Marlins Stadium Plan May Be In Danger, Again

MIAMI (CBS4) ― It appears that the new Marlins Stadium is headed for a brick wall. The funding no longer has the support of numerous Miami-Dade Commissioners. A key vote later this month could jeopardize baseball in South Florida, and the future of what we knew as the Orange Bowl, of which only a score board is left.

 

In February Miami-Dade commissioners celebrated a major vote to build the Florida Marlins Baseball team a new stadium. The city, in all the excitement, tore down the landmark Orange Bowl to make room for the $515 million project.

 

And while the stadium was on the fast track, a lot criticism came in? even a lawsuit by an auto tycoon who felt voters should have had input.

Now it appears the deal is going to go bust, not because of a court ruling, but by someone who signed off on it.

 

The stadium deal took nine commissioners votes to pass, and that's exactly what they got. Javier Souto, Carlos Gimenez, Sally Heyman, Katy Sorenson were the only ones against it.

 

Until now, a fifth commissioner is changing sides, and changing everything.

 

"If we lose the Marlins, it's not because five people voted no," said Commissioner Joe Martinez. "It's because five people were against using taxpayer dollars to pay for the Marlins stadium."

 

Martinez is for the stadium, but not the "Global Agreement" that pays for it. In that agreement, we would have to also fund a billion dollar tunnel to the Port of Miami, and spend more than $20 million to landscape new museums?some of which, in a round about way, would come from tax dollars.

 

"If the funding stays the same as it is with the Global Agreement I'm going to vote no," said Martinez.

 

Later this month the commission will vote on key agreements of the stadium deal. With five "no" votes, the stadium will come to a screeching halt.

 

A lot can happen between now and these key votes that have to happen by July 1st. Other commissioners could change their minds. The mayor and city manager could take the stadium out of the Global Agreement and fund it separately. Marlins President David Sampson was on our air Sunday morning talking about this agreement. They believe that the stadium is separate from the mega-plan, and they plan to continue to press forward.

 

(? MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

 

http://cbs4.com/politics/Marlins.Stadium.Joe.2.748182.html

Portland Marlins?

 

:shifty

If Joe Martinez votes no, he better change his name and flee the country, because I will speak on behalf of the entire Marlin nation when I say--He will be attacked. Physically.

Is that possible? I thought the first vote finalized everything.

Muahahaha!

Portland Marlins?

 

:shifty

Hehe, you edited your post!

 

You had said "Kansas City Marlins?"

 

Nice job.

If Joe Martinez votes no, he better change his name and flee the country, because I will speak on behalf of the entire Marlin nation when I say--He will be attacked. Physically.

Can we just send him back to Cuba? Hey I will make a call to the Homeland Security accusing him of being a terrorist that should put him in Guantanamo for 5 or 6 years no questions asked

That vote on July 1st better pass in favor of the Marlins. I don't want my birthday to be ruined because of some douchebag city comissioners. :mad

No way. if this doesn't go through.....

This article is so poorly written that I thought it must have been a phony story. I had to go to the CBS-4 website to confirm that this piece of crap piece was legit.

 

Seriously, if this deal goes bust, you can pretty much write off Miami as a destination for future business.

I believe Katy Sorenson will change her vote for yes. She knows if there is no stadium = non of those museums she wants.

I'm not worried about this. IMO it's just posturing by some commissioners to make sure they get their slice of the pie, and at least by this report Martinez wants a bigger portion. He's a pig. I am more concerned that we still don't have a stadium contract between the Marlins and Hunt.

if donot pass we see marlins move by mlb and their have new owner those commissioners need pass this or we all marlins fans will gave them HELL

If sh*t hits the fan, I don't want to have to become a Rays fan.

The funding is already locked into place, no?

This is stupid. Just give us a stadium and we will shut our mouths about this.

 

I seriously don't know what I would do without the Marlins. They have been part of my life since 1993. Life would stink - big time.

It's sad, but a big reason I continue to live in south Florida is due to my love affair with this team. They move, I move. Probably not where they move to, but it will be the last straw when it comes to Ft.Lauderdale. We'll pack up and head north.

This is ridiculous. I don't even know what to think.

Guys, do you think this is something we have to worry about? I dont understand how we can go from "We WILL get a stadium" to "We MIGHT get a stadium". Tell me this article is a joke :pray.

I wouldn't worry plans are continuing and they are meeting again later this month. The problem is more of a technicality. The article was either written to make news or by some Marlins hater to get the other haters. :mischief We'll be fine.

I wouldn't worry plans are continuing and they are meeting again later this month. The problem is more of a technicality. The article was either written to make news or by some Marlins hater to get the other haters. :mischief We'll be fine.

 

What kind of technicality?

I'm discouraged. I felt from the beginning that this was an unlikely trifecta. Just too many unreliable and underfunded players to get this deal done. We desperately need an 11th hour deep pockets Mark Cuban to buy this club and keep MLB in SoFl. What a shame, urban Miami is made for the game.

If Joe Martinez votes no, he better change his name and flee the country, because I will speak on behalf of the entire Marlin nation when I say--He will be attacked. Physically.

Can we just send him back to Cuba? Hey I will make a call to the Homeland Security accusing him of being a terrorist that should put him in Guantanamo for 5 or 6 years no questions asked

 

That would put me out of a job. But this is spun WAY out of control. I have said it in other posts and I will say it again. I can't believe the journalists in this town! Their obsession with taking stories and spinning them to make it sound like something completely different is happening is appalling. We should complain to the newspaper. It is getting pretty out of control. Yea the writers need to get paid but no to lie. I know it may not be considered lying but what the title suggests is not true and, of course, they can't be punished because of that special word that gets these journalists off the hook, 'MAY'

jesus christ guys, calm the eff down. someone name the last time that the local media (other than the sun-sentinel and herald) ever got anything right about the new stadium...

 

south florida local tv news is the worst in the country, hands down.

 

if this really was a story, and it really had wheels, it would be all over the herald and sun-sentinel.

No offence.... but the people and city of Miami kinda sucks. 2 World Series title and no funding!? wtf seriously.