BasesLoadedWalk Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I think this deserves a separate thread, since the article goes into further detail as to what the new Marlins ballpark plan may be like. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/cont...220marlins.html Marlins stadium bills show promise By DARA KAM Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau Tuesday, February 20, 2007 TALLAHASSEE ? The Florida Marlins renewed their perennial effort to get a second tax break from the state to help finance a new stadium, but for the first time in five years, the Major League Baseball team has a chance of a promising finish. The Florida Senate Commerce Committee unanimously passed two bills Tuesday that would give the Marlins a $60 million tax break - $2 million per year over 30 years - if the city of Miami, Miami-Dade County and the team can nail down a deal to build a $490 million stadium. The stadium would seat 38,000 fans, be located downtown near the county Government Center, have a retractable roof, and be completely publicly-owned, said Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess. The Marlins have pledged up to $210 million to pay for the stadium, which will include suites and skyboxes as well as more affordable bleacher seating. Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami would spend a combined $250 million taken from community development funds and bed taxes, said Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla, one of the bill's sponsor and chairman of the committee. The promise of the money from the state, if used to help leverage financing, would make the deal possible. The major difference in the second bill, filed by Sen. Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah, is that it would charge the Marlins less than de la Portilla's bill would if the Marlins were to leave the state during the 30-year time frame. Garcia's bill would charge 125 percent of the money the stadium had received, while de la Portilla's would charge 150 percent. Marlins spokesman P.J. Loyello said Tuesday the club would have no comment on the bills. In years past, the Marlins - who already technically received a $2 million annual tax break - have walked away empty-handed after lawmakers or Gov. Jeb Bush refused to grant them a second "rebate." The teams are granted the tax break if they can demonstrate they can bring in at least that amount in sales tax each year, but once they prove it's possible they don't have to actually generate that much in taxes each year. The Marlins' previous owner, Wayne Huizenga, was granted a $60 million, 30-year tax subsidy in 1994 to retrofit the Dolphin Stadium for baseball. The subsidy, which officially was for the Marlins, stayed with the stadium when Huizenga sold the team, but some lawmakers have balked at giving the team money for another stadium. "This is like a lot of the extra innings that we've been in," Burgess told the committee. "We're extremely close to a deal." Diaz de la Portilla, whose district includes the site under consideration for the stadium, said he would not continue to push the bill unless the city, county and team have an iron-clad agreement laying out exactly who will pay for what. "I have no intention of dragging this out to the last 30 days of session," said Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, adding that the city and county should have their plans in place and have voted on them by April 1. Unlike Bush, who consistently opposed another state hand-out for the Marlins, Gov. Charlie Crist has indicated he would support the tax break, even in a year when economists predict the state's revenues will be lower than expected. "I'm in favor of sports activities in Florida. I think it's a good thing. I think it's an economic development issue," said Crist, who once worked as general counsel for the minor league division of the Baseball Commission Office. "I generally am favorably inclined toward continuing to support Major League Baseball, football. These kinds of things produce a lot of jobs, not just for the players and for the owners, but for people in all of our communities who support those teams," Crist said. Burgess defended using Community Redevelopment Agency funds, which are supposed to help rebuild blighted areas and create affordable housing, to pay for the stadium that he said will bring new money into the area. He said the investment would generate more revenues for the nearby Overtown Community Redevelopment Agency because of the additional sales taxes the stadium will generate. "If we can continue to fuel that investment with projects like this that can be a catalyst for additional private investment, then we're creating more fuel to address issues like infrastructure improvements in neighborhoods, affordable housing," Burgess said. We now know through this article: - The price appears to be settled on $490 million total, w/o taking into consideration overruns - The proposed rebate could theoretically cover the difference between the monies pledged and the price tag - The powers-that-be in Dade appear to favor using the CRA funds for the ballpark. First quoted confirmation from a county official - Local and team officials have until April 1 to iron out their differences or it isn't happening - de la Portilla looks to be in control of things on the Senate side, so everything has to be done to satisfy his specific demands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherrealfan Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 One would hope that after all the years of planning etc, that it would be unthinkable that the plans would not be in place in a timely manner. Granted, each location has specific issues that need to be resolved, and some of these are not insignificant-yet the main body of the plan of action should be already well conceived. I would like to believe that 80% of any stadium plan has already been determined and the 20% remaining is what the parties need to roll up their sleeves for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlins97-03 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 This just keeps annoying me. Marlins stadium bills show promise Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau In years past, the Marlins - who already technically received a $2 million annual tax break - have walked away empty-handed after lawmakers or Gov. Jeb Bush refused to grant them a second "rebate." The teams are granted the tax break if they can demonstrate they can bring in at least that amount in sales tax each year, but once they prove it's possible they don't have to actually generate that much in taxes each year. The Marlins' previous owner, Wayne Huizenga, was granted a $60 million, 30-year tax subsidy in 1994 to retrofit the Dolphin Stadium for baseball. The subsidy, which officially was for the Marlins, stayed with the stadium when Huizenga sold the team, but some lawmakers have balked at giving the team money for another stadium. Sooooo... First the Marlins get the rebate... Sort-of. Then, they contradict this tidbit in the very next paragraph. SO WHO THE HECK RECIEVED THE REBATE THEN!!! I understand that the rebate back in 94 was meant to go to the Marlins, but clearly this isn't the case. Since First, it was Granted to Wayne and the Stadium. and was kept with the Stadium when the team was sold. It just Irks me when opponents to this keep saying the Marlins are asking for seconds, WHEN THEY AREN'T!! AAARGH!!! If i'm wrong, please correct me :confused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherrealfan Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 This just keeps annoying me. Marlins stadium bills show promise Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau In years past, the Marlins - who already technically received a $2 million annual tax break - have walked away empty-handed after lawmakers or Gov. Jeb Bush refused to grant them a second "rebate." The teams are granted the tax break if they can demonstrate they can bring in at least that amount in sales tax each year, but once they prove it's possible they don't have to actually generate that much in taxes each year. The Marlins' previous owner, Wayne Huizenga, was granted a $60 million, 30-year tax subsidy in 1994 to retrofit the Dolphin Stadium for baseball. The subsidy, which officially was for the Marlins, stayed with the stadium when Huizenga sold the team, but some lawmakers have balked at giving the team money for another stadium. Sooooo... First the Marlins get the rebate... Sort-of. Then, they contradict this tidbit in the very next paragraph. SO WHO THE HECK RECIEVED THE REBATE THEN!!! I understand that the rebate back in 94 was meant to go to the Marlins, but clearly this isn't the case. Since First, it was Granted to Wayne and the Stadium. and was kept with the Stadium when the team was sold. It just Irks me when opponents to this keep saying the Marlins are asking for seconds, WHEN THEY AREN'T!! AAARGH!!! If i'm wrong, please correct me :confused Wayne is receiving the rebate and continues to get the check. Sounds absurd, but that is the way it was. Wayne owns the stadium and it went for stadium improvements-which while there have been, it has been more for Wayne to increase the value of the stadium for football and super bowls. Seems logical it should stay with the team it was designed for, especially since after Wayne sold the Fish,he always expressed that he would be happier if the Marlins left. The new bills have penalties if the team leaves the area, depending on the bill sponsor. I do not know for sure, there are people on this board who are very knowledgeable on the subject, but I believe that even if the Marlins get the rebate approved for a new stadium, Wayne still gets his for many more years-and that sure is absurd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapeFish Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 The rebates are not for teams, they are for the facilities that have leases with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out of the Past Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 - The powers-that-be in Dade appear to favor using the CRA funds for the ballpark. First quoted confirmation from a county official Burgess doesn't have a say in the CRA funds. These funds are controlled by the 5 city commissioners. Two of them can be counted to do the opposite of what the mayor wants so I think it will be up to the black commissioner ansd whether she's willing to allow funds that are supposed to go to affordable housing to be used for a stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anotherrealfan Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 The rebates are not for teams, they are for the facilities that have leases with them. Wayne will still receive the rebate after the lease expires-correct? And also, he has made it very clear on numerous occasions, except for his own self indulging purposes at the last minute at last year legislative session, that he would be happier if the Marlins left. The right to the payment was too open ended previously and I would have to assume that those loopholes will be closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierremvp1 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I would like to say "I told you so", as I've been saying on these boards since 2005 that a stadium deal would happen between Feb. 15-Apr. 1 2007, and it's looking like that's the case. At least I hope it does, might take a little longer, but I do think the Marlins would like to announce this a week before the season starts. 2 words....loan forgiveness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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