August 26, 200718 yr George Burgess now says that building the ballpark in downtown is too expensive and complicated. He wants everyone to focus on the Orange Bowl site. While it looks like they can divert $38MM to the OB ballpark project, the question is whether the Marlins will pullback their $207MM commitment because they are being forced into a site they don't like. Also, now that UM is no longer a distraction, Miami is talking to MLS about a duel purpose stadium -- everything to avoid addressing the Marlins issue, I guess. Story: Miami-Dade Pushing for the Orange Bowl Site
August 26, 200718 yr I dont see how the Marlins ownership can credibly pull out of the Orange Bowl site when in 2004 they were willing to accept it , is the Orange Bowl the best site for a stadium probably not but it is one of the few places that is available , affordable , and most importantly achievable
August 26, 200718 yr Yep. About MLS, heres the short article: Miami city commissioner Joe Sanchez said Miami Mayor Manny Diaz spoke to Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber about placing an MLS team in a proposed duel baseball/soccer stadium on the Orange Bowl land. Garber confirms ''preliminary discussions'' and having interest in returning to South Florida. But Miami isn't a favorite for one of two expansion teams for 2010 This would be amazing. Miami Sharks! Go Bad News Bears!
August 26, 200718 yr George Burgess now says that building the ballpark in downtown is too expensive and complicated. He wants everyone to focus on the Orange Bowl site. While it looks like they can divert $38MM to the OB ballpark project, the question is whether the Marlins will pullback their $207MM commitment because they are being forced into a site they don't like. Also, now that UM is no longer a distraction, Miami is talking to MLS about a duel purpose stadium -- everything to avoid addressing the Marlins issue, I guess. Story: Miami-Dade Pushing for the Orange Bowl Site If I recall correctly, the Marlins "commitment" includes a substantial input in the form of rent payments. Thus, they cannot play anywhere rent free unless they buy the land themselves and build it themselves. But oh those mortgage payments do eat up cash. Don't think that is happening. But if they say, "unless it is downtown or we are leaving", then they will try to go somewhere else and do what?-Demand prime land? They will take it whereever someone builds it for them.
August 26, 200718 yr If the Marlins (Loria) back out now MLB has to invoke the "best interest of the game" clause and force Loria out!
August 27, 200718 yr Yep. About MLS, heres the short article: Miami city commissioner Joe Sanchez said Miami Mayor Manny Diaz spoke to Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber about placing an MLS team in a proposed duel baseball/soccer stadium on the Orange Bowl land. Garber confirms ''preliminary discussions'' and having interest in returning to South Florida. But Miami isn't a favorite for one of two expansion teams for 2010 This would be amazing. Miami Sharks! Go Bad News Bears! That would suck. The infield dirt would make playing soccer for the mls club miserable. MLS should look toward DS as an option, not the possible marlins stadium.
August 27, 200718 yr The new Marlins stadium is supposed to be a "baseball only stadium". What's this about MLS? I've been to several of the newer ballparks around the country ( Philly, Atlanta, Baltimore, San Fran, San Diego, Chicago Cellular Field ) and part of their beauty is the fact that everything is geared so that the fans can enjoy a baseball game from every seat in the stadium. The seats down the foul lines are angled toward the pitcher's mound so that the fans won't have to twist their necks all game long. Besides, I wouldn't want to field torn up by another sport and I am sure the soccer players would not want to play on a dirt infield.
August 27, 200718 yr Look at the Giants stadium in San Fran. Its a baseball stadium and they retro fit it to play soccer and football. It can be done. I dont see anyone complaining about the stadium in San Fran.
August 27, 200718 yr nobody cared of soccer before nobody would honestly go now to support them. We have a team like that which has been productive down here how about we build a baseball stadium then worry about soccer instead of losing our baseball team?
August 27, 200718 yr From my perspective this is Manny being Manny. MLS season almost exactly mirrors MLB. The scheduling problems are obvious especially if daily soccer practices need to be scheduled on the same field. Operating a retractable roof stadium for soccer may prove problematic if attendance is less than 15-20,000 a game, that is unless they play with the roof open come rain or 90 degree days. This is Oscar Goodman all over again. Manny has to know Miami isn't even on the short list for MLS expansion, this is simply some type of negotiating tactic around some mystery deal point between the four parties at the table.
August 27, 200718 yr Miami Arena 2.0 The Miami Arena's biggest drawback is the lack of luxury suites. The new ballpark is going to have 67. The Miami Arena was built by the city/county in hopes of attracting pro sports teams. The new ballpark is going to be built by the county/city AND a business entity looking to generate as much revenue as possible. Value engineering will most likely be seen in the type of construction materials (concrete over limestone for ex.) used over add-ons that will generate revenue (luxury suites, concessions, etc). Two different situations. As far as MLS goes, the chances of Miami landing a team are very low. In Miami, they would be competing with several sports and other modes of entertainment for the public's $$$. Also, MLS is now in the business of moving teams in soccer-only stadiums. FTF made the point for me, but converting a baseball stadium into a comfortable MLS stadium (cap. 15,000) is very easy. Many of the old parks like Yankee Stadium, Fenway, Tiger Stadium and Wrigley all at one point had NFL tenants serving similar crowd sizes.
August 27, 200718 yr Chase Field and AT&T Park both have football configurations. Heck, even old Tiger Stadium.....as baseball as you can get....was used for football.
August 27, 200718 yr Miami Arena 2.0 The Miami Arena's biggest drawback is the lack of luxury suites. The new ballpark is going to have 67. The Miami Arena was built by the city/county in hopes of attracting pro sports teams. The new ballpark is going to be built by the county/city AND a business entity looking to generate as much revenue as possible. Value engineering will most likely be seen in the type of construction materials (concrete over limestone for ex.) used over add-ons that will generate revenue (luxury suites, concessions, etc). Two different situations. As far as MLS goes, the chances of Miami landing a team are very low. In Miami, they would be competing with several sports and other modes of entertainment for the public's $$. Also, MLS is now in the business of moving teams in soccer-only stadiums. FTF made the point for me, but converting a baseball stadium into a comfortable MLS stadium (cap. 15,000) is very easy. Many of the old parks like Yankee Stadium, Fenway, Tiger Stadium and Wrigley all at one point had NFL tenants serving similar crowd sizes. then why mention the mls? that's not going to sit well with MLB, and would complicate any deal. I guess, if MLS is willing to "give" more to local polititians pockets we may see a Soccer only stadium at the OB
August 27, 200718 yr Miami Arena 2.0 The Miami Arena's biggest drawback is the lack of luxury suites. The new ballpark is going to have 67. The Miami Arena was built by the city/county in hopes of attracting pro sports teams. The new ballpark is going to be built by the county/city AND a business entity looking to generate as much revenue as possible. Value engineering will most likely be seen in the type of construction materials (concrete over limestone for ex.) used over add-ons that will generate revenue (luxury suites, concessions, etc). Two different situations. As far as MLS goes, the chances of Miami landing a team are very low. In Miami, they would be competing with several sports and other modes of entertainment for the public's $$. Also, MLS is now in the business of moving teams in soccer-only stadiums. FTF made the point for me, but converting a baseball stadium into a comfortable MLS stadium (cap. 15,000) is very easy. Many of the old parks like Yankee Stadium, Fenway, Tiger Stadium and Wrigley all at one point had NFL tenants serving similar crowd sizes. then why mention the mls? that's not going to sit well with MLB, and would complicate any deal. I guess, if MLS is willing to "give" more to local polititians pockets we may see a Soccer only stadium at the OB It doesn't hurt to ask. The city and county's job is to look for as many tenants and events as possible for a new stadium. How is this going to complicate any deal? MLB means too much for the city in terms of the development of the area. When I say city I mean the government AND Diaz' buddies who may or may not have a financial stake in the project in terms of property surrounding the OB. MLS cannot redevelop an area like MLB can.
August 27, 200718 yr No way MLS will go for a dual-purpose stadium. Lately the prerequisite for an expansion franchise has been a commitment to build a soccer-specific stadium. Hell, they wouldn't let San Jose move to Houston and become the 1836 Dynamo without a commitment to build a brand-new soccer-specific stadium.
August 27, 200718 yr Miami Arena 2.0 The Miami Arena's biggest drawback is the lack of luxury suites. The new ballpark is going to have 67. The Miami Arena was built by the city/county in hopes of attracting pro sports teams. The new ballpark is going to be built by the county/city AND a business entity looking to generate as much revenue as possible. Value engineering will most likely be seen in the type of construction materials (concrete over limestone for ex.) used over add-ons that will generate revenue (luxury suites, concessions, etc). Two different situations. As far as MLS goes, the chances of Miami landing a team are very low. In Miami, they would be competing with several sports and other modes of entertainment for the public's $$$. Also, MLS is now in the business of moving teams in soccer-only stadiums. FTF made the point for me, but converting a baseball stadium into a comfortable MLS stadium (cap. 15,000) is very easy. Many of the old parks like Yankee Stadium, Fenway, Tiger Stadium and Wrigley all at one point had NFL tenants serving similar crowd sizes. I was more along the lines of a half-rate facility built "on the quick and on the cheap" that'll out-date itself in half the time usually associated with a new sport facility.
August 27, 200718 yr Miami Arena 2.0 The Miami Arena's biggest drawback is the lack of luxury suites. The new ballpark is going to have 67. The Miami Arena was built by the city/county in hopes of attracting pro sports teams. The new ballpark is going to be built by the county/city AND a business entity looking to generate as much revenue as possible. Value engineering will most likely be seen in the type of construction materials (concrete over limestone for ex.) used over add-ons that will generate revenue (luxury suites, concessions, etc). Two different situations. As far as MLS goes, the chances of Miami landing a team are very low. In Miami, they would be competing with several sports and other modes of entertainment for the public's $$$. Also, MLS is now in the business of moving teams in soccer-only stadiums. FTF made the point for me, but converting a baseball stadium into a comfortable MLS stadium (cap. 15,000) is very easy. Many of the old parks like Yankee Stadium, Fenway, Tiger Stadium and Wrigley all at one point had NFL tenants serving similar crowd sizes. I was more along the lines of a half-rate facility built "on the quick and on the cheap" that'll out-date itself in half the time usually associated with a new sport facility. And I gave you two major reasons why it isn't going to happen. Those "on the quick and on the cheap" facilties are built by municipalities-- not teams.
August 27, 200718 yr Those "on the quick and on the cheap" facilties are built by municipalities-- not teams. Tropicana Field comes to mind. :thumbup
August 28, 200718 yr Orange Bowl site is terrible. Why is this city/county so shortsighted? The city/county will get the best return on their investments by building downtown. How is this so hard to understand?
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