Posted on Sun, Oct. 12, 2003

 

NLCS BUZZ

Stadium near OB mulled

BY BARRY JACKSON

bjackson@herald.com

 

 

Barry Jackson

 

 

 

 

Although the Marlins have told political officials they prefer a new ballpark in downtown Miami, they are considering another scenario the city has proposed: building a baseball stadium next to the Orange Bowl.

 

The city asked a consulting firm whether there would be room for two stadiums on the Orange Bowl site, and the firm said it's probably realistic, according to Otto Boudet, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz's senior advisor for economic development.

 

''The stadiums could be side-by-side or even attached where they would share food and beverage [stands], a press area, maybe luxury suites,'' Boudet said. ``It's natural because we control the land. It's a good location for baseball, in the heart of Little Havana.''

 

Most of the discussions have focused on land on the site of Miami Arena or nearby.

 

Wherever the stadium would be, ''there has to be a redevelopment plan for the area,'' Boudet said. The waterfront Bicentennial Park site that had been pursued by previous owner John Henry is no longer being considered.

 

Boudet said he's uncertain if the sides will agree on a financing plan: ``Hopefully, it will be fish or cut bait pretty soon. It can't drag on much longer.''

 

Boudet said the Marlins have offered ''a combination of lease payments that could be bonded out, and pledging of some revenue from luxury boxes'' but the city is ''looking for them to come up with up-front cash.'' The city might be able to provide some funding by designating the area as a tax increment financing district, Boudet said.

 

WILLIS FACTOR

 

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, the man who traded Dontrelle Willis, said before Saturday's game he wants Willis to have a good career.

 

But. . . . ''If he wins two Cy Youngs, it will always be on Hendry's tombstone,'' he said.

 

Hendry said his desire to acquire Antonio Alfonseca was the motivation for last year's trade that sent pitchers Alfonseca and Matt Clement to Chicago for pitchers Julian Tavarez and three minor leaguers: Willis, pitcher Jose Cueto and catcher Ryan Jorgensen.

 

''We didn't think he would pitch in the All-Star Game in 2003, and no one else in the industry did,'' Hendry said of Willis. ``Do I regret putting him in the deal? Certainly. We thought he would be in the big leagues in 2004. In fairness to the Marlins, they did like him. They didn't stumble into this.''

 

Hendry and Willis spoke Friday night. ''I love the guy,'' Hendry said.

 

SMILEY A FAN

 

Don Smiley is enjoying this Marlins playoff push from the same vantage point as thousands of fans: on the couch.

 

Six years ago, Smiley was enjoying the Marlins' World Series run as team president. When Wayne Huizenga announced plans to sell the Marlins soon after, he said he expected Smiley to put together an investment group to buy the team.

 

Despite trying for months, Smiley never closed the deal. Today, he is content managing his investments and working as president of the Junior Champions Golf Tour.

 

''I absolutely love it,'' Smiley, 48, said of a job he has held since 2001. ``My son, Donnie, plays on the tour. And there are no free agents or arbitration in golf.''

 

Under his watch, the Deerfield Beach-based tour, designed for players ages 11 to 19, has increased its number of events and sponsorships.

 

Smiley, who has maintained a friendship with Huizenga and baseball commissioner Bud Selig, said he has had two opportunities to return to baseball but neither appealed to him. He said he hasn't tried to purchase a team but wouldn't rule it out.

 

''I'm glad I tried,'' he said of his efforts to buy the Marlins. ``I don't know [about getting back into baseball]. That's a part of my life I enjoyed very much.''

 

Smiley, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, says he attends ''a handful'' of Marlins games but doesn't have playoff tickets.

 

''I don't have any wistful feelings about not being there [as owner],'' he said. ``I'm grateful for the time I was there. I'm thankful for the fans of South Florida that the team has risen up again, and I hope they win.''

 

I like this idea, use imminent domain to buy the land, move those folks into newer, safer housing and build a sports complex ala Truman in KC with the Orange Bowl Stadium and the Marlins Ballpark. This would solve parking and traffic problems at the OB since you don't have the neighborhood so close.

Thanks for the Information,

 

Connecting the OB and the new ballpark is interest...Do you know if the OB renovation to fit baseball play is still in consideration or not?

 

''a combination of lease payments that could be bonded out, and pledging of some revenue from luxury boxes'' but the city is ''looking for them to come up with up-front cash.''

 

I remember the Marlins offered the same thing in 2001 with building a stadium in the Miami Arena location but Miami mangement wasn't for it.