February 7, 200620 yr Sorry if posted MIAMI -- Major League Baseball officials are expected to take a more active role in the Marlins' stadium search shortly after the league completes some other pressing issues. As the league monitors the Marlins' situation, team president David Samson points out that MLB executives are currently dealing with stadium matters and the sale of the Nationals in Washington. Also, the inaugural World Baseball Classic is about to get under way, occupying more of league's time. In an unstable situation, the Marlins are in the process of pursuing a stadium in Miami-Dade County while considering relocation options. Samson expects to make two out-of-state visits over the new few weeks. Still, the hope of the team and the league is to make Major League Baseball work in South Florida. The Marlins already have met with Hialeah mayor Julio Robaina regarding two potential sites for a baseball-only park: Hialeah Park (near the old horse race track) and an annexed area of land near the intersection of I-75 and Florida's Turnpike. Both locations are a bit south of the Marlins' current home, Dolphins Stadium, in the north part of the county. "Right now we are working with the officials of Hialeah, and we're working with the mayor there. He's a great man. He's got vision. He wants to see baseball there," Samson said. "He's doing his work; we're doing our work. We hope to meet again in the next couple of weeks. We're exploring other cities with the focus still on Florida. We'll see how the year progresses." Follow-up meetings with Robaina will likely take place in a few weeks. When MLB executives get more involved, they are expected to do so in speaking with local leaders and politicians, getting more familiar with the stadium negotiations. The league has a standing policy of not contributing financially in stadium matters. And MLB isn't expected to chip in for the financing of a new Marlins ballpark. For more than a decade, the Marlins have been claiming they need a baseball-only, retractable-roof stadium. The situation reached a dire point a few months ago when the league granted the club permission to seek relocation options after a proposed deal to build a park next to the Orange Bowl in downtown Miami fell through. Samson says the expected cost for a stadium in South Florida is about $430 million. The team is willing to contribute roughly $200 million. After the contributions earmarked for the stadium from Miami-Dade County, there remains about an $80 million funding gap on a new building. Samson added that Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria spent $15 million in stadium design for the proposed stadium next to the Orange Bowl. Assuming a new stadium is built in South Florida, it will not be the same design as the proposed building that would have been in downtown Miami. "We spent $15 million designing that stadium, and we don't know how much is reusable on a new site," Samson said. What will be the same is the seat capacity, 38,000. "Seat capacity will be similar, but in terms of design, that was designed to be next to the Orange Bowl, so the design will be different," Samson said. Another Miami-Dade option is Homestead, which has shown an interest in talking with the Marlins. But being located south of Miami makes Homestead a long shot. "Nothing is scheduled," Samson said of a meeting with Homestead officials. "I suspect we'll sit with them at some point, but nothing is scheduled." The Marlins are signed to play at Dolphins Stadium through 2007, and their series of leases expires after the 2010 season. In sprawling South Florida, Samson says the organization has stopped trying to seek an ideal location. "I haven't seen a spot that really sticks out anywhere in South Florida. There is no perfect site," Samson said. "If you are too far south, the people north are unhappy. If you're too far east, the people out west are unhappy. So, I believe now the new perfect site is anywhere, and we'll teach people how to drive to the stadium. We'll build a tradition in this building for 30-40 years, and people will be more comfortable attending baseball games." Without the security of a new stadium, the Marlins dramatically reduced payroll this offseason, and season-ticket sales have suffered in the process. A year ago, the club had 10,000 season-ticket holders. The number is about half of that now. This week the Marlins are revving up for the 2006 season with their annual caravan to several stops in South Florida. The week of activities culminates on Saturday with the annual BankUnited FanFest, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. ET at Dolphins Stadium. Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
February 7, 200620 yr 15 million in design plans? yeah right No doubt! It has gotten to the point that i literally do not believe anything Sampson says. Little weasel.
February 7, 200620 yr "We spent $15 million designing that stadium, and we don't know how much is reusable on a new site," Samson said. I believe it, it's a business expense. There are your "losses" for the Marlins right there. *Sigh* I can't believe people actually try to defend this guy.
February 7, 200620 yr "We spent $15 million designing that stadium, and we don't know how much is reusable on a new site," Samson said. I believe it, it's a business expense. There are your "losses" for the Marlins right there. *Sigh* I can't believe people actually try to defend this guy. RFerry loves David Samson.
February 7, 200620 yr "We spent $15 million designing that stadium, and we don't know how much is reusable on a new site," Samson said. I believe it, it's a business expense. There are your "losses" for the Marlins right there. *Sigh* I can't believe people actually try to defend this guy. RFerry loves David Samson. I hear he regularly gives him fellatio - and he's rather fond of licking his balls.
February 7, 200620 yr "We spent $15 million designing that stadium, and we don't know how much is reusable on a new site," Samson said. I believe it, it's a business expense. There are your "losses" for the Marlins right there. *Sigh* I can't believe people actually try to defend this guy. RFerry loves David Samson. I hear he regularly gives him fellatio - and he's rather fond of licking his balls. LOL! That's hilarious but gross.
February 8, 200620 yr Author "We spent $15 million designing that stadium, and we don't know how much is reusable on a new site," Samson said. I believe it, it's a business expense. There are your "losses" for the Marlins right there. *Sigh* I can't believe people actually try to defend this guy. Your right they did spend that much on the plans... Do you guys think this is free??
February 8, 200620 yr "We spent $15 million designing that stadium, and we don't know how much is reusable on a new site," Samson said. I believe it, it's a business expense. There are your "losses" for the Marlins right there. *Sigh* I can't believe people actually try to defend this guy. Your right they did spend that much on the plans... Do you guys think this is free?? I think you misunderstood. I believe they spent $15 million on plans like I believe the army spends $500K on a toilet. To date, I've yet to see detailed blue-prints, just drafting of the picture you've posted. To have something like that put together doesn't cost $15 million, and if you believe it does, I've got ocean front property in Montana to sell you. I have no doubt that the ledger the Marlins have put together reflects a $15 million expense for drafting, but like doctors ripping off Medicare, this is just an overstatement of expenses for personal benefit (in this case, more in the "loss" column).
February 8, 200620 yr Sorry the anti-Loria people are wrong this time. This baby's drawn up and ready to be built. I can recall two people who have family in the construction business who posted about seeing stadium blueprints. There was also the time the architect made a few posts on the boards: "I worked for HOK in Kansas City on the design of the stadium from Aug. of 2004 to May of 2005 and am relocating to Chicago. I'm sorry to post images of the wood model. Yes its very difficult to understand the design, by viewing the model. But this is what I will add to your questions. The tower which started off which started out in the design at 400 feet height has been reduced to about 250 feet. It basically is the VIP entrance which houses 4 elevators from Ground to upper concourse. Spectators are provided escalators at the entrance. And yes fans will be able to see the tower when they are in the stadium and the roof is opened. The roof itself is compose of about 3500 tons of steel truss. Not a spaceframe, and is divided into 3 separate sections which retract to an open position in about 15 minutes. The site which the stadium rests is about 90 feet next to the Orange Bowl, which when the roof is in full open position, it will actually overhang the orange bowl stadium by about 100 feet. The dimensions of the stadium and seating capacity, about 45,000 seats. We added about 2,000 more to the upper deck in the last month before our submittal to the contractor. Mostly the stadium is cladded in metal panel. And the main entrance which addresses the Orange Bowl will be composed of glass curtainwall. This may or may not be impacted by new hurricane standards for the county. I don't know. The scoreboard is above right field---all the bells and whistles. LCD 40'x 60' and a mechanical jumping Marlin in an aquarium at the foul pole line. The outfield wall which is composed of 80' glass panels divided into---oh I forgot, I think its 6 now---it also opens fully to the rectacted position, so fans really get an outdoors effect. And to compare the stadium to other stadiums of the past or future. Uh--you should check out the design for the Phoenix Cardinals. Its very similar. But very fitting for Miami. Well I'm afraid thats all I can share at this time. I no longer work for HOK and have taken a job in Chicago. And for all the members who wish to visit the website. Hey its the real deal folks. I and a few others spent countless overtime hours working on weekends to convince contractors that we could get the stadium done for the budget we had. Unfortunately we feel 40 million short because of state legislation. We'll see what happens in the months to come. I will say that our firm is full steam ahead in terms of construction drawings, land acquistion." Lets also not forget the various models that have been posted on other architectural sites.
February 8, 200620 yr Still, Money, that not's costing $15 mil to draw up. How much do you think designing a building of that size cost? It's not all about drawing up lines and making a nice looking building. Studies on just about everything need to be conducted. There is a reason architects make big bucks.
February 8, 200620 yr yeah, as an artist/designer, I can vouche for it...15 million seems like a lot, (and in some ways it simply is)...but youd be shocked at how much artists/designers/architects can get paid for any little thing...I myself am still surprised at times... Bottom line, art and design are unique/individualized skills...whatever I design is unique to me and nobody else can realistically design it the same...therefore, the supposed monetary value on something like that can be HUGE... I can charge a hundred bucks for a small drawing...even if someone else were to draw it "better"...nobody else can draw it like me...so if you want to pay for MY drawing...cough up the bucks cause you ain't getting it anywhere else... hope that concept makes some sense... :thumbup ...think about it
February 8, 200620 yr Still, Money, that not's costing $15 mil to draw up. How much do you think designing a building of that size cost? It's not all about drawing up lines and making a nice looking building. Studies on just about everything need to be conducted. There is a reason architects make big bucks. I'd say hitting 7 figures would be excessive, 8 figures is just completely unbelievable. Even if you put in all the extraneous stuff (market studies, land research, lobbying, whatever) I see no way to ethically reach $15 mil. However, I have no doubt that's what the Marlins are representing as their expense.
February 8, 200620 yr Author Its not just about the drawing... There things way deeper than just the drawing I posted...
February 8, 200620 yr yeah, as an artist/designer, I can vouche for it...15 million seems like a lot, (and in some ways it simply is)...but youd be shocked at how much artists/designers/architects can get paid for any little thing...I myself am still surprised at times... Bottom line, art and design are unique/individualized skills...whatever I design is unique to me and nobody else can realistically design it the same...therefore, the supposed monetary value on something like that can be HUGE... I can charge a hundred bucks for a small drawing...even if someone else were to draw it "better"...nobody else can draw it like me...so if you want to pay for MY drawing...cough up the bucks cause you ain't getting it anywhere else... hope that concept makes some sense... :thumbup ...think about it The problem is, this isn't a little drawing. These are the plans and studies for a baseball stadium. ..think about it :thumbup
February 8, 200620 yr Author yeah, as an artist/designer, I can vouche for it...15 million seems like a lot, (and in some ways it simply is)...but youd be shocked at how much artists/designers/architects can get paid for any little thing...I myself am still surprised at times... Bottom line, art and design are unique/individualized skills...whatever I design is unique to me and nobody else can realistically design it the same...therefore, the supposed monetary value on something like that can be HUGE... I can charge a hundred bucks for a small drawing...even if someone else were to draw it "better"...nobody else can draw it like me...so if you want to pay for MY drawing...cough up the bucks cause you ain't getting it anywhere else... hope that concept makes some sense... :thumbup ...think about it The problem is, this isn't a little drawing. These are the plans and studies for a baseball stadium. ..think about it :thumbup :thumbup
February 8, 200620 yr yeah thats exactly my point....its a huge drawing and then some, so maybe $15 million isnt so farfetched... :thumbup
February 8, 200620 yr yeah thats exactly my point....its a huge drawing and then some, so maybe $15 million isnt so farfetched... :thumbup Oh no, it's not just a huge drawing. It's several dozen pages of how every bolt, light fixture, pipe, toilet etc will fit completely together on a mammoth structure. Plus, the wind tunnel studies, materials studies, construction schedules, infrastructure and all that other cool stuff. It's also not 3-4 people working on this. It's probably a huge group of people working to crunch all the numbers. :thumbup
February 8, 200620 yr yeah thats exactly my point....its a huge drawing and then some, so maybe $15 million isnt so farfetched... :thumbup It was also painted by Pablo Picasso
February 8, 200620 yr :banghead please tell me you guys are screwing with me...cause you know im on your side :thumbup
February 8, 200620 yr Is anyone else as happy as I am now that MLB is taking a more active role? Thats the best news we have had in a while. Maybe MLB will throw their weight around and get a deal done.
February 8, 200620 yr Is anyone else as happy as I am now that MLB is taking a more active role? Thats the best news we have had in a while. Maybe MLB will throw their weight around and get a deal done. Just what weight does MLB have to throw around really? Especially if they aren't contributing a dime. It's all fluff with no substance.
February 8, 200620 yr Is anyone else as happy as I am now that MLB is taking a more active role? Thats the best news we have had in a while. Maybe MLB will throw their weight around and get a deal done. Just what weight does MLB have to throw around really? Especially if they aren't contributing a dime. It's all fluff with no substance. they seemed to help in pittsburgh...besides...it certainly cant hurt...what do we have to lose anyways?
February 8, 200620 yr Is anyone else as happy as I am now that MLB is taking a more active role? Thats the best news we have had in a while. Maybe MLB will throw their weight around and get a deal done. Just what weight does MLB have to throw around really? Especially if they aren't contributing a dime. It's all fluff with no substance. they seemed to help in pittsburgh...besides...it certainly cant hurt...what do we have to lose anyways? I agree it can't hurt. It's just not something to get too excited about either. At the end of the day, the primary aspect that must be resolved is the financing, and MLB isn't planning to contribute.
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