Here is the LINK

 

Tourist agency says it will approve using hotel tax money for a baseball stadium if other money is found to upgrade Miami Beach's convention center.

BY CHARLES RABIN

crabin@herald.com

 

MONEY FOR MARLINS

 

Miami-Dade's tourist development bureau said it would back a plan to use $50 million in tourist tax money for a new Marlins baseball stadium only if another source of funding is found for improvements to the Miami Beach Convention Center.

 

The county decided two years ago to provide $50 million in tourist tax money for the convention center improvements unless it pledged the money for a new Marlins stadium by Dec. 1, 2003.

 

Now, the county has a tentative deal with the Marlins to use $73 million of the tourist tax revenue to help build a $325 million stadium County Manager George Burgess said he will recommend that the County Commission give the $50 million to the convention center if a deal with the Marlins is not consummated by March 15. The commission is expected to consider the proposal on Tuesday.

 

Board members of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau voted 29-8 on Thursday to go along with the county's plan as long as it doesn't damage efforts to upgrade the convention center.

 

`ALTERNATIVE SOURCE'

 

Said incoming GMC&VB chairman R. Donahue Peebles, ``One of the cornerstones of my tenure is to enlarge the convention center. But I don't think we should take the position we're against baseball. They need to offer a concrete alternative source of funding.''

 

Some Miami Beach leaders, including Mayor David Dermer and City Manager Jorge Gonzalez, want to make sure the convention center gets its share of tourist tax dollars, many provided by visitors to the Beach. The Beach commission has scheduled a meeting on the issue today.

 

''The notion that this deadline can be extended by one side is very difficult to accept,'' Gonzalez said. ``This [tourist]industry, for two years, has struggled to get back to pre 9/11 numbers. The convention

will help you get there.''

 

Gonzalez said that any renovation to the convention center would be in jeopardy without the funds. He voted with the majority Thursday.

 

Miami Beach Commissioner Luis Garcia, up for reelection Tuesday -- the same day as the county commission vote -- voted with the majority as well, but he didn't fully support his city manager's opinion.

 

''I think we're missing a golden opportunity to strap ourselves to the back of a juggernaut,'' Garcia said. ``We need to marry the expansion of the convention center to the building of a stadium.''

 

Dermer, who called the emergency commission meeting for today, wouldn't comment directly on the Beach's plans.

 

''Miami Beach is a vital player in this process,'' the mayor said. ``With the County Commission meeting on the same day as elections on Miami Beach, I felt it was important that we meet and lay out the issues. I'll save my comments for tomorrow.''

 

A NEGATIVE VOTE

 

Stuart Blumberg, president and chief executive of the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association, was among the GMC&VB board members who voted against the resolution.

 

Blumberg said he couldn't support the motion until he knew more about the plan.

 

''I and our association don't believe we have enough facts to do anything but listen,'' Blumberg said. ``The bureau was never asked to weigh in on other arenas. We were never asked our opinion on the $200 million for the Performing Arts Center. Now we're being asked at the final hour without any substantive information.''

This article is so full of smoke. The Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association is nothing but a bunch of hotel managers/owners who gather together and cry that Miami Beach doesn't get enough conventions when they get more in a month than some towns do in a year.

 

It isn't their money and they should stop b***hing already!

This article is so full of smoke. The Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association is nothing but a bunch of hotel managers/owners who gather together and cry that Miami Beach doesn't get enough conventions when they get more in a month than some towns do in a year.

 

It isn't their money and they should stop b***hing already!

You are absolutely right. I posted this article for the only intention that everyone can see how dirty the water can be when too many politicians, especially Miami politicians, are allowed to swim together around a project. Things like this is what I am afraid of: all political sharks trying to get a bite off this deal and a bite off each other's behind.

Anyone want to tell me what the hell is wrong with the MBCC? I go there every year for the Auto Show and the place looks awesome. Just another example of greedy politicians wanting more in their pockets I guess

I think I may boycott the Auto Show this year.

 

*checks tampa and ft. lauderdale int'l auto show websites.*

2004-Model Tampa Bay International Auto Show

http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/tampa/

I think I may boycott the Auto Show this year.

 

*checks tampa and ft. lauderdale int'l auto show websites.*

The Orlando Auto Show was pretty sweet this year... if you can find parking.

Orlando is a tad bit too far for a place I am not familiar with. Tampa is at most 2 hours and I am familiar with Miami Beach.

It's easy... I-4 all the way, there's even a sign that says " Next Exit: Orlando/Orange Convention Center."

It's easy... I-4 all the way, there's even a sign that says " Next Exit: Orlando/Orange Convention Center."

I know, but getting my mother to Miami or Tampa is far enough, leaving Orlando without a trip to Disney is not possible for her or me and we won't have the time to stay because I have to return for school.

It's easy... I-4 all the way, there's even a sign that says " Next Exit: Orlando/Orange Convention Center."

I know, but getting my mother to Miami or Tampa is far enough, leaving Orlando without a trip to Disney is not possible for her or me and we won't have the time to stay because I have to return for school. oh well then save the extra miles and go to Tampa :lol

I recognize some of you who have posted thus far in this thread do not understand how important a venue the Miami Beach Convention Center is to the economy of the region but even its detractors recognize that it is the economic engine that drives South Florida's biggest industry, tourism.

 

The local convention industry (and I should mention here I have no relationship, nor have I ever, with tourism or the CC, I'm just a resident) must compete with hundreds of other CC's around the country all vying for the next AMA (American Medical Association) or Microsoft convention, and while the MBCC may look good to you when you visit the Auto Show, professional planners for large events are always "kicking the tires", "checking under hood" to make sure every bell and whistle their clients require is in place. If not they'll book San Diego or some other venue that offers them the facilities their clients require.

 

It is a zero sum game.

 

Without a competitive CC the revenue derived from the CDT (convention development tax) won't be there to fund a baseball stadium or anything else. There answer is to find a way to fund both projects.

there is no way the convention center needs 50 million dollar now. give them 10 or 15 but 50 is too much for a convention center that is in good condition and has many sources of revenue by itself.

BTW, post me a list of infrastructure needs the MBCC supposedly needs and we shall see how much they cost and if they are truly needed. Cut the pork of the MBCC, Miami Beach officials try to get money for everything by the MBCC is going to fall apart if they don't get the money when it is in better condition than the new Heat arena.

marlins03, i gotta hand it to you, you made a great argument in the other thread. before i read that, i didn't understand why the convention center would need another upgrade. it makes total sense now... to tell you the truth, i might not even feel that bad if they shaft us of a stadium again. if a good convention center = more bucks for miami dade county, i'm all for it. let them find other sources of revenue for the stadium (yea like thats possible).

i would like to see what these guys would say when we got an all star game in miami and they rented the AmericanAirlines Arena and Miami Beach Convention Center for John Hancock All-Star Fan Fest and all those hotel rooms filled up during the dead time in July of some future year. That would put how many millions in the local economy?

Miami wants their cake and to eat it too.

 

Either

a) Build the ballpark

b) Raise taxes to fund both the ballpark and CC

c) Say bye bye to the Marlins

 

You want a state of the art ballpark, but no tax raises and a state of the art convention center. The money has to come from somewhere.

personally i think that 0.5% tax hike was squandered on buses. but i dont really know anything about managing a county, though its not like politicians are much better at it

Cape, I think of us as friends, but on this we're going to have to agree to disagree. You simply don't have the faintest idea what you are talking about and I'm not here to be an apologist for, or a champion of, the MBCC.

 

I believe the answer is to "stage" the revenue disbursement (from the CDT) so that MBCC gets the money they need to stay competitive thus providing the flow of cash in the future to fund their contribution to funding the stadium.

 

It may be, for example, that the $50 million is used first to fund improvements to the CC and then in years 4-9 of the stadium the CDT pays ten million a year (or some equivalent future valued amount) to retire stadium debt. This is an over simplification but you get the idea.

 

I am not, as I stated, involved in any way in the CC or have anything to do with it, but you asked what improvements were needed to the MBCC. I know of two, I'm sure there are many more. First is a parking garage, the MBCC is has no parking garage, only a lot, and one is needed. The other is a ballroom, not just for dancing, but for large dinners and events of that type. Again, it's not a matter of what we think is appropriate or neccessary, it's what conventioneers and professional event planners require in order to book a facilty for their clients.

 

You don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg (the CDT).

i would like to see what these guys would say when we got an all star game in miami and they rented the AmericanAirlines Arena and Miami Beach Convention Center for John Hancock All-Star Fan Fest and all those hotel rooms filled up during the dead time in July of some future year. That would put how many millions in the local economy?

July is actually a very good month here as it corresponds to the winter months of those living below the equator. While certainly not as busy as Feb-Mar-Apr the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau has done a terrific job of bringing in South American tourists during the summer, as well as Europeans on holiday. Miami beach is not longer a one season resort but rather a year round tourist destination.

 

That said, who wouldn;t want to see all the revenue that an All-Star game brings to a market. It would be frosting on the cake.

I can see parking, but that is the problem of the city and has nothing to do with the convention center itself. They are trying get money from the county for a city parking garage. BTW, the garage down the street is adequate for most events.

 

The ballroom issue is valid, but multiple ballrooms are needed for a proper use of them. Two to four ballrooms don't cost 50 million, neither does a parking garage. Miami Beach is trying to take more money than they need and robbing it from other projects that can bring in even more dollars like a ballpark.

I can see parking, but that is the problem of the city and has nothing to do with the convention center itself. They are trying get money from the county for a city parking garage. BTW, the garage down the street is adequate for most events.

 

The ballroom issue is valid, but multiple ballrooms are needed for a proper use of them. Two to four ballrooms don't cost 50 million, neither does a parking garage. Miami Beach is trying to take more money than they need and robbing it from other projects that can bring in even more dollars like a ballpark.

 

And how do you expect a city of 87,000 people (and roughly 30,000 residences) to pay for a $25 million parking garage for a facility that is used to generate taxes for the whole county? Increase my property taxes by $2,000 a year? Get a grip.

 

The MBCC is already a drain on our tax base, it isn't like it adds anything to our revenue stream. Revenues from the MBCC stay within the MBCC entity and the neighboring RDA.

 

You just don't know what you're talking about.

I don't see a justification in having a parking garage when you have so many located around the convention center that are withing easy walking distance and many more within busing distance. The convention center can create it's own revenue, save some of that and build it with that. The ballroom issue is valid, but I though they had ballrooms in there somewhere, but I guess not.

Why Keep continue to argue over the same topic? Is not like any of us have a decision making postion over this issue. Let's wait and see what happens.

I don't see a justification in having a parking garage when you have so many located around the convention center that are withing easy walking distance and many more within busing distance. The convention center can create it's own revenue, save some of that and build it with that. The ballroom issue is valid, but I though they had ballrooms in there somewhere, but I guess not.

 

There is only one parking garage in the area, which is owned by the City and serves a multitude of uses including Lincoln Road, City Hall and ToPA, not to mention overflow from the MBCC parking lot. There are some privately owned parking garages coming online now but they are part of office buildings, etc. which have another primary use (serving their tenants). The City is also planning on building their own City Hall parking garage on their own in the next few years, but again that garage will be used primarily to park city employees and municipal vehicles.

 

When there's a large convention or show it drains away all the parking leaving residents and visitors (tourists and people from the mainland - you go understand don't you that Miami Beach is a seven mile long, one mile wide barrier island) not attending the MBCC without a place to park. If people cannot go to Lincoln Road for example then you are losing food and beverage and sales taxes.

 

Because the South Florida Building Code is so strict (because of hurricanes) parking garage construction costs between $1,500.00 to two thousand dollars per spot. Eating through $25,000,000 goes quickly.