Let's not get our hopes up. My understanding was that the money the city pledged to renovate the OB was actually federal money earmarked for preservation of historical buildings. If that's true, it means the city cannot use that money to build the Marlins' stadium.

 

Furthermore, if it is indeed the city's money (and not federal money), it may be used for another project (the tunnel at the port).

 

Still a long way to go.

 

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer.

WOW! Finally,it is done!

 

Next on the agenda: DOWNTOWN vs OB

 

Without on site parking either site will SUCK. I remember to many bad experiences going to basketball and hockey games at the old Miami Arena and games at the Orange Bowl. Hoping your car would still be where you parked it, when the game was over, or wondering what would get stolen from the car, while you were in the game. Either one of those spots will stop me from coming to any more games.

you must be missing the point...they are renovating the area for a ball park...I'm sure the area will look nothing like it does now...and im sure the crime in the area will also change its course

I hear you, but my main concern for any new stadium, at any location, is being able to park at the stadium. I just hope that is a Major consideration to what ever site it is built on. I was recently at a baseball game in Boston, and we had to park almost a mile from Fenway Park and pay $15.00, then hike a mile to see the game.

 

Guess I have been spoiled by the games being at Dolphin Stadium. We travel over 3 hours from here, to get to Marlins games, and it is nice to have the parking right there at the stadium.

as one who lives in massachusetts and has for 17 years now...trust me...fenway is a horrible example of how baseball fans should get to the game...because its either take the train or pay 50 bucks for parking(and that parking could be anywhere in the city)...i know im in the extreme minority on this one...but the best thing the red sox could do for their fans is to tear down fenway and move the stadium elsewhere...but since we all know that they would rather use fenway until it implodes during a game that will never happen...anyways...back to miami...i cant see loria spending all this money to finally get his park and leaving it with a lousy parking situation...he is too self conscience for that IMO

 

I think you're wrong. Its pretty much more convenient for most people in Boston the way Fenway is set up. Many who are going to the games also are not driving their cars to work but rather are taking the T or whatever. So theyre already downtown and its just a short ride to Kenmore after work. I guess youre idea is to move the stadium out of Boston to a spot similar to the Patriots but that just isnt where the BOSTON Red Sox belong

im sorry for kinda high-jacking this thread...but the red sox are a very different breed of team...and their fans are different too...id be willing to bet...that most(not all) of the tickets are in some sort of corporate control...most of the time when i go(and ive been like 15 times and have sat all around the park) all the people i talk to either got their seats through the Bostn Globe, or CVS, or xyz company...that said...alot of the fans who go to the games arent from boston...i mean its like every other day that the red sox have Maine day or New Hampshire day, or Western Mass day...and so on...so the park is refreshed by different people day in, day out...and of course, you have your die hards like from that silly ass movie with jimmy fallon that have season tickets(and pay with an arm and leg instead of credit)...but die hards(for the most part around here) would rather just watch the game on NESN)...and the problem is that most people dont take the T(their schedules are a nightmare to follow)...and this packs the city of boston with an even more ridiculous amount of cars each gameday...trust me...you are shoulder to shoulder to car to car with everyone on a gameday and it sucks ass in my opinion...and im not disagreeing that the Boston red sox dont belong in boston...but that stadium has been there since 1912 and been one hell of a bitch to get to since then as well

WOW! Finally,it is done!

 

Next on the agenda: DOWNTOWN vs OB

 

Without on site parking either site will SUCK. I remember to many bad experiences going to basketball and hockey games at the old Miami Arena and games at the Orange Bowl. Hoping your car would still be where you parked it, when the game was over, or wondering what would get stolen from the car, while you were in the game. Either one of those spots will stop me from coming to any more games.

you must be missing the point...they are renovating the area for a ball park...im sure the area will look nothing like it does now...and im sure the crime in the area will also change its course

Is there significant crime in the area? In my 40 yrs of going to the OB, I still feel nor see any concern. I would venture a guess that there is more crime around the old Miami Arena (when I went to UM basketball with 1000 people there or Panther and Heat games) or the new AAA. There might be some vandalism but crime has not been an issue for anyone going to Hurricane games, High School games, soccer games etc.

i dont know...ive only been to the OB once to see a fins-bucs scrimmage about 15 years ago...but i always see people complaining about crime and poverty in the area and i was pointing out how much the area would change if there was a brand spankin new ballpark there

Let's not get our hopes up. My understanding was that the money the city pledged to renovate the OB was actually federal money earmarked for preservation of historical buildings. If that's true, it means the city cannot use that money to build the Marlins' stadium.

 

Furthermore, if it is indeed the city's money (and not federal money), it may be used for another project (the tunnel at the port).

 

Still a long way to go.

 

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer.

 

The UM administration has serious concerns about Miami's financing plan. Though the city has offered $206 million, only $88 million already is available, mostly from a general obligation bond and a convention development tax. The rest hinges on receiving $45 million from historic tax credits and generating $73 million in stadium revenue bonds. Though Hernandez has expressed confidence the city will receive the tax credits, one UM official called the $45 million a ''very aggressive number.'' And the city won't apply for the credits unless UM commits to the project.

 

http://capefish.blogspot.com/2007/08/um-ex...-exit-from.html

Let's not get our hopes up. My understanding was that the money the city pledged to renovate the OB was actually federal money earmarked for preservation of historical buildings. If that's true, it means the city cannot use that money to build the Marlins' stadium.

 

Furthermore, if it is indeed the city's money (and not federal money), it may be used for another project (the tunnel at the port).

 

Still a long way to go.

 

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer.

 

The UM administration has serious concerns about Miami's financing plan. Though the city has offered $206 million, only $88 million already is available, mostly from a general obligation bond and a convention development tax. The rest hinges on receiving $45 million from historic tax credits and generating $73 million in stadium revenue bonds. Though Hernandez has expressed confidence the city will receive the tax credits, one UM official called the $45 million a ''very aggressive number.'' And the city won't apply for the credits unless UM commits to the project.

 

http://capefish.blogspot.com/2007/08/um-ex...-exit-from.html

In addition, if we go the OB route, we will be saving money because we won't need to buy any land. All we'd need to do is demolish the OB, do some minor utility upgrades, and build the new stadium.

Let's not get our hopes up. My understanding was that the money the city pledged to renovate the OB was actually federal money earmarked for preservation of historical buildings. If that's true, it means the city cannot use that money to build the Marlins' stadium.

 

Furthermore, if it is indeed the city's money (and not federal money), it may be used for another project (the tunnel at the port).

 

Still a long way to go.

 

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer.

 

The UM administration has serious concerns about Miami's financing plan. Though the city has offered $206 million, only $88 million already is available, mostly from a general obligation bond and a convention development tax. The rest hinges on receiving $45 million from historic tax credits and generating $73 million in stadium revenue bonds. Though Hernandez has expressed confidence the city will receive the tax credits, one UM official called the $45 million a ''very aggressive number.'' And the city won't apply for the credits unless UM commits to the project.

 

http://capefish.blogspot.com/2007/08/um-ex...-exit-from.html

 

That's great. I stand corrected!

As far as the crime is concerned...as if the area around the DS is a crime free zone.

 

Hopefully this is the start to a much better day than yesterday.

WOW! Finally,it is done!

 

Next on the agenda: DOWNTOWN vs OB

 

Without on site parking either site will SUCK. I remember to many bad experiences going to basketball and hockey games at the old Miami Arena and games at the Orange Bowl. Hoping your car would still be where you parked it, when the game was over, or wondering what would get stolen from the car, while you were in the game. Either one of those spots will stop me from coming to any more games.

you must be missing the point...they are renovating the area for a ball park...im sure the area will look nothing like it does now...and im sure the crime in the area will also change its course

Is there significant crime in the area? In my 40 yrs of going to the OB, I still feel nor see any concern. I would venture a guess that there is more crime around the old Miami Arena (when I went to UM basketball with 1000 people there or Panther and Heat games) or the new AAA. There might be some vandalism but crime has not been an issue for anyone going to Hurricane games, High School games, soccer games etc.

i dont know...ive only been to the OB once to see a fins-bucs scrimmage about 15 years ago...but i always see people complaining about crime and poverty in the area and i was pointing out how much the area would change if there was a brand spankin new ballpark there

Can't say it is crime free, but there is crime at Aventura Mall also. I just do not feel there is a crime problem. I think that sometimes from what you say people were saying about the area, is that some people associate a lower income area with crime. Almost as if they feel it is a crime to be poor. My visual observation over the years is that the area has changed from where the people came from, but yet, feel comfortable around them. Just seem like hard working decent people who just are not rich. Clearly, most long time S. Floridians probably feel like I do, it may be the many relative new people who have these perceptions.

For the record, the violent crime rate around the DS is above average for Miami-Dade County.

There is a poll at http://www.miamiherald.com/598/story/210237.htmlabout what to do with the OB. So far, 53% say replace it with a ballpark, 27% fix it, 15% bulldoze it, and 6% condos.

There is a poll at http://www.miamiherald.com/598/story/210237.htmlabout what to do with the OB. So far, 53% say replace it with a ballpark, 27% fix it, 15% bulldoze it, and 6% condos.

 

 

Fix it for what? For Whom? Blow the thing up already so they can start building the stadium already!

"This opens up a new path." -Manny Diaz

 

Manny Diaz confirms he intends to use the $88M in OB renovation money towards a ballpark. He said the city has to go back to the drawing board to adjust some of the numbers from the Spring 2007 plan. But he expects things to start moving again fairly soon.

 

MLB is no longer debating downtown. It's OB or bust.

As far as the crime is concerned...as if the area around the DS is a crime free zone.

 

Hopefully this is the start to a much better day than yesterday.

 

 

For the record, the violent crime rate around the DS is above average for Miami-Dade County.

 

But when you go to D.S., you park inside a gated lot. While obviously thats not foolproof, thats alot safer than parking on the street near the Orange Bowl.

As far as the crime is concerned...as if the area around the DS is a crime free zone.

 

Hopefully this is the start to a much better day than yesterday.

 

 

For the record, the violent crime rate around the DS is above average for Miami-Dade County.

 

But when you go to D.S., you park inside a gated lot. While obviously thats not foolproof, thats alot safer than parking on the street near the Orange Bowl.

 

Ya but tearing down the OB and putting a baseball stadium may create enough room to make a parking lot around the stadium. Think of all the money the Marlins would make with there own parking lot like Huizenga does at DS.

So even if a Stadium deal is done we couldn't begin building at the Orange Bowl site until after the 2007 year?

That is correct. FIU and UM have to play through their schedules, with UM's last game against UVA on 11/10 and FIU's final game against North Texas (the final game to ever be played at the OB) on 12/1. I expect 12/3 to be the start of demolition.

 

That said, there are critics out there who will point to attendance problems at Pitt games at Heinz Field as an indicator of what could happen to UM games.

"This opens up a new path." -Manny Diaz

 

Manny Diaz confirms he intends to use the $88M in OB renovation money towards a ballpark. He said the city has to go back to the drawing board to adjust some of the numbers from the Spring 2007 plan. But he expects things to start moving again fairly soon.

 

MLB is no longer debating downtown. It's OB or bust.

Now honestly, is this REALLY that surprising?

There is a poll at http://www.miamiherald.com/598/story/210237.htmlabout what to do with the OB. So far, 53% say replace it with a ballpark, 27% fix it, 15% bulldoze it, and 6% condos.

 

Who are the 6% that voted for condos??? If there is one thing that South Florida has enough of it's unsold condos.

 

There are no excuses left for not FINALLY clolsing a stadium deal. There is land. There is money. Get it done.

As far as the crime is concerned...as if the area around the DS is a crime free zone.

 

Hopefully this is the start to a much better day than yesterday.

 

 

For the record, the violent crime rate around the DS is above average for Miami-Dade County.

 

But when you go to D.S., you park inside a gated lot. While obviously thats not foolproof, thats alot safer than parking on the street near the Orange Bowl.

 

Ya but tearing down the OB and putting a baseball stadium may create enough room to make a parking lot around the stadium. Think of all the money the Marlins would make with there own parking lot like Huizenga does at DS.

Yeah thats true, but itll be interesting to see how much parking they can offer inside the stadium gates...and judging from the size of the current lot at the OB, I dont think its all that much.

As far as the crime is concerned...as if the area around the DS is a crime free zone.

 

Hopefully this is the start to a much better day than yesterday.

 

 

For the record, the violent crime rate around the DS is above average for Miami-Dade County.

 

But when you go to D.S., you park inside a gated lot. While obviously thats not foolproof, thats alot safer than parking on the street near the Orange Bowl.

 

 

I have no doubts that investors would buy land from homeowners and develop suitable parking. With 82+ events guaranteed at the OB location, the incentive is there built.

The City of Miami crime statistics are misleading. That includes Liberty City and Overtown, and high poverty areas where the majority of crime occurs in Miami. People are afraid of things they dont know. I bet there is more crime around DS than the Orange Bowl (someone check crime by Zip Code).

 

Regarding parking, the OB has been serving up to 70,000 people for decades. Why would it be such a problem to serve 30,000 for baseball?

 

Downtown is better but from a real estate perspective this (OB) is a good place to be.

Why couldn't we keep a good team for once? I miss over 67,000 singing "We Are The Champions".

 

Ya but tearing down the OB and putting a baseball stadium may create enough room to make a parking lot around the stadium. Think of all the money the Marlins would make with there own parking lot like Huizenga does at DS.

Not only will we get money for our own parking, but we will get money for our own luxury suites as well. Where does the money for Marlins suites at DS go right now? You guessed it. Most of it lines the pockets of one H. Wayne Huizenga.

 

:killthemall

 

I really dont care where they build the stadium as long as they do. But why do people keep on with the crime thing a the OB? Did the UM ever mention it as a reason for leaving the OB? The Dolphins before them? They would know.

Never once. The Dolphins left because their owner, Joe Robbie, built them a new stadium with 100% private funds. They wanted (and then, arguably, deserved) a new stadium, and he built it.

As far as the crime is concerned...as if the area around the DS is a crime free zone.

 

Hopefully this is the start to a much better day than yesterday.

 

 

For the record, the violent crime rate around the DS is above average for Miami-Dade County.

 

But when you go to D.S., you park inside a gated lot. While obviously thats not foolproof, thats alot safer than parking on the street near the Orange Bowl.

 

Ya but tearing down the OB and putting a baseball stadium may create enough room to make a parking lot around the stadium. Think of all the money the Marlins would make with there own parking lot like Huizenga does at DS.

Yeah thats true, but itll be interesting to see how much parking they can offer inside the stadium gates...and judging from the size of the current lot at the OB, I dont think its all that much.

 

 

According to reports the OB site is 40 acres right now, the baseball stadium would require only 15-18 acres to be built leaving pleny of space for parking and/or parking garages and some nightlife/green life around the new park

I ahve a poll up: http://capefish.blogspot.com/

As far as the crime is concerned...as if the area around the DS is a crime free zone.

 

Hopefully this is the start to a much better day than yesterday.

 

 

For the record, the violent crime rate around the DS is above average for Miami-Dade County.

 

But when you go to D.S., you park inside a gated lot. While obviously thats not foolproof, thats alot safer than parking on the street near the Orange Bowl.

 

 

I have no doubts that investors would buy land from homeowners and develop suitable parking. With 82+ events guaranteed at the OB location, the incentive is there built.

 

:thumbup

 

Think the Gas Lamp District in San Diego and LoDo in Denver.

 

The site needs to be layed out properly. The current way the OB is set up would hamper future development. Providing people a direct path from their seats to their cars is a development killer. Seas of asphalt=no development. For a local example look at DS.

 

If I were in charge of developing the site, the stadium would go on the corner of 3rd and 16th (renamed Conine and Barger Way :mischief ) with parking, possibly condos, and greenspace mixed throughout the rest of property. The roof would open to the leftfield side (parking under that) so you could have a view of the skyline to the east.

If I were in charge of developing the site, the stadium would go on the corner of 3rd and 16th (renamed Conine and McKeon Way :mischief ) with parking, possibly condos, and greenspace mixed throughout the rest of property. The roof would open to the leftfield side (parking under that) so you could have a view of the skyline to the east.

Corrected. :thumbup