I figured I'd chime in on this...we live in North Broward and have gone to plenty of games at PPS throughout the year. It's a great drive and unfortunately (due to low fan turnout), but fortunately for us the traffic leaving is no problem.

 

My concerns are how bad will the traffic be getting into downtown with a new arena. The area near the Miami arena is disgusting. We were just at the AA Arena last week and drove by there....homeless sleeping everywhere....the traffic on 95 at an off-peak time ( 3 PM) on a saturday was terrible. 95 south is a nightmare, to me worse than NY.

 

How much worse will the drive on 95 be to downtown? Will they improve the area surrounding the stadium? Will mass transit be a safe option? I have no problem parking in Fort Lauderdale and getting the TRI Rail if I felt safe. But we have 2 little kids.

 

I know someone is going to jump on me and say if I was a true fan I would go no matter where the stadium is. To a point, ok, but there are a lot of other issues as well.

 

We live close to the Office Depot Center. The ease of the drive there just makes it so much better for the Panther games, especially with little kids.

 

Just my $.02.

I understand your concern. No one should doubt that you are a true fan for making sure your kids are safe. I'm hoping that the city of Miami and the Marlins are considering creating a family friendly environment a priority.

I figured I'd chime in on this...we live in North Broward and have gone to plenty of games at PPS throughout the year. It's a great drive and unfortunately (due to low fan turnout), but fortunately for us the traffic leaving is no problem.

 

My concerns are how bad will the traffic be getting into downtown with a new arena. The area near the Miami arena is disgusting. We were just at the AA Arena last week and drove by there....homeless sleeping everywhere....the traffic on 95 at an off-peak time ( 3 PM) on a saturday was terrible. 95 south is a nightmare, to me worse than NY.

 

How much worse will the drive on 95 be to downtown? Will they improve the area surrounding the stadium? Will mass transit be a safe option? I have no problem parking in Fort Lauderdale and getting the TRI Rail if I felt safe. But we have 2 little kids.

 

I know someone is going to jump on me and say if I was a true fan I would go no matter where the stadium is. To a point, ok, but there are a lot of other issues as well.

 

We live close to the Office Depot Center. The ease of the drive there just makes it so much better for the Panther games, especially with little kids.

 

Just my $.02.

I understand your concern. No one should doubt that you are a true fan for making sure your kids are safe. I'm hoping that the city of Miami and the Marlins are considering creating a family friendly environment a priority. I agree.

If I remember correctly, Tri Rail is, but the MetroRail has some bumpy spots. It might be better to brave the traffic and drive there if the trains don't work. If you are willing to drive down further on the Turnpike to US 27, you can park at the Palmetto Station and get the MetroRail there. Medley is safe at all times of the day because it is basically a city of factories with no real crime rate.

Hopefully those protesters for the Free Trade Conference can f*** up the area near the Miami Arena. That will clean it up.

 

And you're concernced with traffic southbound on 95?

On weeknights there is none . . .

MetroRail isn't so bad. I ride every day to go to work and school. Just as long as you don't pay attention to the weirdos, they won't bother you. Believe me. I have been doing this for 4 years now. The worst I have ever seen was some guy steal a lady's purse and that happened only one time. Sit in the first train, and you should be fine. Also, during events, the train gets pretty full, so you may feel safer.

Can anyone say national security/terrorist activity threat? :shifty An Al-Queida can dress up like a homeless person and plant whatever weapons in Downtown, they need to clean that place up big time.

What CapeFish said.

It is time to remove the Carte Blanche from those bums who have taken over the streets of Downtown and other areas around Dade County and let Metro Police do what they want and put them in shelters or rehab. Most are drunks or druggies anyway.

MetroRail isn't so bad. I ride every day to go to work and school. Just as long as you don't pay attention to the weirdos, they won't bother you. Believe me. I have been doing this for 4 years now. The worst I have ever seen was some guy steal a lady's purse and that happened only one time. Sit in the first train, and you should be fine. Also, during events, the train gets pretty full, so you may feel safer.

 

I take the metro-rail like 9 times a week and I have never seen nothing out of the oridnary.

You are right. Special events will have big crowds. If you are scared to go on the metro rail FSN and PAX will assist you!

MetroRail isn't so bad. I ride every day to go to work and school. Just as long as you don't pay attention to the weirdos, they won't bother you. Believe me. I have been doing this for 4 years now. The worst I have ever seen was some guy steal a lady's purse and that happened only one time. Sit in the first train, and you should be fine. Also, during events, the train gets pretty full, so you may feel safer.

i'm surprised you've even witnessed a purse snatching.

 

at peak times (e.g. going to/from work, or to/from sporting events) the thing is packed. IMO, it's perfectly safe and nothing to be worried about. you can sit in any car you want.

After reading most of your posts about the metro-rail it seems like it's the best thing since sliced bread, I bet even Jesus rides the metro-rail.

After reading most of your posts about the metro-rail it seems like it the best thing sliced bread, I bet even Jesus rides the metro-rail.

LMAO! I am sure He does!

I bet even Jesus rides the metro-rail.

When did Jesus Sanchez come back?

 

:w00t

I bet even Jesus rides the metro-rail.

When did Jesus Sanchez come back?

 

:w00t LOL :lol

I figured I'd chime in on this...we live in North Broward and have gone to plenty of games at PPS throughout the year. It's a great drive and unfortunately (due to low fan turnout), but fortunately for us the traffic leaving is no problem.

 

My concerns are how bad will the traffic be getting into downtown with a new arena. The area near the Miami arena is disgusting. We were just at the AA Arena last week and drove by there....homeless sleeping everywhere....the traffic on 95 at an off-peak time ( 3 PM) on a saturday was terrible. 95 south is a nightmare, to me worse than NY.

 

How much worse will the drive on 95 be to downtown? Will they improve the area surrounding the stadium? Will mass transit be a safe option? I have no problem parking in Fort Lauderdale and getting the TRI Rail if I felt safe. But we have 2 little kids.

 

I know someone is going to jump on me and say if I was a true fan I would go no matter where the stadium is. To a point, ok, but there are a lot of other issues as well.

 

We live close to the Office Depot Center. The ease of the drive there just makes it so much better for the Panther games, especially with little kids.

 

Just my $.02.

 

 

I understand your concern. No one should doubt that you are a true fan for making sure your kids are safe. I'm hoping that the city of Miami and the Marlins are considering creating a family friendly environment a priority.

 

 

 

Look at how much the area around Camden Yards has changed since that ballpark was put it. Look at Jacob's Field in Cleveland and to some extent, even Pac Bell in San Francisco. Those were all areas that needed to be revitilized and were because the people who built the ballparks wanted to make everything around it as fan friendly as possible.

 

 

My only concern is this: When they were building the AAA, they were talking about reviltilzing the whole place with shops and resturants and a bridge over to Bayside and a port there for the Cruise ships and everything. Other than Bongos, I haven't see much come out of that area. The City of Miami needs to step it up and really put some effort into making a plan for a safe and fan/family friendly area around that ballpark because it won't matter how good these guys are....nobody will want to come out if there is a chance of being mugged. :thumbdown

But to be honest, I have walked around Downtown by myself and nothing ever happened to me. Yes, there are bums everywhere and it is disgusting. I agree with that 100%. But just as long as you avoid the weirdos, ignore them, and be within the crowds, you should be fine. I have gone to many events at AAA, and when it's time to leave late at night, it's fine. There is MPD/MDPD everywhere directing traffic or just watching over everyone anyways.

I don't usually agree that building a stadium/arena downtown automatically helps to revitalize the area (look at AAA and Miami Arena and what little they did to improve downtown). However, there are some big projects underway to revitalize downtown Miami.

 

- Performing Arts Center under construction just north of 395.

- Plans for a "museum park" at Bicentennial Park.

- Several high-rise luxury condo/apt. buildings going up south of Bayfront Park.

- Children's Museum to be built on Watson Island next to Parrot Jungle.

- Several nightclubs already in place.

 

Throw a baseball stadium into the mix, and you got yourself a pretty happening downtown. All these projects, except for possibly the museum park, would be up and running by 2007. So the baseball stadium would not have to be a catalyst for revitalization but be just another piece to the puzzle, which makes more sense.

 

The homeless downtown and near the Miami Arena are there primarily because of Camillus House (homeless shelter). I've heard talk about possibly moving Camillus House out of downtown, which should help to clean up that area a bit.

 

I've never encountered crime or other problems on Metrorail. For events it is safe and reliable.

Those plans are amazing. I really hope that helps b/c Downtown needs a big makeover.

Downtown Miami needs all the help it can get. Look at Time Square maybe 20 years ago to what it is today. With all the shops and MTV and everything going on there, people want to be at there.

 

 

Hopefully with everything being built there, Downtown Miami will be a place that people mention in the same breath and some of the better cities in the country.

LOL!

 

TRL=Teenie bopper central