Now they seem to be talking about another delay! Maybe a mid February meeting (not Feb 5th). It's driving me nuts!

 

The following came out in the Miami Herald today (Jan 30)

 

 

 

 

FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ

Mayor defends stadium plan

Posted on Wed, Jan. 30, 2008Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email

By BARRY JACKSON

bjackson@MiamiHerald.com

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz says he's ''confident we will prevail'' against a Norman Braman lawsuit that potentially threatens the Marlins' stadium, and adamantly defends the controversial decision not to let the public vote on building the $525 million ballpark.

 

The Marlins privately are optimistic the project won't be derailed, but clearly cannot be certain. And a few issues remain -- including financing for a parking garage and $2 million in annual stadium upkeep. The deal must be done by this spring for a 2011 ballpark opening.

 

But the question asked is this: Why won't the city and county follow the wishes of Braman and others and allow a vote on the $3 billion city/county project that includes the ballpark on Orange Bowl grounds, Port of Miami tunnel, streetcar line and Bicentennial Park museums?

 

''There's a sense this should have been up for a vote,'' Diaz admitted. ``There's a sense that all of the meetings we had surrounding the negotiations should be with 50 [reporters] sitting around watching us negotiate. None of those are true.

 

``There's no legal requirement for any of this to be subject to a referendum. It's within the purview of the county and city to determine where tourist tax dollars go. . . . It's not like I'm taking money from anybody who lives in Little Havana to build this thing.''

 

In the deal, the boundaries of two Community Redevelopment Agency districts are being extended to help pay the $484 million debt for the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. That's freeing up $307 million in tourist and convention taxes to use on the Marlins ballpark -- money that can be used only on sports and convention facilities.

 

But here's what bothers some: CRA money is designed for affordable housing and infrastructure in poor neighborhoods and the revitalization of ''tourist areas that are deteriorating or economically distressed.'' (The megaplan adds a projected $605 million to revitalize Overtown and Park West.)

 

A final version of the ballpark agreement must be formulated and approved by the city and county commissions -- which could take weeks. (The Marlins are eyeing a mid-February county commission meeting.) Diaz said the Marlins assured they would contribute the requested $155 million.

 

Despite Diaz's confidence, a judge conceivably could halt the project if a court agrees with Braman that using $50 million in bond money -- originally designed to renovate the OB -- on a Marlins ballpark would violate the state constitution.

 

? Diaz said he wouldn't build a $100 million soccer stadium next to the proposed Marlins park unless he is assured Major League Soccer will award Miami a team. That hasn't happened yet, ``but they're very interested.''

if this go to vote this ballpark is doom

bad news after bad news as the weeks pass by.

How long have we've been hearing this? ill believe it when I see it done

http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article....jsp&c_id=tb

 

 

Tampa Bay can get 2 stadiums in 15 years and the Marlins cant? I think something needs to be done to secure the Marlins in South Florida and stop all the bickering. Get them a field and worry about the additional development afterwards.

I think Braman best shot to stop the stadium deal is if he pay Loria. You know that is a major loop hole to the plan and Loria is in for the money.

http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/news/article....jsp&c_id=tb

 

 

Tampa Bay can get 2 stadiums in 15 years and the Marlins cant? I think something needs to be done to secure the Marlins in South Florida and stop all the bickering. Get them a field and worry about the additional development afterwards.

 

That article doesn't say that Tampa Bay GOT a stadium, only that they unveiled plans to build one. Read the article and there are several additional approvals that need to get done:

 

The Rays pledged that the $450 million facility, to be located on the site of the historic Al Lang Field Spring Training facility, will require no new taxes or the reallocation of existing taxes, though the complex financing plan must first clear several hurdles, including the transformation of the 85-acre Tropicana Field site into a retail and residential district.

 

And if that article is to be believed, did you notice who WEREN'T in attendance at this "press conference?" That's right, St. Petersburg city officials. That's a lot of grandstanding for a franchise that has done NOTHING in it's over 10 years of existence. The Rays are where we were in 1998 when it comes to their supposed "new" stadium.

At the press conference it seemed like many of the city commissioners were there for the Q&A session.

 

Not that it is a done deal, but it much further along and with much more indepth development than the marlins.