September 20, 200521 yr http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/sou...-home-headlines Weston officials pitch stadium as Marlins' home and hurricane shelter By Joe Kollin And Sarah Talalay Staff Writers Posted September 20 2005 In a move they say could score home runs with both the Florida Marlins and those who aren't baseball fans, two Weston officials will ask Gov. Jeb Bush this week to back a proposal letting local governments join with the Marlins to build a single venue to serve as a baseball stadium and center for hurricane evacuees. Weston Mayor Eric Hersh and City Manager John Flint said a combined site would justify using public money to finance a venue for the Marlins because it would also give the governments of Broward, Miami-Dade and possibly Palm Beach counties a facility with showers, food service, water and other necessities to house evacuees. They sent letters last week to Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess and Marlins President David Samson suggesting the public-private partnership. They plan to send a similar letter to Gov. Bush. They also will suggest President George Bush consider the concept nationally to help sports teams fund venues while avoiding future problems similar to what happened during and after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. To work here, Hersh and Flint said, the venue would have to be near Dolphins Stadium at the Broward-Miami-Dade line rather than near the Orange Bowl. The location also would be closer to Palm Beach County should residents there need it as a refuge. Weston, which has no land available for development, would be involved only as an interested party. "This would be a win-win for everyone," Hersh said. "The Marlins are looking at building a stadium, we in government should be looking at ways to protect the public and this may be one way to do both." "A lot of people oppose using tax dollars to finance a stadium because they live too far or have no interest in the sport," Flint said. "But if it can be demonstrated that the public has a potential use of a facility, then elected officials at every level would have a much better case for justifying public participation." Burgess was busy with hurricane preparations Monday and said he had not reviewed the letter, a spokeswoman said. Samson said he could not comment as he had not received the letter, a team spokesman said. The Republican governor and Republican-controlled Legislature would have to approve -- and state Rep. Susan Goldstein, R-Weston, said she does. Goldstein said such a venue could provide "a safe environment" for residents as well as a place for hospital patients and people with special needs. "I was thinking we could have extra generators, extra tanks of water, distribution plans for food," she added. "We could have the stands recessed so there's more land on the ground if they had to expand to accommodate more people. What taxpayer would vote against it? And we could still find a way to keep the Marlins here." Hersh and Flint said the Marlins would be responsible for the portion of the expense attributable to baseball. Local government would pay for the added expense of making the facility strong enough to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, plus the expanded restrooms, showers and food service facilities needed to accommodate evacuees. "We learned two things from Katrina," Flint said. "One, when government orders an evacuation, it must provide a means for all persons to evacuate and two, you have to provide a shelter with an adequate means to maintain order, hygiene, food and most of all, dignity." Last week the Marlins' stadium plan was dealt a significant blow when Miami-Dade County officials said they were reluctant to contribute more time and dollars to the project. They said a funding gap projected in May at $30 million has ballooned to as much as $100 million and they have no more dollars to give. Joe Kollin can be reached at jkollin@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7913.
September 20, 200521 yr Great idea. Hopefully the Marlins are receptive, though I'm not getting my hopes up.
September 20, 200521 yr Sounds like a great Idea. One thing I wonder is how BIG will this place be. To make it worth anything to all counties the plae has got to be HUGE.
September 20, 200521 yr Its not a bad idea. However, realistically baseball is played during hurricane season. What happens to the people that want to go to the games and you have all these other people being sheltered/homeless in the same stadium? What then? There are plenty of shelters around Broward and Dade. The pitch that this stadium would be used as a hurricane shelter...I would not buy into that.
September 20, 200521 yr Kewl idea, but Weston is sorta more outta the way for Dade residents. They should just keep developing Western Broward, it's still a place everyone wants to live for some reason.
September 20, 200521 yr This plan is as credible as the Don King idea and the Hialeah Race Track site.
September 20, 200521 yr Kewl idea, but Weston is sorta more outta the way for Dade residents.? They should just keep developing Western Broward, it's still a place everyone wants to live for some reason. 954480[/snapback] To work here, Hersh and Flint said, the venue would have to be near Dolphins Stadium at the Broward-Miami-Dade line rather than near the Orange Bowl. The location also would be closer to Palm Beach County should residents there need it as a refuge. Weston, which has no land available for development, would be involved only as an interested party. 954304[/snapback]
September 20, 200521 yr Its not a bad idea. However, realistically baseball is played during hurricane season. What happens to the people that want to go to the games and you have all these other people being sheltered/homeless in the same stadium? What then? There are plenty of shelters around Broward and Dade. The pitch that this stadium would be used as a hurricane shelter...I would not buy into that. 954476[/snapback] There won't be any games during a hurricane.
September 20, 200521 yr This plan is as credible as the Don King idea and the Hialeah Race Track site. 954483[/snapback] Word. Weston is just way too suburban and far from Miami for it to be a serious site. Football is more of a commuter sport but in basbeall, with games every night, no one wants to drive an hour on a weeknight.
September 20, 200521 yr This plan is as credible as the Don King idea and the Hialeah Race Track site. 954483[/snapback] Word. Weston is just way too suburban and far from Miami for it to be a serious site. Football is more of a commuter sport but in basbeall, with games every night, no one wants to drive an hour on a weeknight. 954492[/snapback] For the second time, Weston would not be the site of the stadium. Read the article.
September 20, 200521 yr I live in Weston. State Rep Susan Goldstein backs the Stadium, but State Senator Nan Rich voted against it.
September 20, 200521 yr This plan is as credible as the Don King idea and the Hialeah Race Track site. 954483[/snapback] Word. Weston is just way too suburban and far from Miami for it to be a serious site. Football is more of a commuter sport but in basbeall, with games every night, no one wants to drive an hour on a weeknight. 954492[/snapback] For the second time, Weston would not be the site of the stadium. Read the article. 954494[/snapback] Hahah. I see. I saw Weston and I immediatley took it as baloney.
September 20, 200521 yr I love the idea, but I'll wait till the Marlins respond before getting excited
September 20, 200521 yr Its really a good idea and with the idea of expanded showers and facilities, hopefully it would avoid the disaster that happend inside the Superdome.
September 20, 200521 yr Its not a bad idea. However, realistically baseball is played during hurricane season. What happens to the people that want to go to the games and you have all these other people being sheltered/homeless in the same stadium? What then? There are plenty of shelters around Broward and Dade. The pitch that this stadium would be used as a hurricane shelter...I would not buy into that. 954476[/snapback] There won't be any games during a hurricane. 954491[/snapback] After the hurricane when there is people without homes or people who have traveled for safe refuge. Everyone knows you cannot play during a Hurricane. What will you do with the people that are still there for shelter and have no place to go after the Hurricanes are over? You just cant kick them out because you have to play ball. The stadium will not get built around the Dolphins stadium. Wayne owns all that land and plans to build his Dolphins town/village. He actually does have plans for this. I would love to see a stadium out their to please all fans however you need to look at this realistically.
September 20, 200521 yr It's a refreshing idea. Sure it has the potential to disrupt the baseball schedule if a major hurricane ever hits. But just how often does that happen? It is certainly worth serious consideration if this is the final financial piece necessary to get things moving.
September 20, 200521 yr A dream come true, if its meant to be a mega shelter, it would amazingly well built. Add in lorias great designs, "the marlins would only pay for the baseball sections", tax payers wouldnt go against the hurricane shelter... and still in broward.. absolutly perfect.
September 20, 200521 yr This is a novel idea in terms of how to justify the funding (and the roof), as well as some good emergency planning in light of Katrina--kudos to the guys in Weston for thinking outside the box.
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