http://www.miamiherald.com/606/story/197287.html

 

UM might leave OB by '08

Miami city manager Pete Hernandez said he believes UM is inclined to move to Dolphin Stadium, perhaps as early as 2008. A decision could come Aug. 21.

Posted on Thu, Aug. 09, 2007Digg it del.icio.us reprint or license print email

BY BARRY JACKSON

bjackson@MiamiHerald.com

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Miami city manager Pete Hernandez said Wednesday his ''gut feeling'' is that the University of Miami is inclined to move to Dolphin Stadium, and he told UM this week that it very likely would be permitted to escape its Orange Bowl lease and move there as early as next season if the school wishes.

 

Several UM officials said they expect the matter will be resolved during an Aug. 21 meeting of the executive committee of the Board of Trustees.

 

In addition to the 17 members of the executive committee, UM president Donna Shalala also has opened the meeting to other trustee members and some others with ties to the program.

 

This week, Hernandez met with UM for the first time in more than two months and asked UM chief financial officer Joe Natoli which way the school was leaning. Hernandez said Natoli, the only UM official at the meeting, wouldn't say. 'He said, `I hope I can tell you in a couple weeks,' '' Hernandez said.

 

UM's lease at the OB runs through 2009, and Natoli ''asked would that be a problem if they want to go [to Dolphin Stadium] in 2008?'' Hernandez said. ``I said something could be worked out. . . .

 

``My feeling is they're inclined to go to Dolphin Stadium. They've been very serious [with Dolphin Stadium] over the last few months, so they must be very close. It's just a gut feeling.''

 

UM officials have been negotiating exclusively with Dolphin Stadium since early June and have resolved nearly all of their differences.

 

An unsigned version of the final contract with Dolphin Stadium will be studied by the UM administration and discussed at the Aug. 21 meeting.

 

According to one official, UM would make approximately $1.5 million more annually by moving to Dolphin Stadium than accepting the city of Miami's most recent proposal, based on similar attendance projections.

 

But that $1.5 million would grow if UM draws larger crowds at Dolphin Stadium.

 

Two officials on the Dolphin Stadium side, who requested anonymity, said they expect UM will move there because the Hurricanes would be making more money and playing in a newer, more luxurious venue.

 

Also, there is sentiment among several prominent UM officials toward moving, but that view isn't unanimous among trustee members.

 

NOT A DONE DEAL

 

Even though several Hurricanes officials and trustee members expect the Canes to move, several UM officials cautioned that it's far from certain because of the unpredictability of how the trustee members will react at the Aug. 21 meeting.

 

During the board of trustees meeting June 5, several trustees expressed a preference to remain at the Orange Bowl and told Shalala to continue negotiating with both sides.

 

One person at the meeting said some trustees want to move to Dolphin Stadium only if it's a perfect deal.

 

It's far closer to that now, because major issues have been resolved in negotiations with Huizenga Holdings, and that figures to appease at least some of the trustees who opposed the move. Shalala hasn't yet made a recommendation to the trustees, who usually follow her lead. One official expects her to continue to gauge sentiment among trustees before the meeting.

 

Shalala said Saturday that the university ``is still analyzing the situation.''

 

Hernandez said the offer made by the city in early June remains unchanged. That proposal would publicly finance $206 million in renovations, but $45 million would come from a historic tax credit if the OB is given a historic designation.

 

But Hernandez reiterated this week that the city will not apply for that credit unless it has a commitment from UM to remain at the OB. ''We can't ask and then have the university go someplace else because that curtails other options'' with the OB land, Hernandez said.

 

TIME CRUNCH

 

Hernandez told Natoli this week that the city needs an answer very soon.

 

''I expressed concern that my pressure is time,'' Hernandez said. ``We need to know what direction the university is going or [explore] other plans that may include demolition. Now the best we can do on the renovations is 2010. We lost one year.''

 

John Paccione, senior vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc. -- the city's consultant on the project -- said renovations could be completed in time for the 2010 season but it would be a ``challenge.''

 

Most of the renovations would occur on the south side of the Orange Bowl (including the construction of suites and club seats), but there would be some upgrades on the north side, including concessions and bathrooms, Hernandez has said.

 

Hernandez said if UM moves, the Orange Bowl land would be a ''very good'' option to build a Marlins stadium, even though the Marlins and Major League Baseball prefer a downtown site.

 

He disputed the notion that UM leaving would free up more money to be used on a Marlins ballpark.

 

''We have financing irrespective of whether the Hurricanes go or not,'' he said.

 

The last quote is positive, but if this is the case, why has everything stalled on the Marlins stadium issue while the Canes make up their minds? Perhaps they are waiting just because the Canes moving makes financing that much easier for the Marlins. We shall see. Looks like August 21st is a big day.

Financially it makes no sense to save the Orange Bowl. Hopefully this is coming to and end and the city can focus on building the ballpark at the OB.

At least we now have a date for the possible decision. Lets hope they finally make up their minds on August 21th. Hopefully site selection discussions will follow and the new Marlins stadium can become a reality.

hopefully we will know soon , while the orange bowl would not be my first choice for a stadium location , beggers cant be chosers .

hopefully we will know soon , while the orange bowl would not be my first choice for a stadium location , beggers cant be chosers .

Agreed. The OB site stinks but at least it's better than Hialeah, and at least it means the team will be here for a while (I think the OB will be a relative failure regarding attendance because of its poor location, but hey, at least we'll have baseball, and at least we don't have to cross into that piece of land to the north).

Financially it makes no sense to save the Orange Bowl. Hopefully this is coming to and end and the city can focus on building the ballpark at the OB.

 

BREAKING NEWS - PEOPLE WANT THE OB TO BE A HISTORIC LANDMARK

 

This is what some people might say

Financially it makes no sense to save the Orange Bowl. Hopefully this is coming to and end and the city can focus on building the ballpark at the OB.

 

BREAKING NEWS - PEOPLE WANT THE OB TO BE A HISTORIC LANDMARK

 

This is what some people might say

 

BREAKING NEWS - PEOPLE WANT A LOT OF THINGS

Financially it makes no sense to save the Orange Bowl. Hopefully this is coming to and end and the city can focus on building the ballpark at the OB.

 

BREAKING NEWS - PEOPLE WANT THE OB TO BE A HISTORIC LANDMARK

 

This is what some people might say

 

If Yankee stadium can be imploded then so can the Orange Bowl

Financially it makes no sense to save the Orange Bowl. Hopefully this is coming to and end and the city can focus on building the ballpark at the OB.

 

BREAKING NEWS - PEOPLE WANT THE OB TO BE A HISTORIC LANDMARK

 

This is what some people might say

 

If Yankee stadium can be imploded then so can the Orange Bowl

 

I believe though the new Yankee Stadium will be on the same grounds as the current one. The same thing with Shea and the new Mets park. Just accross the parking lot. I just want the Marlins to stay in Florida.

BREAKING NEWS - PEOPLE WANT THE OB TO BE A HISTORIC LANDMARK

 

This is what some people might say

The fact that New York is demolishing Yankee Stadium kills this argument outright.

 

The Canes moving to Dolphin Stadium not only gives us the OB site, but also fills the "money gap", since the City already promised money to renovate the OB if the Canes stayed. That money can be applied to the new ballpark. Funding solved.

 

I believe though the new Yankee Stadium will be on the same grounds as the current one. The same thing with Shea and the new Mets park. Just accross the parking lot. I just want the Marlins to stay in Florida.

Nope. The plan was always for the new Stadium to be built adjacent, and the old Stadium to be demolished and turned into a park.

 

At least it's being turned into a park, and not parking.

they could not designate YS as a landmark due to the renovation in 76 which robbed the stadium of anything that could be argued as a landmark, its not the original....

 

I have never been to the OB but from what I read and hear its not worth saving, either spend the money on something important like highways and mass transit or build the Fish their ballpark....

they could not designate YS as a landmark due to the renovation in 76 which robbed the stadium of anything that could be argued as a landmark, its not the original....

 

I have never been to the OB but from what I read and hear its not worth saving, either spend the money on something important like highways and mass transit or build the Fish their ballpark....

Miami does a pretty good job on the former. I say the latter.

At this point I feel obligated to remind for about the thousandth time that the funds pledged towards a new Marlins stadium are from sources that CANNOT be used "on something important like highways or mass transit..." nor can they be used to build schools or buy little Johnny new books or subsidize housing for grandma. Miami-Dade county voters approved the creation of the Professional Sports Franchise Tax fully understanding the dollars generated were for a specific use and that use only.

 

It's a red herring to suggest that there can be alternative uses for those funds, there aren't.

hopefully we will know soon , while the orange bowl would not be my first choice for a stadium location , beggers cant be chosers .

Agreed. The OB site stinks but at least it's better than Hialeah, and at least it means the team will be here for a while (I think the OB will be a relative failure regarding attendance because of its poor location, but hey, at least we'll have baseball, and at least we don't have to cross into that piece of land to the north).

 

Disagree and agree. LOL I'm more for the Hialeah site as always. But at least we keep baseball. Even if the wife and I have to give up our season tix for some sort of week end/small voucher plan. Orange Bowl site or downtown location wouldn't change that.

I actually like the Hialeah site, too. It's right at I-75 and the HEFT pretty much. But there are advantages to the Orange Bowl. It already has stadium infrastructure, and Miami already owns the land. With those savings, and the money Miami pledged to UM to improve it if they stay, we could go ahead and build the retractable-roof facility.

 

P.S.: How much you wanna bet that the moment the stadium is finalized, Jeffrey Loria starts acting like George Steinbrenner and releases the floodgates on his purse?

I actually like the Hialeah site, too. It's right at I-75 and the HEFT pretty much. But there are advantages to the Orange Bowl. It already has stadium infrastructure, and Miami already owns the land. With those savings, and the money Miami pledged to UM to improve it if they stay, we could go ahead and build the retractable-roof facility.

 

P.S.: How much you wanna bet that the moment the stadium is finalized, Jeffrey Loria starts acting like George Steinbrenner and releases the floodgates on his purse?

May God hear you!

I actually like the Hialeah site, too. It's right at I-75 and the HEFT pretty much. But there are advantages to the Orange Bowl. It already has stadium infrastructure, and Miami already owns the land. With those savings, and the money Miami pledged to UM to improve it if they stay, we could go ahead and build the retractable-roof facility.

 

P.S.: How much you wanna bet that the moment the stadium is finalized, Jeffrey Loria starts acting like George Steinbrenner and releases the floodgates on his purse?

May God hear you!

As I posted in another thread, I firmly believe that Loria is trying to field mediocre teams until he gets a new stadium. That's why he got rid of Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell before last year, and that's why he fired Joe Girardi after last year.

I actually like the Hialeah site, too. It's right at I-75 and the HEFT pretty much. But there are advantages to the Orange Bowl. It already has stadium infrastructure, and Miami already owns the land. With those savings, and the money Miami pledged to UM to improve it if they stay, we could go ahead and build the retractable-roof facility.

 

P.S.: How much you wanna bet that the moment the stadium is finalized, Jeffrey Loria starts acting like George Steinbrenner and releases the floodgates on his purse?

May God hear you!

As I posted in another thread, I firmly believe that Loria is trying to field mediocre teams until he gets a new stadium. That's why he got rid of Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell before last year, and that's why he fired Joe Girardi after last year.

 

Actually, we got rid of Beckett because we wanted to get compensation when his trade value was highest and before we lost him to free agency. There was no way he'd sign a long term deal with us. And, we got Hanley Ramirez out of that deal, so I'm not really complaining.

 

As for Lowell, we did sign him to a long term contract. The problem was he suddenly became one of the worst hitters in baseball during the 2005 season. And, we attached him and his contract to the Beckett deal so we could rid ourselves of, what seemed at the time, a formerly good player who transformed into a really expensive bust.

 

Girardi was fired because he couldn't get along with the owner or the front office. Not to mention, if firing the rookie manager is a main part of your plans for sabotage, you need to rework your plans. The manager isn't all that important.

 

Lastly, where in Loria's plan to field a mediocre team would the signing of Carlos Delgado fit in?

As I posted in another thread, I firmly believe that Loria is trying to field mediocre teams until he gets a new stadium. That's why he got rid of Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell before last year, and that's why he fired Joe Girardi after last year.

Actually, we got rid of Beckett because we wanted to get compensation when his trade value was highest and before we lost him to free agency. There was no way he'd sign a long term deal with us. And, we got Hanley Ramirez out of that deal, so I'm not really complaining.

 

As for Lowell, we did sign him to a long term contract. The problem was he suddenly became one of the worst hitters in baseball during the 2005 season. And, we attached him and his contract to the Beckett deal so we could rid ourselves of, what seemed at the time, a formerly good player who transformed into a really expensive bust.

 

Girardi was fired because he couldn't get along with the owner or the front office. Not to mention, if firing the rookie manager is a main part of your plans for sabotage, you need to rework your plans. The manager isn't all that important.

 

Lastly, where in Loria's plan to field a mediocre team would the signing of Carlos Delgado fit in?

We weren't that bad in 2005. I'm sure for the right price Beckett would have re-upped. He did get a ring with us after all.

 

Hanley Ramirez, as all minor-league prospects are, was a crap shoot. We got lucky that he turned into a Rookie of the Year and has become a potential future MVP. That goes doubly for Anibal Sanchez, who has had shoulder problems this year (big reason why we suck right now IMHO).

 

As for Mike Lowell, it was just an unlucky offensive year. He actually got his first Gold Glove in 2005. His BA's in his two years in Boston are .284 and .311.

 

And Girardi... no one expected the team in 2006 to get to 78-84. He got Manager of the Year for his effort. The fact that he and Loria didn't get along just didn't add up.

 

And just where is Carlos Delgado now? Oh yeah! He was traded in the 2005 offseason too!

 

Remember, the 2005 Fire Sale coincided with his open negotiations with San Antonio. He was using San Antonio, and the image that he couldn't make money in Dolphin Stadium (which does have some truth to it, no thanks to H. Wayne Huizenga), to blackmail Miami into building him a new park. The same way Chicago used St. Petersburg to get U.S. Cellular Field. (SF was a different story, and its falling through can also be blamed on H. Wayne Huizenga.)

 

EDIT: I just thought of this. I should start calling Jeffrey Loria "Rachel Phelps". Because that's who he reminds me of.

Joe Girardi didn't get along with anyone in the FO in the end. Infact, it has been well documented the FO wanted Fredi in the 2005-2006 offseason but Loria pulled a Steinbrenner.

Ultimately, I think that OB is the only feesable site. We can try to get the downtown site, but it's going to cost an arm, a leg, our first-born sons and most of our left nuts.