San Juan wants Marlins games

BY KEVIN BAXTER

kbaxter@MiamiHerald.com

 

SAN JUAN - Major League Baseball officials met with promoters in San Juan two days ago to discuss the possibility of moving some regular-season games, including at least one series involving the Marlins, as early as this season.

 

''We've talked about the possibility of the Marlins playing down here for a limited number of games,'' said baseball president Bob DuPuy. ``Given the current situation in Miami and the absence of any plan for a stadium . . . I'm sure they'd be willing to look at it.''

 

But P.J. Loyello, the Marlins' vice president of communications, said the club has not been contacted about moving any games.

 

''We would like to see more games with the Marlins played here in Puerto Rico,'' said Enrique Cruz of MB Sports, the San Juan promoters who put on the Expos' 44 games in San Juan in 2003-04 as well as the 12 WBC games taking place here this month. ``We would like to have games [with] either the Marlins or the Devil Rays this year and the next year.''

 

Another baseball official said several teams have been mentioned in talks with MB Sports.

 

DuPuy admitted it would difficult to get anything done this season.

 

''We've listened to Enrique and [MB Sports CEO] Antonio Mu?oz, and we'll go back and talk about it in our office and then talk to teams,'' DuPuy said. ``If it's possible, we'll talk to them. And if it's not, then we'll look at it for 2007, 2008 or 2009.''

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/14100691.htm

 

:plain

this would suck

I knew this was coming. I'm wondering when DuPuy will mention Monterrey.

San Juan is going to be April's City of the Month.

that a beautiful place and all but i wouldn't want the marlins losing their home games to that.

It didn't work for the Expos, why flog a dead horse

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

 

so sad

I don't see how it can happen this year given that rescheduling would be a pain and that the Marlins would have to offer *gasp* refunds (and we know that just doesn't happen).

 

Plus, one way or another, I think the stadium issue will be resolved by the end of the season, so San Juan may be in play next season if the Marlins come to an agreement with San Antonio and need some gate draw to keep from completely hemorrhaging cash in Miami.

I don't see how it can happen this year given that rescheduling would be a pain and that the Marlins would have to offer *gasp* refunds (and we know that just doesn't happen).

 

Plus, one way or another, I think the stadium issue will be resolved by the end of the season, so San Juan may be in play next season if the Marlins come to an agreement with San Antonio and need some gate draw to keep from completely hemorrhaging cash in Miami.

 

I think you are right on the money.

I'm having mixed feelings here... :shifty

 

 

 

But, seriously... I hope it doesn't come to that.

Assuming the Marlins are able to secure a stadium deal (anywhere) over the next year or so, they will likely run out of lease options at Dolphin Stadium before the new stadium is completed. (Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't 2010 the final year they have an option to renew?) So in that scenario, they must start looking at options for where they could play 2011 and until a new stadium is ready. Considering a relationship to play some games in PR over the next few years could give them a needed option.

Assuming the Marlins are able to secure a stadium deal (anywhere) over the next year or so, they will likely run out of lease options at Dolphin Stadium before the new stadium is completed. (Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't 2010 the final year they have an option to renew?) So in that scenario, they must start looking at options for where they could play 2011 and until a new stadium is ready. Considering a relationship to play some games in PR over the next few years could give them a needed option.

 

I don't think the 2010 date has any real significance. If they're staying in Florida, they'll play in Florida. Even then if they aren't, chances are they'll stay. MLB's learned a valuable lesson about declaring a team without a home before they have a new home with every i dotted and t crossed.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

 

so sad

 

 

Exactly what I was thinking.

grr I hate Sampson and this ownership right now and MLB

You people and your mis-guided "hate" really starts to wear thin after a little while on people who think straight. Maybe you should be "hating" everyone in South Florida that only decides to show up to Marlins games when they're in the post season and none of this talk would be happening. I'm not saying that you're one of those people, but you need to start living in the real world and understand that Bud Selig, Samson, and MLB themselves would absolutely LOVE for the Marlins to stay in Florida. You think they want to lose that market and the fact that this team has won 2 world championships? How bad do you think that looks? The Expos had zero history, them moving really didn't do much in the big scheme of things. But the Marlins actually have some sort of history they've developed by winning championships, and peole who are in the decision making positions do not want this to happen. But what the hell can you expect them to do? If people aren't showing up to the games, you can't pay the bills. And if you can't pay the bills, it's time to make a change. Understand that, have some common sense, and don't put your hate where it doesn't belong. They wouldn't be taking the team away from Florida if Florida deserved the team. If this franchise could average even 25,000 fans per game, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

If people aren't showing up to the games, you can't pay the bills. And if you can't pay the bills, it's time to make a change. Understand that, have some common sense, and don't put your hate where it doesn't belong. They wouldn't be taking the team away from Florida if Florida deserved the team. If this franchise could average even 25,000 fans per game, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

 

 

Samson himself said it IF they averaged 70k they still wouldn't even break even. That's the type of money the team is losing with this lease.

 

Again, the firesale wasn't because of the fans. It was because they didn't get the stadium deal done.

 

Look who's talking about misguided hate....

If it means more money for the Marlins, I'm all for it.

 

I doubt I'm going to any games this year anyway. But say they give San Juan, 10 games...I'll be just fine choosing among the remaining 71 home games in Miami.

I don't see how it can happen this year given that rescheduling would be a pain and that the Marlins would have to offer *gasp* refunds (and we know that just doesn't happen).

 

Plus, one way or another, I think the stadium issue will be resolved by the end of the season, so San Juan may be in play next season if the Marlins come to an agreement with San Antonio and need some gate draw to keep from completely hemorrhaging cash in Miami.

 

Samething I was thinking not this year but maybe next year.

If people aren't showing up to the games, you can't pay the bills. And if you can't pay the bills, it's time to make a change. Understand that, have some common sense, and don't put your hate where it doesn't belong. They wouldn't be taking the team away from Florida if Florida deserved the team. If this franchise could average even 25,000 fans per game, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

 

 

Samson himself said it IF they averaged 70k they still wouldn't even break even. That's the type of money the team is losing with this lease.

 

Again, the firesale wasn't because of the fans. It was because they didn't get the stadium deal done.

 

Look who's talking about misguided hate....

 

And they didn't get the stadium deal done because of South Florida fans' (and, by extension, voters') apathy towards the Marlins. I don't know if I believe Samson when he says they would have lost money with 70k fans a night, but I guarantee that if the Marlins drew 70k a night, there's enough pressure on the City of Miami and Miami-Dade (and even the State of Florida) to pitch in more towards the financing of a new stadium. That's what happened in Seattle in 1995 and it's what would have happened here if more fans cared.

I don't see how it can happen this year given that rescheduling would be a pain and that the Marlins would have to offer *gasp* refunds (and we know that just doesn't happen).

 

Plus, one way or another, I think the stadium issue will be resolved by the end of the season, so San Juan may be in play next season if the Marlins come to an agreement with San Antonio and need some gate draw to keep from completely hemorrhaging cash in Miami.

 

 

Totally agree with you, Marlins would not do this! They would have to gap refunds to the season ticket holders that are still left.. As a whole though, this isnt good news possibly the begining of the end. ON the ESPN ticket it does say that the Marlins WILL NOT go on with any more further plans with San Antonio until they look at other in state plans that have been drawn up.

Consistent with their mantra that they want to keep the team in Florida. Although not at the loss of seeking out other options and forcing a deal that seems fair to them.