The city and county government need to give UM a deadline to make up their mind where they are going to play football in the future.

 

Without a definite date both sides (Huizenga and the UM) can try to negotiate forever.

 

The Marlins are the only ones in a hurry here.

While troublesome as other projects need to be finalized, the Marlins have probably benefited from the vague deadlines they've set. It has allowed them to pursue all their options and build support through the ranks.

I would like to remind everyone that UM has an Orange Bowl lease until 2009. So the city doesn't have to do a thing.

Cant we use the Orange Bowl and use the money we were still gonna spend by fixing it up a bit?

Huh? :banghead

Cant we use the Orange Bowl and use the money we were still gonna spend by fixing it up a bit?

I'm sorry, but this is the worst idea ever.

So you would rather have the team move to Vegas?

I think at this stage only a new owner with local connections will have the sway to get the marlins a stadium , even with a new owner i think we are in for 5-7 years more of limbo and loss of top flight players all the while playing at a mostly empty footbal stadium

I disagree with that. An owner with $$ and connections could get the stadium started and on track for 2011, all the while keeping the players the team needs to to keep the fanbase in a state of growth.

I would like to remind everyone that UM has an Orange Bowl lease until 2009. So the city doesn't have to do a thing.

I realize that, but the city has agreed to budget a significant amount of money toward renovations of the OB in order to entice the Hurricanes to stay in the OB beyond 2009. I would guess that the city could place a deadline on the UM decision if the UM wants these funds to be used in the renovations.

From Barry Jackson's column in today's (July 25th) Miami Herald

 

 

UM officials have been negotiating exclusively with Dolphin Stadium the past seven weeks and resolved most issues in a potential move there. Still, a few issues remain, and neither Dolphin Stadium nor Orange Bowl officials have been given a decision.

 

People on the Huizenga Holdings side (and some on the UM side) expect the Hurricanes to move there, but UM president Donna Shalala has not made a recommendation to members of the board of trustees' executive committee -- some of whom want to stay at the OB. (It's typical for the board to support Shalala's recommendation.) City of Miami manager Pete Hernandez won't give UM a deadline on the city's $206 million OB renovation offer, but wants an answer ''quick'' -- preferably within 30 days -- so proposed upgrades aren't delayed.

I disagree with that. An owner with $$ and connections could get the stadium started and on track for 2011, all the while keeping the players the team needs to to keep the fanbase in a state of growth.

 

But hasn't Huizenga said the Marlins have to be out by the end of the 2009 season ?