November 6, 200322 yr While I was looking for articles for my homework I found this article. I know many of you guys are from Miami and Broward so I decided to share this with you... Tuesday, November 4 Jai-alai property proposed for stadium By Scott McCabe, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Tuesday, November 4, 2003 The Mangonia Park Marlins? Don King's publicist Robert Weneck pitched the idea to the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Monday to build a 40,000-seat sports stadium on King's 54-acre closed jai-alai site in Mangonia Park, asking if the commission would be willing to see if the Marlins have any interest in migrating north. " 'Live from Palm Beach and Mangonia Park!' " Weneck said. "I'd love to be able to say that to 30 million people." The Marlins, who play at Pro Player Stadium, are looking for a new retractable-roof home. The Miami-Dade County Commission today is considering committing $73 million in hotel bed and sports facility taxes to a stadium in downtown Miami if the Marlins chip in $137 million plus extra costs. Weneck admitted that it would be a long-shot greater than the Marlins' improbable journey to the World Series title last month, but he noted several reasons why Mangonia Park would be great for the Marlins: ? South Florida's population is growing north, not south, and the owners should be looking 10 to 25 years out. ? A majority of Marlins ticket sales come from Broward and Palm Beach counties, according to a recent report. ? Baseball alone can't support a $300 million stadium, but King, also a boxing promoter, could bring in major boxing matches and entertainers. He noted that King's former bar, the Corner Tavern, was enshrined in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame as a historic landmark for its contribution to jazz. Sports Commission Executive Director Pam Gerig said she'll try to set up a meeting with the Marlins to discuss the possibilities. King, a resident of Manalapan, said bringing the Marlins to the county would be "super-sensational." "You can't leave a world champion team homeless," King said. "And I like to help the homeless."
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