HOUSTON - Team president David Samson continued to insist his preference would be to keep the Marlins in South Florida even as he, owner Jeffrey Loria and vice-chairman Joel Mael played host to a group of high-ranking politicians from San Antonio at Monday's season opener at Minute Maid Park.

 

''The decision has not been made to relocate this team. The decision has been made that we have to find a place to play in 2011,'' said Samson, who has been unable to bridge a $100 million funding gap needed to finance a new ballpark in South Florida.

 

STAYING FOCUSED

 

''Fans should be concerned right now that there's no stadium deal and our lease runs out in 2010,'' he added. ``To focus their concerns solely on San Antonio, I think, is a mistake.''

 

However, both Samson and Loria characterized discussions about relocating the team to Texas as ''serious'' and said officials from San Antonio and surrounding Bexar County were eager to accelerate the talks in the hopes of taking a tax initiative to fund ballpark construction before voters in November.

 

''In Texas, everything has to be put on the ballot either in November or in May,'' San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger said. ``We'll get it on the ballot in November if it looks like it's going anywhere.''

 

If voters approve a measure to extend a 1999 tax on hotel and car rentals for at least two more decades, Bexar County can put up $200 million of the $310 million needed to construct a new ballpark.

 

County and city officials are also trying to entice the Marlins with promises of millions more in revenue through broadcast rights, stadium naming rights and the sale of 69 proposed luxury suites. Hardberger said business leaders in San Antonio -- the nation's third-fastest-growing major city -- have already pledged to purchase 39 suites for as much as $200,000 a season.

 

''We have made progress from an initial conversation to an indication of interest from the business community, the corporate community, from the fans and from the political community,'' Samson said. ``And from that, when it gets even more serious, is when you sit down and do an MOU [memorandum of understanding] or an LOI [letter of intent].

 

``We're not at that point. But we're serious.''

 

Samson said he hasn't spoken to City of Miami politicians since November, when baseball commissioner Bud Selig gave the team permission to explore relocating the franchise. However, [/b]he said he speaks as often as three times a week with Dade County officials and said the proposal for a ballpark in Hialeah is the most promising offer to date.

 

Joining Hardberger in the front-row seats behind the Marlins' dugout Monday was Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and District Attorney Susan Reed. Samson said he saw nothing wrong with publicaly discussing relocation at the team's season opener.

 

`SAVING THE FRANCHISE'

 

''The players are focused on themselves. We're focused on saving the franchise and getting a stadium built,'' he said. ``It just so happens we're opening in Houston. I assure you we would not be with the mayor of San Antonio if we were opening in L.A.''

 

Loria, Samson and Mael will meet with other city and county politicians during the rest of the Marlins' three-game series in Houston.

 

''There are a lot of interesting markets in this country,'' Loria said. ``San Antonio is one of the very major interesting markets for me because it's a big sports town. I've watched the Spurs do their thing there for years. It's exciting to see people respond to sports the way they have.

 

``We also will look at other markets. But right now these talks are very serious.''

 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sport...ll/14257548.htm

my only worry is that it seems like Loria and Samsom aren't on the same page

What do you mean?

 

 

Anyway, "To focus their concerns solely on San Antonio, I think, is a mistake'' says everything you need to know about this process.

Samson has demonstrated a lack of agility in the areas of stadium negotiations as well as public relations.

 

I think there's a split coming - would you employ the son of your ex-wife? Maybe the reason Benifest is sticking around is to become team President down the road (ala Dombrowski).

The fact is Samson and Loria are split because Loria seems pre-occupied. Samson on the other hand just sticks his foot in his mouth, but as of late Loria has taken that role to new heights.

Samson is Loria's top assistant and most trusted employee. It's his job to handle Loria's affairs to the point Loria need not even concern himself with them.

Priny you used the bold feature incorrectly. Let me fix it for you. :mischief

 

However, he said he speaks as often as three times a week with Dade County officials and said the proposal for a ballpark in Hialeah is the most promising offer to date.

Priny you used the bold feature incorrectly. Let me fix it for you. :mischief

 

However, he said he speaks as often as three times a week with Dade County officials and said the proposal for a ballpark in Hialeah is the most promising offer to date.

 

I really hope this is the case...

 

Samson & Loria better be parading the mayor of Hialeah around Dolphins Stadium next week. If they can roll out the red carpet for those San Antonio cowboys they sure as hell better do the same for the Hialeah boys.

If they don't, it means nothing. They talk with the Hialeah boys every week. There's been face to face meetings between Hialeah, Dade and Marlins officials. The meeting in San Antonio was to meet prospective business partners.

If they don't, it means nothing. They talk with the Hialeah boys every week. There's been face to face meetings between Hialeah, Dade and Marlins officials. The meeting in San Antonio was to meet prospective business partners.

 

Can you not see the forest for the trees Ricky?

 

City of Hialeah officials have been working with private landowners to acquire land rights to the ballpark footprint. County officials are waiting on the City because the City has to do the negotiations and planning for the site.

 

The Mayor says by the end of this month he expects to announce an offer to the Marlins publicly.

Priny you used the bold feature incorrectly. Let me fix it for you. :mischief

 

However, he said he speaks as often as three times a week with Dade County officials and said the proposal for a ballpark in Hialeah is the most promising offer to date.

 

I really hope this is the case...

 

Samson & Loria better be parading the mayor of Hialeah around Dolphins Stadium next week. If they can roll out the red carpet for those San Antonio cowboys they sure as hell better do the same for the Hialeah boys.

 

:thumbup Well said... I totally agree man!

If they don't, it means nothing. They talk with the Hialeah boys every week. There's been face to face meetings between Hialeah, Dade and Marlins officials. The meeting in San Antonio was to meet prospective business partners.

 

Can you not see the forest for the trees Ricky?

 

City of Hialeah officials have been working with private landowners to acquire land rights to the ballpark footprint. County officials are waiting on the City because the City has to do the negotiations and planning for the site.

 

The Mayor says by the end of this month he expects to announce an offer to the Marlins publicly.

Thanks for yet again telling us that there's slow progress being made, but WTF does that have to do with the implications of inviting Hialeah officials to the ballpark? The Houston meeting shouldn't be taken as a great offense to Hialeah. And certainly does not require for extend the invitation to either party again in the future.

The Marlins not inviting, or at least courtesy calling, Hialeah officials is not a very smart thing to do.

It's nothing. It means absolutly nothing. It says nothing about their relationship with each party. It says nothing about nothing.

It's nothing. It means absolutly nothing. It says nothing about their relationship with each party. It says nothing about nothing.

 

If you don't think business deals don't involve "wining-and-dining" then you don't know business.

they should invite Mayor Alvarez and Robiana for Opening Day at least you get all 3 parties together and maybe stir some emotions and publiclity that Marlins are still interested in stay in SFLA

It's nothing. It means absolutly nothing. It says nothing about their relationship with each party. It says nothing about nothing.

 

If you don't think business deals don't involve "wining-and-dining" then you don't know business.

Is there anything to extract from them through giving them seats? Nope. Do they even care? Probably not. Does it matter? Nope. Does it say anything about the Marlins' relationship with either party? Absolutly not.