October 29, 200322 yr Don't mind me, but I think we should relax until there is a vote by the comission. As far as having a small capacity, I think that would be a good thing. Even with the championship, I severely doubt the Marlins will average 30,000 next year. Partly due to the current stadium and partly because South Florida is so bush league. Face it, there are not a whole lot of die hard Marlin fans down here. People only seem to want to come to games when there is a lot on the line(i.e. an important game). If you look at the Dolphins, they have a huge advantage in that they only need to sell 8 games a year. But even they can't seem to sell out a playoff game, at least in time to make the blackout deadline. People down here just plain suck. And you could look at the Panthers and say that their new stadium has done very little for them in terms of making money, but their avarage attendance seems to be close to what it was back at the Miami Arena. Face it, people down here are fickle, and don't know what they want. Me, I want a new stadium for the Marlins so that Wayne stops ripping them off and so the Dolphins don't have to play on that god awful dirt, its ugly. ANd I don't know why, but Joe Robbie(why is it still named for a bankrupt company?) looks great for football, but ugly for baseball. I actually kind of like the baseball dimensions with the bermuda triangle and all, but those orange seats are ugly, and that tarp in centerfield? So here's to a yes vote by the commissioners next week, so we can discuss more important stuff.
October 29, 200322 yr I refuse to celebrate until it's 100% green-lighted. This franchise has been messed with too much.
October 29, 200322 yr Just a couple of things about the capacity issue. The size of the park has to be restricted by the area to be used. You can't put a 50K seat stadium on a plot of land if it won't fit. Given even the Marlins best drawing years, a 38K stadium will handle it. Even a smaller crowd will make it look more 'full' than if you are playing in a large capacity facility. Even with reduced capacities, revenue streams are substantially higher by getting out of the PPS lease agreement, thereby allowing more opportunities for the ownership to invest in the on field product.
October 29, 200322 yr Enron Field Houston Astros 2000 42,000 $250 Million Note that this 38,000 seat stadium will cost $325M (not counting land), while Pittsburgh's PNC cost $228M for a 38,217 capacity. I need to see those blueprints... edit: I'm dumb, i forgot about the retractable roof. That must be where the dough went. Enron/Minute Maid also has a retractable roof It might also be partially due to our building codes.
October 29, 200322 yr The "new" ballpark would be in Downtown Miami, but it ain't happening. Miami and Miami-Dade County don't have the money. Right now, because of the Marlins' insistence on having a retractable-roof stadium, they are $130 million short. If they would just stop with that nonsense and build a domed stadium, they'd have the money to do this right now.
October 29, 200322 yr The "new" ballpark would be in Downtown Miami, but it ain't happening. Miami and Miami-Dade County don't have the money. Right now, because of the Marlins' insistence on having a retractable-roof stadium, they are $130 million short. If they would just stop with that nonsense and build a domed stadium, they'd have the money to do this right now. no not a domed stadium. They should keep fighting for a rectrable roof. Domed stadiums are ugly.
October 29, 200322 yr Why would you want a domed Stadium in Miami? The weather is beautiful most of the time and IMO Domed stadiums just suck! Keep baseball out in the open as much as possible and close it when it starts to rain so that all of those bandwagon fans don't leave when it rains just a little bit during a World Series game! :angry
October 29, 200322 yr I think they will be making a final signing and decision, depending upon the response of the fans on the upcoming season.... So if you have not bought tickets for next season, do it now!
October 29, 200322 yr I agree. no domed stadium. Either retractable roof or no roof. Do anyone thinks a modular design is possible? for example, build it cheap now, and put the roof on phase 2 (2 or 3 years later)
October 29, 200322 yr Problem is that in those 2 or 3 years, you are going to have the same problems you have right now at PPS. Its better to just do it while they build the stadium and get it over with.
October 29, 200322 yr Article from this morning's Herald....Highlight's: The County commission shouldn't have any problem passing this, the proposal is sponsored by 7 commissioners, including the Chairwoman. Orange Bowl site is the early leader. Sorry if this has been posted. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/7129098.htm
October 29, 200322 yr Guys just remember that the elected officials of Miami have let us down before. Half of our officials are either convicted crooks or they havent been caught yet. Remember Willie Logan....Look himup on google if you dont.
October 29, 200322 yr I would like a stadium with 340 right field-335 left field-425-centerfield. we need a pitcher's friendly park at this point. But it can hurt us long term if we don't have good pitching.
October 29, 200322 yr The Expos actually added a retractable roof to their open-air stadium back in the late 80s. Why couldn't the club do the same eventually?
October 29, 200322 yr Hey you guys... This is the complete scoop... Don't be lazy, read it! It was taken of ESPN.Com Tuesday, October 28, 2003 Associated Press MIAMI -- The World Series champion Florida Marlins and Miami-Dade County announced a plan Tuesday night to fund $210 million toward a new ballpark that would open in 2007. The 38,000-seat ballpark, which would have a retractable roof, is projected to cost $325 million, not including land for the new facility. The Marlins will commit $137 million and the county $73 million, which would come from convention development tax proceeds and professional sports franchise facility tax money. "Obviously that leaves a gap," County Mayor Alex Penelas said. "We don't have answers on how to fill that gap today. I'll be very honest. This is only the beginning, a first step." Penelas said it was largely coincidental that Tuesday's announcement was made only about an hour after a daylong South Florida celebration of the Marlins' World Series championship concluded. The county commission will vote on the resolution on Nov. 4; Penelas said the matter had to be made public one week before that meeting to be on the agenda. "Time was of the essence," he said. If county commissioners do not approve to commit $35 million in convention development tax money at their next meeting, then that money would go to Miami Beach for convention center upgrades. The county has a Dec. 1 deadline to either use the money for baseball or commit it to the convention center. Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer did not immediately return a telephone message Tuesday night. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig praised the announcement. "I am extremely pleased and excited that the Florida Marlins have been able to transform their success, both on and off the field, to renewed interest among their fan base and significant movement toward the possibility of building a new ballpark in South Florida," he said in a statement. Marlins president David Samson said the team needs its own ballpark to remain financially stable. The team's payroll this year was $54 million, 21st among the 30 teams. The team has not chosen a site for the new ballpark, and will not make any demands about the location, Samson said. Included in the resolution commissioners will put up for vote Nov. 4 is a provision that calls for financing for the total stadium package to be finalized by March 15. "This team has to know by March 15 its future," Samson said. "That is a requirement by Jeffrey Loria and myself as we plan the operation of the team. March 15 is a critical day for us."
October 29, 200322 yr Still in initial stages. Dont get your teal panties in a wod yet, still has a long way to go. But this deal BETTER get done.
October 29, 200322 yr "This team has to know by March 15 its future," Samson said. "That is a requirement by Jeffrey Loria and myself as we plan the operation of the team. March 15 is a critical day for us." whoah! Sounds like a do or die ultimatum.
October 29, 200322 yr Author I guess they figure theyre only willing to take 3 more seasons in Pro Player considering the money they are losing. The only way the Marlins can be in a new stadium by 2007 is if the deal is done before the start of next season, and thats assuming it gets done on time.
October 30, 200322 yr Why would you want a domed Stadium in Miami? The weather is beautiful most of the time and IMO Domed stadiums just suck! Keep baseball out in the open as much as possible and close it when it starts to rain so that all of those bandwagon fans don't leave when it rains just a little bit during a World Series game! :angry Miami in the summer sucks. It's way too humid, and I'd rather sit in the air conditioning. Plus, a domed stadium wouldn't cost as much. Do you people want a new stadium or not? A retractable roof stadium is not feasable. Nobody can afford a $325 million baseball-only stadium. So, it's either a dome or wait until either the Expos or Twins move (so the Marlins can negotiate a better deal from Huizenga), or bye-bye Marlins.
October 30, 200322 yr The Expos actually added a retractable roof to their open-air stadium back in the late 80s... ...and it's constantly busted, and has almost never worked.
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