Here's how it goes. Each side makes their opening argument. One side goes first. Once the other side goes, the first side may post again and defend his argument. You can only go again once the opposing side gets to speak. You've got 48 hours.

 

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At the end the judges will privately vote on a winner.

 

This debate ends 9:00 PM Eastern on 11/20.

 

Topic - Should the Marlins move spring training back to Space Coast Stadium?

 

Yes - Big Hugg

 

No - dagreatone

 

Either side may begin.

Space Coast Stadium = badass....sorry for the post....but, it's got a close spot in my heart (and probably farmer fran's too)

The answer to this question is simple, the answer to this question is direct, and the answer to this question is yes. The Florida Marlins belong in Space Coast Stadium every spring, plain and simple. Hell, we don't even have to get techincal, all you have to do is look around. It's OUR spring training site, it was built for us.

 

 

 

The seats are teal. We don't even have those awesome teal seats in our regular season stadium (which isn't ours to begin with). This team grew up in Melbourne, we still hold the lease on the stadium (subleasing it to the Expos). Simply put, it's our stadium and we need to be playing in it. You can make the argument about the new site being closer and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Who cares? Almost every MLB team is far away from home for spring training, proximity doesn't matter. We belong in the stadium that was built for us, not the "former home of the Montreal Expos."

 

In fact, the fact that it's further away from our regular home is a good thing. It allows more of Florida to experience Marlins baseball, which is never a bad thing. Plus, the area around the stadium is continuing to be further developed, which allows for better attendance and more money (which we always need). Furthermore, if anybody is going to be getting ready for the season at Carl Berger Baseball Complex, it should be the Fish.

 

Simply put, Space Coast Stadium is home. Roger Dean Stadium, well, that's just where we play spring training games. Simply put, we're not the Expos and we need to quit acting like it. Let's go home.

 

I leave you with a quote that sums it all up:

 

"Space Coast Stadium = badass" -FurmanGator

 

You don't see people calling Roger Dean Stadium badass.

 

I rest my case.

Sure Space Coast Stadium was the Marlins original spring training home and it has the teal seats but its a lot farther from the larger Marlins fan base in south florida.

 

First of all Space Coast Stadium is located in Melbourne, Florida. It is like a 4 hour drive from Miami to get to the stadium. Why would I want to drive an extra 2 hours or more to see the marlins and future marlin players while seating in teal seats when I can just drive about a 2 hour drive and see them in Palm Beach County.

 

Secondly if its closer it would allow us devoted South Florida fans who go to games during the season to see the Marlins during the Spring and fill our craving for baseball. Also what does it matter that other parts of Florida get to see the Marlins. The south florida community is the one that supports them and goes to the games not the ones in Brevard County. Sure it would be nice for them to experience baseball but were the ones who deserve it. Plus they got the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to support there even if it is on the other coast, its still closer.

 

It just makes more sense for the Marlins to play in Roger Dean stadium.

Well, clearly, that shorter drive for Marlins fans didn't matter. Because, as we spent our first year out of Melbourne, our attendance went down from the level it was at the year before. Now, it's a slight drop. From 4,080 in Space Coast to 3,843 in Jupiter. But, that drop comes as the total attendance went up 5%.

 

So, basically, whille the league's attendance was getting better, ours was getting worse. Now, like I said, it's a small drop, but it's still enough to prove that being closer to Miami has no positive impact on attendance.

 

And the rest of Florida DOES matter. Those are still potential customers. Even if they don't go to games, you've got TV ratings and merchandise sales to think about.

 

It's a chance to expand our fan base, especially since the current base seems uninterested in making the trip to Jupiter anyway. (Hell, half of 'em are uninterested in making the trip to the Pro.)

 

"Also what does it matter that other parts of Florida get to see the Marlins. The south florida community is the one that supports them and goes to the games not the ones in Brevard County. Sure it would be nice for them to experience baseball but were the ones who deserve it."

 

That's that same elitist attitude that I see from too many "diehard" fans. I consider myself a diehard and I'd rather share this team with as many people as possible. Who makes the rules on who "deserves" a team? If we're going to play that game, I'll argue that Jupiter doesn't deserve the Fish because we draw better in Melbourne. Hell, sadly, there's more evidence to support the case that South Florida doesn't deserve the Fish than evidence they do. (Not my personal belief, but arguing they don't would be a lot easier.) Most major league teams have a lot of "out-of-market" fans that buy their merchandise and, without even meaning to, help expand their brandname to other markets. Why can't we do the same? Especially in a market that's still close enough to see some of those fans make the trip to the Pro from time to time.

 

Basically, we've got a franchise that in a lot of ways is still without a "home." The Pro is a football stadium, the attendance (while getting better) still sucks, and now we're playing our spring games in some generic field we have no ties to. Space Coast Stadium is OUR stadium and we need to play in it. It may only be spring training, but it's still a stadium clearly designed for the Florida Marlins. It's only right that we play there.

 

Sources

2003 Attendance: http://www.state.fl.us/eog_new/eog/library...t-04-17-03.html (See Word Document Link at bottom)

2002 Attendance: http://flasports.com/pdfs/springtraining.pdf

Well, clearly, that shorter drive for Marlins fans didn't matter. Because, as we spent our first year out of Melbourne, our attendance went down from the level it was at the year before. Now, it's a slight drop. From 4,080 in Space Coast to 3,843 in Jupiter. But, that drop comes as the total attendance went up 5%.

Yes very true but with the Marlins being World Champions now they should draw a lot more people from down here do drive up and go to the games. Especially after seeing some of the young players that have came through our system this year, I'm sure people will be interested to see who might do it this year. Also that number of only 200 less people per game doesnt make much of a difference. That number could have been dropped because there was some bad weather or something of that sort during spring.

 

And the rest of Florida DOES matter. Those are still potential customers. Even if they don't go to games, you've got TV ratings and merchandise sales to think about.

 

Well yes the rest of Florida does matter but only to a certain degree. But I'm pretty sure taking the Marlins out of the Space Coast Stadium didnt have much of an impact on the ratings or merchandise sales in that area.

 

That's that same elitist attitude that I see from too many "diehard" fans. I consider myself a diehard and I'd rather share this team with as many people as possible. Who makes the rules on who "deserves" a team? If we're going to play that game, I'll argue that Jupiter doesn't deserve the Fish because we draw better in Melbourne.

When did I say I didnt want to share the team with other people around the state. I said that we deserve it more but I didnt say I was unwilling to share. Also us in South Florida are the ones who pay to see them play during the regular season, watch them on tv every game and buy their merchandise as well. So why shouldnt we get the opportunity to see some spring baseball as well see some young kids from the minors develop. Plus go watch the Marlins for a cheaper rate especially to those who cant afford to go to as many games during the regular season and have good seats.

 

Space Coast Stadium is OUR stadium and we need to play in it. It may only be spring training, but it's still a stadium clearly designed for the Florida Marlins. It's only right that we play there.

 

It might be the Marlins stadium but its not ours down here in south florida. In addition the Marlins might be changed to the Miami Marlins so it only makes sense for them to play closer to their home.

 

(P.S. Just so you guys know who are out of the South Florida area, this is just the points I'm trying to make to try to defend the side that was given to me. Not how I necessarily feel. Just making sure some of the guys on the board dont get offended. :thumbup )

Good work guys.

 

Big Hugg was voted the winner and advances to the Finals.

 

Anyone may now reply to this topic.

Good work Big Hugg. Even though we both agreed this topic sucked but what could we have done. There wasnt much information out there to support the topic.

 

Good luck next round Big Hugg.

Congrats to DaGreatOne on getting here,

 

and Congrats to Big Hugg for advancing, best of luck

I am amazed how Roger Dean's title as best Grapefruit League Ballpark wasn't brought up. I also was surprised that there were no pictures of Roger Dean posted in the argument.

 

Space Coast Stadium's uniqueness was not even talked about. (i.e. Only Grapefruit League Park to have clear view of Space Shuttle Launches after games, Custom-built Marlins rehab complex)

Well I couldnt find a pic of Roger Dean Stadium and I think Big Hugg did mention how they were teal seats and unique to the marlins.

Only Grapefruit League Park to have clear view of Space Shuttle Launches after games

thats not very common is it?

Only Grapefruit League Park to have clear view of Space Shuttle Launches after games

thats not very common is it? Cocoa Expo Complex (spring training home for the Expos for a long time, Marlins in 1992-1993 seasons) had a blocked view before it closed, but nothing like Space Coast Stadium.

correction Cocoa Expo was home to the Astros for a long time not the Expos. Marlins played there in 1993 grapefruit action as the home park, but some organization stuff happened there in 1992 until Space Coast was built.

Well, this topic sure hits home for me, literally. It was great having the marlins for spring training all those years. It's too bad it had to end. It's kind of weird sitting in our bright teal seats and the marlins not being the home team.

 

I felt we had a pretty good fan base here in Brevard in the Mid 90s. Now, it's like the Marlins don't even exist. (although this world series run helped bring back a little enthusiasm for the marlins.) It's kind of sad what has happened. First they take away the Marlins from T.V. here, and then they leave Brevard all together when they stopped playing spring training here. I really doubt that the marlins come back here while Loria is still owner. Now, we're just hoping to be able to keep spring training altogether because with the uncertainty of the Expos we don't know if they will move their spring training site if the Expos get moved.

Loria didn't take the Marlins off TV in Brevard, Henry did. Loria moved the team to market to Palm Beach, but hopefully he will move back.

 

As for Bright House's war with FSN: same stance from them. We offer FSN digital channel, FSN is expanded basic service, offer rejected, war continues, fans/customers mad.

Loria didn't take the Marlins off TV in Brevard, Henry did. Loria moved the team to market to Palm Beach, but hopefully he will move back.

 

As for Bright House's war with FSN: same stance from them. We offer FSN digital channel, FSN is expanded basic service, offer rejected, war continues, fans/customers mad.

Oh I never blamed Loria for taking them off of T.V. up here. We haven't had Marlins baseball up here since 1997. I meant they won't come back for spring training while Loria is owner.

You never know if loria would bring them back. I think Brevard is really considering kicking out the Expos/Manatees and turning it into a public ballpark.

That wouldn't make much sense to move the team out of the area just to move it back. Loria obviously has ties to Roger Dean Stadium. When he owned the Expos the Expos played there and now the Marlins play there. I guess I just don't understand why Loria would have any reason to move them out of Roger Dean Stadium.

That wouldn't make much sense to move the team out of the area just to move it back. Loria obviously has ties to Roger Dean Stadium. When he owned the Expos the Expos played there and now the Marlins play there. I guess I just don't understand why Loria would have any reason to move them out of Roger Dean Stadium.

1) Cardinals get too annoying.

2) Palm Beach County gets annoying.

3) Attendance drops to Spring Training and/or Jupiter Hammerheads games.

4) Lease runs out.

Well, the main reason I didn't mention a lot of that stuff is because, honestly, I didn't have a clue what I was talking about. I'm only able to follow the Fish in Spring Training from afar, so I've never really taken interest in where they play the games, since it's all the same to me. I just threw some stuff together through some brief research.