September 9, 200719 yr http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/230903.html MARLINS Momentum for ballpark gaining among politicians Miami-Dade politicians may be leaning toward giving the Florida Marlins the money they say they need to build a new stadium. Posted on Sun, Sep. 09, 2007Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email BY CHARLES RABIN crabin@MiamiHerald.com Related Content Florida Marlins stories, box scores and online extras Marlins down and close to out The time may be nearing for the Florida Marlins to say whether they will accept the Orange Bowl site as their future home. That's because the elusive chunk of money that has stalled the team's hopes for a new state-of-the-art ballpark in Miami may finally be within reach -- and for that, team brass can thank the University of Miami. When UM decided to abandon the Orange Bowl at the end of this season for nicer digs at North Dade's Dolphin Stadium, it freed up $85 million that the city of Miami planned to use to renovate the decaying Little Havana landmark. The Marlins, as has been their strategy for the past year, refused comment. Miami City Manager Pete Hernandez said team owner Jeffrey Loria indicated he was ''open-minded'' about the Orange Bowl site. Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro said Loria had told him the property was ``acceptable.'' Most of the money, some $50 million, came from Miami-Dade County bond money; the rest, $35 million in tourist bed tax dollars, belongs to the city of Miami. Though the ultimate decision of how to spend the $85 million will be decided by city and county commissioners, influential administrators and elected officials in both Miami-Dade governments said recently they had no problem targeting it to help the financially struggling franchise build a ballpark. SUPPORT OF OFFICIALS Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez, who campaigned in part on a build-the-Marlins-a-park platform, and Commissioner Jose ''Pepe'' Diaz, who is a co-chairman of the Miami-Dade Sports Commission, said they would like to see the money sent the Marlins' way. ''The mayor is supportive but understands it must go through the process,'' said Alvarez spokeswoman Victoria Mallette. Said Diaz: ``That money was specified for the Orange Bowl. . . . Let's just say the stars are all aligned.'' Hernandez, the Miami city manager, said redirecting money to a stadium for the Marlins is ``as simple as commissioners voting on it.'' Miami Mayor Manny Diaz said he was unwilling to negotiate through the media, but added that it's common knowledge he's been fighting for a stadium since he got elected. All he would allow is that UM leaving the Orange Bowl ``puts the money in play.'' At least two commissioners, Marc Sarnoff and Tomas Regalado, said they support the move. Another, Joe Sanchez, said he's considering it. ''I've not been briefed, but I'm not resistant to it. My biggest concern [at the Orange Bowl] is parking and public transportation,'' Sarnoff said. Officials' support for the Orange Bowl site came in the same week Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig met with some of them for the first time, checking the pulse, he said, on how committed the leadership was to helping the Marlins build a ballpark. The commissioner wouldn't discuss a site or financing. Selig also met with Loria, though the team remained quiet about what was said. THE PLANS IN PLAY The most recent financing plan for a ballpark was provided by County Manager George Burgess in February. He proposed building a 37,000-seat, retractable-roof stadium with 60 suites for $490 million, on property in downtown Miami adjacent to Government Center. That breakdown had the Marlins spending $45 million out-of-pocket, and the team paying the debt on a $162 million county bond through rent. The county was going to put in $145 million in bond money, and Miami was to spend $108 million mostly through tourist taxes. That left a $30 million gap, which has since risen to $40 million and could increase more with delays. Even if construction were to begin soon, it's not likely the team could play in a new stadium before 2011. Even though the $85 million in city and county funding would more than cover the funding gap, the plan depends on the Marlins making a $207 million contribution -- an amount they have not said they will match if the team is offered a stadium at the Orange Bowl. Burgess has said the Orange Bowl property would be less costly and complicated to build on than downtown Miami because most of the infrastructure is already in place. He said that if the Marlins hope to have a place to play in Miami after its lease expires in 2010, then a deal needs to be completed by the end of this year. Loria's argument for using public money for a new stadium has consistently been that he inherited a terrible lease at the H. Wayne Huizenga-owned Dolphin Stadium from the ball club's previous owner. The team gets few revenues from sources like concessions, parking and suite sales. With a new stadium and dozens of skyboxes, the Marlins, which have the lowest payroll in the majors and the lowest attendance in the National League, believes it can turn things around. PREVIOUS FAILURES Five times team officials have gone to the Legislature seeking a tax break that would fulfill a funding gap; five times they've failed. At least twice -- once in 2000 at Bicentennial Park, and again in 2001 along the Miami River -- plans of an agreement between the city, county and the team to acquire land and build a stadium were announced, then failed. Miami Herald sports writer Barry Jackson contributed to this report.
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