failed to get the team the stadium it needs

4) Low payroll

 

I know the team has had 2 successful years, and has the ability this year to make it to the WS. But ownership is looking for long term stability, not the opportunity to have a great single year. If they don't get a new stadium deal done in Miami in the next year or two, they're gone. I REALLY hope they don't go to Vegas, because that just makes no sense to me. But the fact is they're gonna go where there are enough dollar signs to build a stadium. I mean a stadium proposal can be shot down only so many times......

I'm a big Marlins fan. BUT...........

 

I see what the guy is trying to say. We are not like the Expos at all in regards to the fact that we've won 2 championships where the Expos never won squat. But other than those 2 years, the other similarities are there:

 

1) Fans don't show up to games

2) A lot of people hate the stadium

3) Ownership has attempted and has failed to get the team the stadium it needs

4) Low payroll

 

I know the team has had 2 successful years, and has the ability this year to make it to the WS. But ownership is looking for long term stability, not the opportunity to have a great single year. If they don't get a new stadium deal done in Miami in the next year or two, they're gone. I REALLY hope they don't go to Vegas, because that just makes no sense to me. But the fact is they're gonna go where there are enough dollar signs to build a stadium. I mean a stadium proposal can be shot down only so many times......

778215[/snapback]

 

1) 50% increase in attendance last two years.

2) Can't argue with that.

3) True.

4) That's called being efficient. We should win 90+ games this year. Having a high payroll doesn't guarantee anything.

Oh I agree with the efficiency part, overall I think this franchise has done a great job when it comes to spending money. There have been A LOT of great roster decisions. Of course there have been bad ones too, but hey that's the way it goes.

 

And the attendance has been up the last 2 years, and that certainly needs to continue as long as this issue remains open. Because if there is any sign that baseball is not viable in South Florida, then that team is gone

Yelp.

 

This comes from Bud's boy Bodley.

 

Gesturing?

I'm a big Marlins fan. BUT...........

 

I see what the guy is trying to say. We are not like the Expos at all in regards to the fact that we've won 2 championships where the Expos never won squat. But other than those 2 years, the other similarities are there:

 

1) Fans don't show up to games

2) A lot of people hate the stadium

3) Ownership has attempted and has failed to get the team the stadium it needs

4) Low payroll

 

I know the team has had 2 successful years, and has the ability this year to make it to the WS. But ownership is looking for long term stability, not the opportunity to have a great single year. If they don't get a new stadium deal done in Miami in the next year or two, they're gone. I REALLY hope they don't go to Vegas, because that just makes no sense to me. But the fact is they're gonna go where there are enough dollar signs to build a stadium. I mean a stadium proposal can be shot down only so many times......

778215[/snapback]

 

1) 50% increase in attendance last two years.

2) Can't argue with that.

3) True.

4) That's called being efficient. We should win 90+ games this year. Having a high payroll doesn't guarantee anything.

778218[/snapback]

 

 

low payroll doesn't mean anything unless you're the drays or brew crew...

 

the phillies have a 95 million dollar payroll and lets just say look at the mets.. especially the last few years.... i've got two words, mo vaughn

I'm a big Marlins fan.? BUT...........

 

I see what the guy is trying to say.? We are not like the Expos at all in regards to the fact that we've won 2 championships where the Expos never won squat.? But other than those 2 years, the other similarities are there:

 

1) Fans don't show up to games

2) A lot of people hate the stadium

3) Ownership has attempted and has failed to get the team the stadium it needs

4) Low payroll

 

I know the team has had 2 successful years, and has the ability this year to make it to the WS.? But ownership is looking for long term stability, not the opportunity to have a great single year.? If they don't get a new stadium deal done in Miami in the next year or two, they're gone.? I REALLY hope they don't go to Vegas, because that just makes no sense to me.? But the fact is they're gonna go where there are enough dollar signs to build a stadium.? I mean a stadium proposal can be shot down only so many times......

778215[/snapback]

 

1) 50% increase in attendance last two years.

2) Can't argue with that.

3) True.

4) That's called being efficient. We should win 90+ games this year. Having a high payroll doesn't guarantee anything.

778218[/snapback]

 

 

low payroll doesn't mean anything unless you're the drays or brew crew...

 

the phillies have a 95 million dollar payroll and lets just say look at the mets.. especially the last few years.... i've got two words, mo vaughn

778263[/snapback]

 

A big payroll doesn't mean anything. We beat the Yankees in 2003 with a $65 million payroll when the Yanks had a $140 million payroll

The Yankees payroll is $208 million and their 5.5 games back in the AL East. They will have to pay such a large fine for going over the Salary Cap that the amount will be more then the Devil Rays payroll for this year.