Channel 6 via Ch 39 interviewed Miami-Dade County mayor Penelas at the game. says he expects a deal by December 1. It's tied to the $50 million in resort taxes that will go to Miami Beach in an inter-local agreement IF no stadium deal is done by the end of the year.

 

As I've been saying for months, this $50 million is the linchpin to getting The Fish a new park.

 

(I still think the County buys Wayne out of PPS and uses the site for an intermodal transportation facility as well. Time will tell.)

Hmmm......that certainly is interesting.

YES!

yea i saw that too. they say it has nothing to do with the fact that the marlins r winning, LIES!!! lol but who cares!!! we might get a new stadium! this one will be significantly further for me but i have plenty of friends who live in the area so no complaints.

A stadium is the biggest need for the franchise. Not anything else.

that 50 million is a huge chunk & it's money (hotel bed tax i think?) that's already waiting for them if this goes through. the miami city manager (think that's who it was) was on a news show this morning saying that very positive talks have been taking place.

if we only had a location...

i think they want to build it downtown

It has everything to do with winning! A few years ago when Gov. Bush and the senate killed the approval for a new Stadium, he said that it was because there were no fans coming out to the games.

 

 

Well guess what? They win and fans come out!

 

 

This is good news for the Marlins and with the 100 Million dollars they plan to add(hopefully), maybe they can finally get a stadium deal going. Also I am so sick of hearing people complain that if the stadium is put in downtown that no one will drive down to see it. Well people came to see the Panthers and Heat and even the Dolphins when they were all downtown(and winning), and there are plenty of stadiums in downtown areas all over the country and they pack them in, so get over it and if you are a fan you will come down to the new ballpark and see some games!

If and when this park is built , the key to its success will be its proximity to the tri-rail . I live 120 miles away and have been to 20+ games . If the tri rail goes to the park i would go to at least 50 home games. Tri-Rail Proximity would bring alot more Out of county fans to the games , Those are the majority of the fans anyways . Sorry to say that about Dade county fans but Facts are Facts , the majority of the fans that go to the games are from Broward and Palm Beach counties .

^

Yeah. Thats what they said about Panther fans and the turn out at ODC is awesome. :plain

If and when this park is built , the key to its success will be its proximity to the tri-rail . I live 120 miles away and have been to 20+ games . If the tri rail goes to the park i would go to at least 50 home games. Tri-Rail Proximity would bring alot more Out of county fans to the games , Those are the majority of the fans anyways . Sorry to say that about Dade county fans but Facts are Facts , the majority of the fans that go to the games are from Broward and Palm Beach counties .

I happen to agree. This is just a wild a** guess as I have no facts to back this up but I believe the best solution, FOR ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA is the current location with a roof. Everytime I look at PPS (or whatever you want to call it) and all that parking I think to myself, with the half penny transportation tax, this is great location (with the spur from the Turnpike) and access to 95, for an intermodal transportation center. Bring light rail there, or the MetroRail, bring in Tri-Rail and you really have a facility that can service the entire tri-county area.

 

I'd like to see the County buy-out Huizenga (they already own the land under the stadium) and dome the place. You'll never build a season ticket base without people knowing they can bring their families rain or shine. The area does not need another competing venue, what it needs is an all-weather one for both sports. but it has to be under of the County and not one owner who has a sweetheart deal and collects virtually all the concession and parking revenue.

Quite frankly, I don't care where the stadium is located. Yes it would be a hell of a lot better to have it at PPS as its on the Dade/Broward border and fans of all three counties can come out and see it.

 

 

Would I like to see a new stadium? Yes. Reason being that the days of a dual purpose stadium is over and I'm sure I'm not the only one getting a bit tired of seeing the infield clay everytime there's a Dolphins game. Look at how many duel purpose stadiums are left? The Vet closed yesterday and it was once home to both the Eagles and Phillies. Now each team has a new stadium to play in. Same thing in San Diego where the Padres are getting out of Qualcomm stadium and moving into their new place. Pittsburgh and San Francisco all moved out of them and have moved into beautiful new baseball only stadiums.

 

 

This is all just my opinion of course and hope that a new stadium does get built where its beneficial for everyone. But if it isn't, are people going to stop completely going to the games because its located in Downtown Miami? I don't know anymore.

Good post FishFan. I was being pragmatic. Of course I'd like to see a baseball only stadium but, and everything you say about dual use is correct, but half a loaf is better than none. And as I said, its just me ruminating on what the city fathers might have up their sleeve. As long as we wind up with a place where the Marlins can afford to remain competitive, and stay in south florida, I'm a happy camper.

As long as we wind up with a place where the Marlins can afford to remain competitive, and stay in south florida, I'm a happy camper

 

 

Amen to that!

I like your idea too, Marlin2003. I think it makes more fiscal sense to buy-out H-bomb's interests at JRS, and improve the facilities for both teams that host games there. A dome would help the Marlins - but I would like to see a retractable dome. Need to have an open air facility for aesthetic purposes.

 

Problem is, these days, efficiency is key. That is where I think Marlin2003 is right, and FishFan, you may be wrong. Dual purpose facilities are certainly in decline, but given the current economic situation - or at least the one our officials portray - we may not afford (or be allowed to afford) specialized facilities. I too would love to see a brand new stadium downtown, that is a beautiful piece of architecture on the bay that would attract fans just for the splendor of it alone all the while housing a great baseball franchise. There are logistical problems in ushering in traffic - not just from Dade, but from all S Fl. Those would have to be dealt with as well. A ballpark downtown, along with the AAArena and maybe a renovated OB, could help rejuvenate downtown.

I like your idea too, Marlin2003. I think it makes more fiscal sense to buy-out H-bomb's interests at JRS, and improve the facilities for both teams that host games there. A dome would help the Marlins - but I would like to see a retractable dome. Need to have an open air facility for aesthetic purposes.

 

Problem is, these days, efficiency is key. That is where I think Marlin2003 is right, and FishFan, you may be wrong. Dual purpose facilities are certainly in decline, but given the current economic situation - or at least the one our officials portray - we may not afford (or be allowed to afford) specialized facilities. I too would love to see a brand new stadium downtown, that is a beautiful piece of architecture on the bay that would attract fans just for the splendor of it alone all the while housing a great baseball franchise. There are logistical problems in ushering in traffic - not just from Dade, but from all S Fl. Those would have to be dealt with as well. A ballpark downtown, along with the AAArena and maybe a renovated OB, could help rejuvenate downtown.

I know how much I hate driving north ( from Miami Beach) to PPS during rush hour, I can only imagine what it's like driving south at the same time from Broward and Palm Beach. And as much as I'd like to see a stadium downtown (Miami) that only makes the drive for those in the north worse. For better or worse, PPS is well suited to a huge number of people (and let's face it that's what this is, a numbers game) and withwith its proximity to our highway system, I think it could work.

If the staduim plan is passed and evetually built this could be the greatest franchise turnaround in sports history.

I guess it's just being picky but I wish there were more things to do around the stadium. How is it possible that no one's opened a restaurant or sports bar anywhere in the area? The stadium is very accessible but the area kinda sucks.

 

All things considered I think the current location is pretty fair for all 3 counties. I'm still drooling thinking about this....

I've always been curious who owns that huge tract of land on the other side of the street from PPS. It's freakin' enormous!

 

Anyone know?

I've always been curious who owns that huge tract of land on the other side of the street from PPS. It's freakin' enormous!

 

Anyone know?

Well I answered my own question. Went to the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser database - with the exception of one large tract south and west of PPS, all the surrounding land is owned by - guess who - yep, Wayne owns it all!

Guys, the location will be downtown Miami. If Miami is paying for it, it shall be in Miami. NO MORE WHINING! We just need the ballpark.

 

Who is the man now? I called it, told you that before the end of the year it would be done.

here's an article local Channel 10 had on it last week that sounds promising....sorry if already posted:

 

Deadline Could Make-Break Stadium Deal

$50 Million May Be Lost Without Decision Soon

 

POSTED: 4:00 PM EDT September 25, 2003

 

MIAMI -- Baseball fever is burning in South Florida and some fans are wondering if it could heat up the prospects for a new downtown Miami stadium.

 

Reporter Glenna Milberg did some investigating and found that timing is everything -- and the clock is ticking toward an important deadline.

 

Miami City Manager Joseph Arriola is clearly more optimistic about a stadium than he was just weeks ago.

 

"I'm not saying it's a done deal, but I'm very excited about the possibilities," Arriola said.

 

Milberg asked around to see what Arriola's optimism is based on: have they nailed down a location? Did Marlins management come up with one-fourth of the $400-million or so the stadium will cost?

 

Milberg struck out on answers from Marlins CEO Jeff Loria and President David Samson -- though sources say they've been negotiating in meetings with city and county managers over recent weeks.

 

Arriola said, "They are stepping forward with money. We have a lot of people that have conveyed a message to the team and I think the team wants to play ball with us now."

 

"Now" could be the critical point for $50 million in Miami-Dade County bed-tax money that is earmarked for a stadium -- and that could go away in two months.

 

The agreement for convention development tax dollars says: "If that money is not pledged by December 1 for a baseball stadium, $50 million goes back to the city of Miami Beach."

 

That pledge of support has to come from the Miami-Dade County Commission.

 

So far, a slim majority has opposed public money for a new stadium -- but the "use-it-or-lose-it" regarding $50 million may change that.

Guys, If you live in Palm Beach, Downtown might be easier in terms of travel choices.

 

Since you could ride Tri-Rail and transfer at the MetroRail and take that to the ballpark, it might be equal travel time to driving out to PPS. People in Broward could do the same or drive down.

 

We need Park and Rides that are cost effective, they better make it feasable for the fans.

i hope its not in downtown miami the traffic would be hell and it'll be to far for me i think the perfect place would be right next to the Office depot center in Sunrise no traffic prolems there what so ever