Take this for what it's worth but a friend of mine who works in the comissioner's office here in New York says that MLB is not pleased with the way this whole thing has gone down, because there are serious logistical concerns with all markets being entertained for relocation, especially Vegas (which appears to be Samson and Loria's #1).

 

Perhaps that's why DuPoy is getting involved, that he doesn't want any bridges burned with South Florida.

 

Thanks for sharing. seems promising.

 

I pointed out on another post, that Selig/Dupay seem to be more hands on now.

 

We shall see

Take this for what it's worth but a friend of mine who works in the comissioner's office here in New York says that MLB is not pleased with the way this whole thing has gone down, because there are serious logistical concerns with all markets being entertained for relocation, especially Vegas (which appears to be Samson and Loria's #1).

 

Perhaps that's why DuPoy is getting involved, that he doesn't want any bridges burned with South Florida.

 

 

Thatnks alot for the update TSwift25, I hopeyour friend can keep us posted if (he/she) can on what transpires tommorrow with Burgess and Du Puy. :thumbup

The current situation makes for a horrible baseball experience. August heat, rain and a AAA team on the field will not bring the fans out.

 

Are you kidding? Based on last season, a September breeze, clear skies, and a playoff chase can't even bring the fans out down here.

The current situation makes for a horrible baseball experience. August heat, rain and a AAA team on the field will not bring the fans out.

 

Are you kidding? Based on last season, a September breeze, clear skies, and a playoff chase can't even bring the fans out down here.

Which is why they need to do some research and find out why people are staying away. There's clearly more to it than "we only support a winner."

DuPoy is negotiating in Washington, DC too. I hope he can get it done here and there, but his control is only as far as Bud wants to take it. Bud Selig is such a p***y.....ger

After the real estate craziness there just isn't a place for a stadium in Miami

The real estate boom is about to burst. Prices have really started to settle down. In fact, my brother and his wife are house-shopping and they tell me that home prices are starting to dip.

Its a good idea but the problem is the current ownership does not seem want to consider alternatives. Arriolla is presenting alternatives, having a referendum, having a HALF A PENNY tax (Folks, thats HALF A PENNY!) in Miami and Broward for only one year, and moving the stadium site to other more cheaper locations.

 

The team doesn't seem to like those ideas. Why? I dunno.

What were some of the alternatives that they came up with? Does anybody know?

I cant stand politicians, ARG. They as always... are just agreeing to agree to talk then it takes forever to get anything done because of all they're formalities and bs that gets in the way of real progress. speaking of progress i hope they do get something done with the county, the marlins that is. :shifty :whistle :thumbup

Its a good idea but the problem is the current ownership does not seem want to consider alternatives. Arriolla is presenting alternatives, having a referendum, having a HALF A PENNY tax (Folks, thats HALF A PENNY!) in Miami and Broward for only one year, and moving the stadium site to other more cheaper locations.

 

The team doesn't seem to like those ideas. Why? I dunno.

 

 

You should know better.

 

The city of Miami's own polling has told them that there is no hope for another tax referendum to pass, not countywide and certainly not in Broward, as they are suggesting (that's right, for Ariolla's proposed tax increase to work, it has to be passed in BOTH Miami-Dade and Broward counties). So suggesting it is the worst type hypocrisy, hold it up as an example of the city being proactive when in fact they know it's doomed from the beginning.

Its a good idea but the problem is the current ownership does not seem want to consider alternatives. Arriolla is presenting alternatives, having a referendum, having a HALF A PENNY tax (Folks, thats HALF A PENNY!) in Miami and Broward for only one year, and moving the stadium site to other more cheaper locations.

 

The team doesn't seem to like those ideas. Why? I dunno.

 

 

You should know better.

 

The city of Miami's own polling has told them that there is no hope for another tax referendum to pass, not countywide and certainly not in Broward, as they are suggesting (that's right, for Ariolla's proposed tax increase to work, it has to be passed in BOTH Miami-Dade and Broward counties). So suggesting it is the worst type hypocrisy, hold it up as an example of the city being proactive when in fact they know it's doomed from the beginning.

 

Not to mention how long the process would take. They'd have to get the initiative on the ballot in two counties and then it would have to pass on election day. The earliest the referendum would go before the people would probably be in November 2006.

 

I agree with you that Arriola is going up to bat on behalf of his buddy, Cisneros. He's obviously very corrupt. Cisneros is hooking him up either directly or indirectly if he can help Cisneros get the team. Corruption happens everywhere in this country, not just in Miami (just look at all the Republicans in the House of Representatives that have either been indicted or been convicted). What's happening now isn't new. The fact that Cisneros is Arriola's buddy and Loria and Samson have no buddies in local or state government shows, however, that they don't have the local political connections to get things done quickly and efficiently here.

 

It's interesting to me that the Marlins brought an attorney in from Proskauer Rose to help with the negotiations. While Proskauer Rose is, in my opinion, the best sports law firm in the country, they don't have offices in Florida. I would like to find out if this attorney brought some local counsel with him and, if so, who he brought. New York lawyers are obnoxiously elitist and full of themselves, particularly when dealing with people in "lesser markets." It would not surprise me one bit if he was essentially ineffective in the negotiations, despite the firm's strong reputation in this area of the law. I think the Marlins should have had the foresight to secure talented local advisors with strong local connections.

 

As Tip O'Neill once famously quipped, "all politics is local." I'll add to that by saying, "all business is local." The Marlins should learn that.

They have offices in Boca Raton

 

Boca Raton, FL

2255 Glades Road, Suite 340 West

Boca Raton, FL 33431-7360

Hmmm. Their office in Boca Raton is so insignificant, however, that I didn't even know it existed. They only have 20 attorneys in that office and don't have many practice aresa. It doesn't have a strong local presence. For carpetbaggers like Loria and Samson, they need people with stronger local connections.

I suppose the right thing for the Marlins to do would be to ask the city of Miami who the Marlins should hire by that standard.

 

They hired the most prestigeous sports-related law firm in the country, yet somehow that's not enough. They bring HOK to the table, but that's not enough, Wall Street financiers, that's not enough.

 

Maybe the mistake was not hiring Manny Diaz himself to represent the Marlins. Certainly would have cut down on the number of bag men required in our Banana Republic.

:lol classic, Marlins2003.

:lol classic, Marlins2003.

 

 

Thank you Rferry :notworthy

I suppose the right thing for the Marlins to do would be to ask the city of Miami who the Marlins should hire by that standard.

 

They hired the most prestigeous sports-related law firm in the country, yet somehow that's not enough. They bring HOK to the table, but that's not enough, Wall Street financiers, that's not enough.

 

Maybe the mistake was not hiring Manny Diaz himself to represent the Marlins. Certainly would have cut down on the number of bag men required in our Banana Republic.

 

 

If you want to live in a fantasy world, go ahead. You claim to be a businessman, yet you act like what's going on here is somehow abnormal. Anywhere you go around the country you will need the local connections to get things done. It's not just Miami. The big-time successful partners that I've known here in the Big Apple know all the important people in state and local government. That's how they get things done. THEY KNOW IMPORTANT PEOPLE. It's not just a matter of having the talent and the work ethic. It's about who you know. I am sure you would rather live in a meritocracy, and so would I, but the sad reality is that we don't.

 

What Loria and Samson have done is basically like crashing a party where they don't know anyone. You're going to be ignored unless you're somehow the most charming motherfuc*er in the room. (In the business sense, the charming motherfuc*er is always the dude with tons of money) If you want to show up at a party where you don't know anyone and you're hoping to make friends, at least go with someone that knows everyone so that he or she can introduce you. The cooler the guy or girl you go with is, the more friends you'll make. It's as simple as that. Samson and Loria just didn't show up with the "cool" people to a party where they didn't know anyone and they didn't bring enough cash with them to convince everyone else how charming they are.

 

Like I said above, I would be interested in seeing who the Proskauer Rose attorney brought with him. It's possible he brought someone that is well-connected politically in the area and things still didn't work out. My point is that the Marlins needed advisors with stronger local connections to get this done. I could be wrong, but it looks like they've failed miserably. They think they can bring in people that are well-known in New York and everyone will bow down to them down here. That shiat won't happen anywhere.

County commissioners still interested in helping the Marlins build a new stadium

 

BY TERE FIGUERAS NEGRETE

 

tfigueras@herald.com

 

Though city of Miami leaders have thrown in the towel, Miami-Dade County officials are not quite ready to give up on building a new stadium for the Florida Marlins.

 

''Miami is not in the picture anymore,'' said County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, who sponsored a resolution Thursday that directs County Manager George Burgess to look into alternate deals.

 

The most promising recent prospect is the plan floated by former Marlins owner H. Wayne Huizenga to build a Marlins ballpark near his Dolphins Stadium.

 

Commissioners unanimously approved the item. Commissioner Katy Sorenson, who has long voted against using public dollars for a ballpark, was absent due to a death in the family.

 

Burgess will have until the end of January to return to the commission with a report on the county's options.

 

''What are the options out there? Is there a deal already with Huizenga? We don't know,'' Sosa said. ``We believe the Marlins should stay in South Florida.''

 

Burgess, though, was cautioned that the county doesn't want to step up its contribution toward a new retractable roof stadium, said Commissioner Sally Heyman.

 

''We've got nothing further than what we were prepared to do in the past,'' Heyman said.

 

Before a deal with the city, county and team unraveled, the county had pledged $138 million toward a $420 million, 38,000-seat, retractable-roof facility.

 

-- TERE FIGUERAS NEGRETE

 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sport...ll/13365373.htm

 

Miami-Dade seeks solution for a Marlins ballpark

 

By Sarah Talalay

Staff Writer

Posted December 9 2005

 

MIAMI ? Miami-Dade County Commissioners pushed Thursday for one more stab at salvaging a deal to help the Marlins build a ballpark, perhaps next to Dolphins Stadium with the help of Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga.

 

Commissioners asked County Manager George Burgess to meet with the Marlins to analyze whether any ballpark options remain. Later Thursday, Burgess met with Major League Baseball President Bob DuPuy to see if a deal is still possible.

 

"We met to discuss where we are currently with regard to discussions with the county and the club and others, and looked to explore different avenues to bridge the gaps and agreed to follow up and explore those avenues and talk again early next week," DuPuy said after the meeting.

 

Burgess issued a statement saying: "It was a good meeting. I expect the dialogue to continue."

 

Talks have focused on whether a deal can be struck with Huizenga, who, sources say, has offered 15 acres and about $50 million for a ballpark near Dolphins Stadium. It's unclear precisely how a deal would be structured, but even with the Marlins and county participating a funding gap that might be as high as $100 million remains.

 

County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, who gave an impassioned speech about the pride a community feels for a winning baseball team and including references to Livan Hernandez's 1997 "I love you, Miami" pronouncement, pushed for Burgess to explore all options for a ballpark.

 

"Some of you may consider the story of the Florida Marlins a tragedy," Sosa said, "I consider this an opportunity."

 

Commissioners asked Burgess to report back by the end of January. The county had pledged $138 million in tourist taxes to a stadium next to the Orange Bowl, but that figure might be reduced since it included $60 million freed up when the City of Miami sold Miami Arena in 2004. The Orange Bowl location is no longer under consideration after talks broke down with the city. The team has received permission from Major League Baseball to seek relocation.

 

Although Marlins President David Samson says the team would prefer to stay in South Florida, he met with San Antonio, Texas, officials Tuesday and plans to visit other communities interested in luring a team. Samson, who earlier this week said talks with Huizenga are ongoing, declined comment Thursday.

 

While commissioners asked Burgess to investigate stadium possibilities, a few of them lashed out at the team. Commissioner Natacha Seijas said she loves baseball and doesn't want the team to leave, but accused Samson and team owner Jeffrey Loria of trying to extract too much from the county. She expressed disdain for the team seeking a new home while trading its best players.

 

"I do not like baseball because of what they've done," Seijas said. "This is not baseball they're playing, this is speculation."

 

Commissioner Barbara Jordan complained that some of her favorite players have been traded. "If they let D-Train go, I don't care where they go," she said.

 

Commissioner Bruno Barreiro, whose district includes the Orange Bowl, expressed frustration that the City of Miami is able to come up with $110 million for a renovation of the Orange Bowl but couldn't complete a deal for a stadium next door for the Marlins. "My district is up in arms. They don't understand what's going on," he said.

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basebal...-sports-marlins