October 19, 200322 yr FLORIDA MARLINS Stadium funding unclear The Florida Marlins and local leaders have been talking about proposals for a new ballpark, but have reached no agreement on financing or location. BY OSCAR CORRAL ocorral@herald.com So the Marlins are in the World Series. Some might think this gives them added leverage when negotiating with local governments to get public funding for a new stadium. Think again. ''We are not going to give away the kitchen sink just because they are winning,'' Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas said in an interview Thursday. For years now, first under the ownership of John Henry and now under Jeff Loria, the Marlins have wanted a new ballpark, so they don't have to play at Pro Player, a stadium built for football. Talks between Henry and civic leaders fell through in 2001, just months before the team changed owners. And the idea died down because the economy soured after the 9/11 terror attacks and Miami's new mayor, Manny Diaz, was against using taxpayer funds for a stadium. But Diaz, Miami City Manager Joe Arriola and other local leaders, including Penelas, quietly revived talks with new Marlins President David Samson and other Marlins representatives several months ago. KEY SITES Possible sites for a new stadium include the vicinity of the Miami Arena in downtown, and the Orange Bowl area, Arriola said. The civic leaders say while they are thrilled that the Marlins have made it this far, the stadium deal still boils down to one thing: how much money the Marlins will cough up. A new stadium will cost between $300 million and $450 million, Arriola said. ''We are not going to go out and take money from anything to put into this thing,'' Arriola said. ``This stadium really has to make business sense or we are not going to do it.'' $100 MILLION Arriola says that the Marlins have told him they are willing to contribute $100 million toward a proposed new downtown domed stadium, a scenario that he finds interesting. ''We are talking that they would pledge future revenues of the stadium for as much as $150 million, plus they are willing to put up some of their own money,'' Arriola said. ``They would be responsible for a pretty good chunk of this.'' Marlins representatives could not be reached for comment Thursday. They have not made a public funding commitment. WORLD SERIES Diaz, who said he will stick to his pledge to not use taxpayer dollars, acknowledges that the Marlins making it to the World Series is a public relations coup. ''From an emotional perspective, I think it helps,'' Diaz said. ``People are excited and supportive of the team. You ride the wave of good feelings and goodwill. But from a financial perspective, the numbers don't change.'' Arriola is still assessing options on where the rest of the money would come from. He said some of the difference may possibly come from the county's convention development tax, which is a 3 percent surcharge levied from events at places such as the Miami Beach Convention Center. Another possible revenue source would be a ticket tax at the new stadium levied by the state, Arriola said. STATE ROLE? David Bishop, a spokesman for Gov. Jeb Bush's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development, said neither the Marlins nor local leaders have approached the state to talk about funding for a new stadium. ''There is no money on the table at all for a Marlins stadium,'' Bishop said. ``There have been no negotiations.'' Whatever the case, Diaz said the Marlins' only focus right now should be to play the game. ''The owner's position has always been consistent, that they love Miami and put their heart and soul in the team,'' Diaz said. ''Now they should be focusing on bringing home the trophy,'' he said.
October 19, 200322 yr Author I wonder if Loria got some talks going on with a city in Broward if these Miami politicos would step up and do it?
October 19, 200322 yr I wonder if Loria got some talks going on with a city in Broward if these Miami politicos would step up and do it? The city is bankrupt and you can't expect the city to give the Marlins a big phat check for the stadium.
October 19, 200322 yr Like the SNL skit with that Company computer guy "MOVE" J/k but this might be a possibility
October 19, 200322 yr As much as I would love to see the Marlins in a new stadium, I don't think they should be focusing on that right now. The City of Miami is not going to give them the $$ for that right now. They should keep funds going to education and more important things. Maybe if the Marlins open up a fund to raise some $$ it'll help LOTS and it'll be a whole different story. And in my opinion, I don't think that the Marlins should go to Broward. They're better here in Miami. If they can find some good land for a stadium near or in Downtown Miami, that would be great. Just my 2 cents.
October 19, 200322 yr As much as I would love to see the Marlins in a new stadium, I don't think they should be focusing on that right now. The City of Miami is not going to give them the $$ for that right now. They should keep funds going to education and more important things. Maybe if the Marlins open up a fund to raise some $$ it'll help LOTS and it'll be a whole different story. And in my opinion, I don't think that the Marlins should go to Broward. They're better here in Miami. If they can find some good land for a stadium near or in Downtown Miami, that would be great. Just my 2 cents. The major problems are... 1. The Marlins need a new stadium to survive. 2. Miami doesn't have the money. 3. If the Marlins don't get anything from Miami they will try Broward. IMO I would love to see them in Broward, less travel for me
October 19, 200322 yr The major problems are... 1. The Marlins need a new stadium to survive. 2. Miami doesn't have the money. 3. If the Marlins don't get anything from Miami they will try Broward. IMO I would love to see them in Broward, less travel for me 1. The Marlins have been doing fine in PPS for now. *I* don't see any problems with PPS but they know more than I do. 2. That's exactly what I said. Miami does not have the $$ right now to build a new stadium. That's why I said that maybe if the Marlins can open up some kind of fund, that will help. I know I will donate and I am sure most of us will too. 3. Well, it'll be less travel for YOU but what about us folks? What about those in Kendall who have to drive far enough already? Maybe they should just stick it somewhere along the county line.
October 19, 200322 yr The Marlisn don't need a new stadium, they just need to get out of the contracts they signed with Huizenga.
October 19, 200322 yr Well, it'll be less travel for YOU but what about us folks? What about those in Kendall who have to drive far enough already? Maybe they should just stick it somewhere along the county line. Well I live in Orlando and I pay nearly $22 on tolls on the FLTP (free on 27 ) Seriously, I really doubt Miami-Dade is going to do anything to help the fish.
October 19, 200322 yr Well, it'll be less travel for YOU but what about us folks? What about those in Kendall who have to drive far enough already? Maybe they should just stick it somewhere along the county line. Well I live in Orlando and I pay nearly $22 on tolls on the FLTP (free on 27 ) Seriously, I really doubt Miami-Dade is going to do anything to help the fish. Ok, I thought maybe you were in Broward. Miami-Dade isn't going to give them anything right now. They have too many things to solve first.
October 19, 200322 yr The Marlisn don't need a new stadium, they just need to get out of the contracts they signed with Huizenga. yea but Huizenga has said he wont change his contract with the marlins that expires in 2009.
October 19, 200322 yr Ok, I thought maybe you were in Broward. Broward is a piece of caca. I prefer Orlando, some people say it's a fake city but I see nothing fake about it.
October 19, 200322 yr There is a tax in place right now, I forgot what it was used to build, that hasn't been delegated to anything else since its original purpose was fulfilled. Maybe Cape knows a little bit more since this isn't exactly the area of government I know best.....
October 19, 200322 yr 1. The Marlins need a new stadium to survive. The Marlins need to get revenue from concessions and parking more then a new stadium(But this something they could recieve from getting a new stadium.) it has been shown that fans will come out to JRS and the weather hasn't been a problem. I think The organization should try to work a better lease with Huizenga(Hopefully they can because I'm moving back to Boca Raton and the location beinifits me. )....However, I doubt that evil man would ever do anything to help the Marlins.
October 19, 200322 yr Ok, I thought maybe you were in Broward. Broward is a piece of caca. I prefer Orlando, some people say it's a fake city but I see nothing fake about it. I really hope you aren't talking about putting the stadium in Orlando. You would lose the entire fan base in the South. Not a single person would go to games anymore from Miami-Dade and a bunch of people wouldn't go from Broward anymore.
October 19, 200322 yr Ok, I thought maybe you were in Broward. Broward is a piece of caca. I prefer Orlando, some people say it's a fake city but I see nothing fake about it. I really hope you aren't talking about putting the stadium in Orlando. You would lose the entire fan base in the South. Not a single person would go to games anymore from Miami-Dade and a bunch of people wouldn't go from Broward anymore. LOL, if they put the stadium in Orlando it would be empty everyday. :lol I just meant that I doubt Broward would do anything either.
October 19, 200322 yr jeb bush is against anything the marlins will do, i guess bush aint a big baseball fan.
October 19, 200322 yr maybe we can borrow the UM baseball field :lol i am tired of giving wayne all the profits...
October 19, 200322 yr jeb bush is against anything the marlins will do, i guess bush aint a big baseball fan. Maybe the president can talk him into building a stadium.
October 19, 200322 yr maybe we can borrow the UM baseball field :lol i am tired of giving wayne all the profits... Mark Light is kind of cool :mischief2
October 19, 200322 yr I want a new stadium so god damn badly, and I want Miami-Dade to pay for it. The sad thing is, the Marlins don't even need a new stadium. The problem here is the lease they have with Huizenga.. yes, a new stadium will increase attendance, but that's not why the Marlins aren't profitable. Realistically, I don't think they'll be able to get the county to pay for a new stadium. About the only thing that can save this team is if ATTENDANCE is good next year and the corporate sponsors are willing to invest in putting together a ballpark for us. That's usually how these things work nowadays--CORPORATIONS help pay for stadiums and arenas, not government.
October 19, 200322 yr ok, I have a question... Can someone tell me how Miami went bankrupt? Did they use too much money on cuban cigars or something?
October 19, 200322 yr ok, I have a question... Can someone tell me how Miami went bankrupt? Did they use too much money on cuban cigars or something? 1 word, 3 syllables..... Corruption
October 19, 200322 yr maybe we can borrow the UM baseball field :lol i am tired of giving wayne all the profits... Wasn't there talk of the Marlins using the Orange Bowl? I think there was an issue with parking. But surely any concessions deal couldn't be worse than what the Marlins already have. Maybe the president can talk him into building a stadium. Why not! GW has a reputation of conning municipalities into funding ballparks. :unsure :
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