Three years after his initial proposal for a Major League Baseball stadium in Palm Beach County fizzled, Boynton Beach City Commissioner Muir C. "Mike" Ferguson is at it again.

 

During the past two months, Ferguson has written to the governor and the Florida Marlins about locating a new stadium on vacant land either near Boca Raton, Lake Worth or Delray Beach.

 

There are a few possible obstacles, he concedes. Oddly enough, in his own proposal, he allows it's "not a viable idea."

 

Still, he said his proposal might be one of the last hopes of keeping the team from moving out of state.

 

"Somebody has to come up with the $50 million in hard money," Ferguson said of his proposal. "I can get the rest financed."

 

His plan calls for a joint venture with a bank and "sophisticated leveraging." It would take $500 million to build a 45,000-seat domed stadium, according to Ferguson's estimate.

 

If his plan could win support this year, a stadium could be ready in 2008, Ferguson said.

 

Potential sites are a 40-acre tract south of Spanish River Boulevard in Boca Raton across from Florida Atlantic University; a 65-acre piece of city land in Lake Worth north of A.G. Holley Hospital; and a 70-acre, developer-owned tract on West Atlantic Avenue at One Mile Road west of Delray Beach.

 

Considering the ongoing cash shortfall for a new stadium in Miami, Ferguson said he is surprised his plan hasn't garnered more attention.

 

Miami and Miami-Dade officials have pledged $166 million to a new stadium, and the Marlins agreed to pay $192 million from future stadium revenue. Parking revenue would provide an additional $32 million, for a $390 million total. That would leave $30 million unfunded.

 

The state House passed a measure this year that would have provided the funds, but the Senate refused to consider the issue.

 

The Marlins politely declined Ferguson's help.

 

"Thank you very much for your proposal for a stadium in South Palm Beach County," Marlins Vice Chairman Joel Mael wrote. "At this time, we are going in a different direction."

 

Gov. Jeb Bush's office sent the commissioner an e-mail this month stating the governor will "consider your comments and those of other Floridians" on the stadium issue.

 

In 2002, Ferguson tried to entice Marlins officials with a proposal that suggested an unnamed California power company would offer a $350 million sponsorship for a ballpark in Boynton Beach near Gateway Boulevard and I-95. It failed to generate any support.

 

Despite the setbacks, Ferguson said he isn't giving up hope.

 

"We need to keep this ball team in South Florida," he said.

 

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/cont...bfish_0711.html

Stadium? where do I sign up

 

Keep it anywhere between Homestead and Jupiter and I'll be happy

Just another hairbrained scheme from Commissioner Ferguson. Trust me, nothing should be made of this. I do significant amount of work with the City Commission of Boynton Beach and this is NOT a city sponsored plan or idea.

it must have been a slow day in the palm beach post newsroom.

I love his passion to keep the Marlins in South Florida. As much as i would love to see a stadium in Downtown Miami or IN Dade County for that matter, if Palm Beach can get a stadium done than by all means Git-R-Done.

I wouldn't mind it one bit, but doubt very seriously this could ever happen.

 

Sounds like Ferguson has been spending too much time with Don King.

If a stadium is in Palm Beach instead of Las Vegas, that's very cool and I'm all for it.

 

But they lost this season ticket holder. I can barely make it to JRS on time for games, no way I can make it to Broward or even worse Palm Beach.

They need a centralized location much like JRS. Palm Beach county may build the stadium but who is going to go? This doesn't apply to everyone but it seems Palm Beach fans are just as bad, if not worse, than Miami fans. But as long as the Marlins are down here still I am ok with it.

Put it in boca right next to FAU that would ROCK! hehehe. They could rent it out to FAU to use too on days that marlins arent playing. I would Love this and would up my own package of season tickets to a full 81 games if this did take place. I can dream and hope at least this does indeed happen. I know the land they are talking of and it fits perfectly. It would be near the new FAU football stadium. So parking could be done easily too then.

 

I know it wont happen but a guy can dream right? Keep the fish here!

Palm beach is not a big market. For seats to sell it needs to in south broward or in dade, those are the most populous areas. JRS by the way is not really in a centralized area. Although it is in between the two counties, its really in the outskirts of both.

What the Marlins are attempting to do by siting the stadium at the OB (and I'm not saying I like the site) is to center it in where the population density is the greatest.

 

Moving to Palm Beach county doesn't offer the same population density.

oh MAN. palm beach! are you kidding. even if this had merit to it that would suck. say good bye to latin fans. say good bye to a fan base that is a couple of million people.

I don't think it would work in P.B.C... although it would be cool though, I've lived here in West palm all my life... Go South Florida Marlins!

:hat Three years after his initial proposal for a Major League Baseball stadium in Palm Beach County fizzled, Boynton Beach City Commissioner Muir C. "Mike" Ferguson is at it again.

 

During the past two months, Ferguson has written to the governor and the Florida Marlins about locating a new stadium on vacant land either near Boca Raton, Lake Worth or Delray Beach.

 

There are a few possible obstacles, he concedes. Oddly enough, in his own proposal, he allows it's "not a viable idea."

 

Still, he said his proposal might be one of the last hopes of keeping the team from moving out of state.

 

"Somebody has to come up with the $50 million in hard money," Ferguson said of his proposal. "I can get the rest financed."

 

His plan calls for a joint venture with a bank and "sophisticated leveraging." It would take $500 million to build a 45,000-seat domed stadium, according to Ferguson's estimate.

 

If his plan could win support this year, a stadium could be ready in 2008, Ferguson said.

 

Potential sites are a 40-acre tract south of Spanish River Boulevard in Boca Raton across from Florida Atlantic University; a 65-acre piece of city land in Lake Worth north of A.G. Holley Hospital; and a 70-acre, developer-owned tract on West Atlantic Avenue at One Mile Road west of Delray Beach.

 

Considering the ongoing cash shortfall for a new stadium in Miami, Ferguson said he is surprised his plan hasn't garnered more attention.

 

Miami and Miami-Dade officials have pledged $166 million to a new stadium, and the Marlins agreed to pay $192 million from future stadium revenue. Parking revenue would provide an additional $32 million, for a $390 million total. That would leave $30 million unfunded.

 

The state House passed a measure this year that would have provided the funds, but the Senate refused to consider the issue.

 

The Marlins politely declined Ferguson's help.

 

"Thank you very much for your proposal for a stadium in South Palm Beach County," Marlins Vice Chairman Joel Mael wrote. "At this time, we are going in a different direction."

 

Gov. Jeb Bush's office sent the commissioner an e-mail this month stating the governor will "consider your comments and those of other Floridians" on the stadium issue.

 

In 2002, Ferguson tried to entice Marlins officials with a proposal that suggested an unnamed California power company would offer a $350 million sponsorship for a ballpark in Boynton Beach near Gateway Boulevard and I-95. It failed to generate any support.

 

Despite the setbacks, Ferguson said he isn't giving up hope.

 

"We need to keep this ball team in South Florida," he said.

 

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/cont...bfish_0711.html

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i live in boca raton.i work in delray beach.i think the marlins belong in miami,but i also say,anything,anywhere,is better than no marlins baseabll at all.

if i have to relocate to miami,i will.if thet come up this way.fine.

but no matter where you live in the tri county area,consider losing them to las vegas as opposed to traveling a few more minutes to see them. :banghead

Personally I wouldnt mind the Marlins going to Boca. I plan on living in Boca in the future anyway.

Hell no i would rather stay in carol city.besides palm beach county residents dont show support for the marlins its all miami and part of broward.i am outraged that they are proposing a stadium for a county that doesnt even have high fan support for the marlins.id rather be called the miami marlins than the boca raton rats.

Hell no i would rather stay in carol city.besides palm beach county residents dont show support for the marlins its all miami and part of broward.i am outraged that they are proposing a stadium for a county that doesnt even have high fan support for the marlins.id rather be called the miami marlins than the boca raton rats.

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Most of the season ticket holders are from Palm Beach County.. :thumbup

how many season ticket holders 100?

how many season ticket holders 100?

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Nope... There are more season ticket holders in Palm Beach then in Broward and Dade. I am not sure if that is combined but I know more than half are from Palm Beach.. btw: I live in Palm Beach and I am a season ticket holder :thumbup

Hell no i would rather stay in carol city.besides palm beach county residents dont show support for the marlins its all miami and part of broward.i am outraged that they are proposing a stadium for a county that doesnt even have high fan support for the marlins.id rather be called the miami marlins than the boca raton rats.

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You don't have a clue what you are talking about. Spouting out comments that Palm Beach residents don't support the Marlins. How about backing up some of your baseless comments with facts.

Hell no i would rather stay in carol city.besides palm beach county residents dont show support for the marlins its all miami and part of broward.i am outraged that they are proposing a stadium for a county that doesnt even have high fan support for the marlins.id rather be called the miami marlins than the boca raton rats.

858171[/snapback]

 

Most of the season ticket holders are from Palm Beach County.. :thumbup

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Link?

Hell no i would rather stay in carol city.besides palm beach county residents dont show support for the marlins its all miami and part of broward.i am outraged that they are proposing a stadium for a county that doesnt even have high fan support for the marlins.id rather be called the miami marlins than the boca raton rats.

858171[/snapback]

 

Most of the season ticket holders are from Palm Beach County.. :thumbup

858172[/snapback]

Link?

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I dont have one but someone here posted something about this along time ago. And I know that Tommy/Rich/Len have mentioned this before.

 

Here is something about it.. (Accord) Linky

Sorry Holly, but I'd prefer something a little more concrete

They need a centralized location much like JRS. Palm Beach county may build the stadium but who is going to go? This doesn't apply to everyone but it seems Palm Beach fans are just as bad, if not worse, than Miami fans. But as long as the Marlins are down here still I am ok with it.

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I guess you live in Miami area. Up here in Melbourne (where there are plenty of Marlin fans) we feel the opposite of you. Currently we make trips to JRS for games. But we are all pretty much in agreement, if a stadium is built any further south than JRS we will stop going down there. It is about a 3 hour trip each way for us. Any place north of JRS is fine with us. You need to realize that the population in SE Florida is on the move north and the center is moving along with it. Actually I like going to JRS, it is very easy getting in and out of. Believe me that is good compared to many stadiums.

 

We were in Fenway Park, there you have some of the worse conditions, I have ever seen. We had to park about a mile from Fenway, and hope your car was still there after the game. Fenway itself is an old run down place. We paid around $50.00 for a seat, that was designed, in the early 1900s, for a midget, and was behind a steel beam. Those people need a new stadium also.

 

Where ever they build it, if they ever do. Parking needs to be a MAJOR consideration. My understanding of where they proposed to put it, in Miami, doesn't offer much along that line. Years ago I stopped going to UM football games after my car was broken into during a trip to a game, because we had to park away from the Orange Bowl. Don't get me wrong that can happen anyplace, but my point is you feel a lot more secure parking on the grounds of the stadium, rather than someplace else and having to walk to get to the game.

 

I think at this point the Marlins need to look at every proposal put before them. That is unless their intention is to move the team. I hope it is not the case but looks that way if they are just outright refusing to look into the Palm Beach County proposal.

 

Has anyone found any statistics of where fans come from that attend games? It would be interesting to see.