MIAMI -- South Florida and seven markets outside of the state have expressed interest in finding a new home for the Marlins.

 

Team president David Samson told the Miami Herald that the club has heard from seven cities interested in luring the Marlins out of South Florida.

 

On Nov. 22, Samson announced that the Marlins have been granted permission from Major League Baseball to seek relocation. Samson did not confirm the cities that have made contact, but already officials in Portland, Ore., and East Rutherford, N.J., have confirmed they've made contact. Puerto Rico also has expressed interest.

 

While no one is confirming publicly, Las Vegas is regarded as a front-runner, along with Portland.

 

"We're in the process of exploring, and that process takes time," Samson told the Herald.

 

The Marlins were cleared to seek relocation after the club termed their proposed deal to build a 38,000-seat, retractable-roof stadium next to the Orange Bowl in Miami collapsed recently.

 

The club had been hopeful of finalizing the $385 million project. The Marlins were putting forth $212 million, and there was a gap of $70 million when the deal fell apart.

 

The most realistic option for the Marlins remaining in the Miami area is working out a deal with Miami-Dade County officials and Wayne Huizenga for a new building on land near Dolphins Stadium.

 

The Marlins have played at Dolphins Stadium since their inception in 1993. Samson told the Herald that the team and Huizenga have agreed about the price of the land, but there is a funding gap of at least $80 million. Samson termed building a stadium on the land "realistic" but a "long shot."

 

Since stating the Marlins no longer have a deal with the city of Miami, animosity has surfaced between Samson and Miami city manager Joe Arriolo. On Wednesday, Arriolo criticized Samson and team owner Jeffrey Loria in an interview on sports radio 790 The Ticket.

 

Arriolo also criticized Marlins ownership in an interview with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, saying: "One of the biggest problems we've had all along is we view Jeffrey and David truly as carpetbaggers. They came with a bag of debt from Montreal."

 

Responding to critical remarks by Arriolo, Samson was quoted in the Herald as saying: "It's disturbing as a resident of South Florida that decisions are being made that may not necessarily reflect the desires of its constituents. ... [And it is] disheartening that Mr. Arriola continues in vain to try to get Jeffrey Loria to sell the team to an owner that is somehow connected to him."

 

Arriolo added the team would be better off getting a stadium in South Florida if they sold to "local owners" in Miami.

 

Samson maintains Loria is the "local owner" who has dipped deep into his pockets in an effort to secure the long-term stability of the franchise in South Florida. Since Loria assumed ownership in 2002, the team has enjoyed its greatest stretch of success. After finishing 79-83 in 2002, the Marlins won the World Series in 2003 and followed that up with two more winning seasons.

 

The Marlins were leading the National League Wild Card race on Sept. 14 before the team slumped at the end of the year, ending up with an 83-79 mark.

 

Now without definite plans for a stadium on the immediate horizon, the Marlins are in the process of dramatically reducing payroll down from $65 million in 2005 to perhaps under $40 million.

 

The Marlins are committed to playing at Dolphins Stadium through 2007, and their agreement with the stadium expires after the 2010 season. So the team will remain where it is now for at least two more years and no longer than five seasons.

 

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article...t=.jsp&c_id=mlb

If I say I want the Marlins in Coral Springs can we be the 8th city?

 

DC wanted a team too and they had owners lined up and funding for a stadium done...

 

...and here we are with no owner in DC and funding problems making news.

 

BB in Vegas will not happen. Who is the fanbase, the people working nights at the Casinos and clubs? Not that I believe tourists would choose a game over the nightlife while on vacation but do you think the Casino's want to even chance that?

 

Vegas...NOT!

 

New Jersey...MLB may have been able tp pull this crap with the Orioles and Angelos but the Yankees and King George will now stand for a team in New Jersey. Also, the other MLB owners will not allow Loria to walk into the N.E. that simply.

 

Jersey...NOT!

 

Oregon. I don't know much about the area but if MLB will relocate a team for a new stadium and trade of the S. Florida market for Oregon then they deserve what they get.

 

Just because cities make a call and/or show interest does not mean they are a viable option.

I think the Marlins should move to Tampa....they don't have a team there and they have a dome.

http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...showtopic=53930

I still say this is all a ploy. Talk is cheap and any city can inquire but who can really step up to the plate?

 

Vegas isn't going to happen. MLB will not there because of the gambling issue.

 

NJ won't happen because the Yankees and Mets will both balk.

 

Portland may support a team but is a much lower TV market.

 

I doubt any city will bend over backwards to build a stadium. Not in this day and age with all that is happening. Some commitment is needed by the Marlins and they are too cheap or don't have deep enough pockets.