It was no secret the Marlins and MLB weren't very "excited" about the lease the city of Miami put on the table. Reportedly it limited revenue from parking, concessions, and skyboxes, but it was a lot better than the lease at Dolphin Stadium and it secured the long term feasibility of the franchise in the South Florida and eventually the Latin American market.

Were the concerns over these revenues (parking, concessions and skyboxes) related to the amount of revenues generated by the new stadium or were the concerns over the split of the revenues between the team, city and county?

 

Another sticking point in the deal was who was going to control construction. Under the MOU the team was responsible for any penny the budget, failure to do so would result in the city foreclosing on the franchise. If the city of Miami had controlled the project they could have easily given the project to friendly enities and in a few years we would have had another Performing Arts Center/Metro Rail/Terminal at MIA situation on our hands. At Loria's and eventually the fanbase's expense.

 

Under the OB deal the Marlins would have paid $30 million upfront and $5.4 million a year for 30 years ($162 million total) rent payments. For every million the project went over budget the team would pay $33,333.33 extra per year.

 

An example: The stadium goes $50 million over budget, which was reasonably possible, rent would then increase to $7.06 million a year.

 

Add $30 million to the team contribution and you have the ingredients for a financial disaster and we're at square one.....again.

We disagree here. The control of the construction was not really an issue because all along the negotiation process Loria guaranteed the cost overruns as long as he controlled the construction and the city and county gave him the control. The hang-up on this issue, as I recall, was Loria's unwillingness to provide a Letter of Credit guaranteeing the cost overruns. After more than a year of zero movement on this issue I believe the issue was finally resolved when Loria used the team as collateral to guarantee the overruns. Given that the cost estimates were Loria's own estimate and given that Loria would control the construction I don't see why he would be so concerned over cost overruns unless his own estimate was a bogus one (as in the case of San Antonio stadium).

 

 

To your first item, yes I believe the issue was the splitting of revenue.

 

To the second item, I'm not sure but you may be correct. It's been so long, I'll have to go over the MOU tomorrow. I have it around here somewhere...

 

 

CantCatchMe,

 

You have yet to use a fact. Just half assed conspiracy theories.

 

In the end, MLB has to approve a move and they've pretty much decided it's a lot more important to keep this team in Miami and paying alittle more than putting a team in much smaller markets in Portland or SA.

 

I have to call you on your false statements again, kid. I used plenty of facts. the facts about the cost of a stadium, the facts about the lack of public funding, and the fact that MLB and the team have said they won't put up any more money and they won't stay if they don't get it from the taxpayer. You may not like them, but those all are incontrovertible facts.

 

And what do you do? You MAKE UP A PHONY STORY claiming that the funding for a stadium has been approved. It's not true, and if you didn't know that, you need to do some research before commenting. If you did know of the funding issues, and still claimed they didn't exist, then that makes you, well, you figure it out.

 

No conspiracies, Quadruple, they've been up front about it. But it's not theory, it's fact.

 

Now, back to the question, when you told everyone on this board that all the stadium funding had been approved, were you :

 

a) Ignorant of the fact that there is at least a $120 million shortfall, or

b) Making stuff up.

 

It has to be one or the other.

The county approved funding for a ballpark in 2005 when the MOU with Miami was signed.

 

In this document:

 

http://www.miamidade.gov/govaction/legista...2006/060420.pdf

 

County Manager Burgess outlines possible sites with money that has already been earmarked for a ballpark. Never did I say the gap was closed.

 

I answered this question in another thread.

Has anyone heard anything about when the Marlins are going to meet with MLB over the studium? I'm getting really upset over this will they just hurry up and get something done. What the hell is taking so long?