Marlins closer to securing stadium
City of Miami commissioners vote in favor of building park
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
If Miami-Dade County approves the new ballpark Monday, the Marlins plan to negotiate a one-year extension at Dolphin Stadium. (Marlins/HOK Sport )
The first vote was to approve the ballpark, and that passed, 3-2. Commissioners supporting the project were Angel Gonzalez, Joe Sanchez and Michelle Spence-Jones.
The second vote needed four-fifths approval to address who was responsible for the infrastructure related to the project. That passed by a 4-1 vote.
The City of Miami commissioners gave a green light to pursue constructing a 37,000-seat retractable-roof ballpark on the Orange Bowl grounds in the Little Havana section of Miami.
Thursday's outcome was half the battle for the Marlins.
Now the issue goes to Miami-Dade County commissioners, who will cast their votes Monday.
On Feb. 13, the city was deadlocked at 2-2. That day, Spence-Jones was absent because she was on maternity leave.
The new stadium and parking lot project is projected to cost $625 million.
Early Thursday morning, before the commissioners voted, the Marlins made some concessions.
The team agreed to significantly increase the share of profits Miami and Miami-Dade County would receive should Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria sell the team within nine years of the start of construction.
The Marlins also agreed to donate $500,000 each year to a charity of the team's choice, with $125,000 of that money going to the city and county for the first few years.
Since their inaugural season in 1993, three different Marlins owners have tried to secure funding for a new ballpark.
The timing of Thursday's vote comes during difficult economic times, and more than 70 people spoke during the public hearing session that lasted nearly 3 1/2 hours.
Members from unions expressed their support, while others wearing "No Marlins Bailout" signs on their shirts presented counterarguments.
The proposed park is scheduled to open in 2012. The team is hopeful to break ground by July. When it moves into the stadium, the team will change its name to the Miami Marlins.
Representing the team were Loria and Major League Baseball president Bob DuPuy.
The vote came a day after Miami played host to the final game of Pool 2 play in the second round of the World Baseball Classic.
MLB has stressed its commitment to South Florida. The team and league have noted the Marlins can't survive long term without a new ballpark.
The team is under lease at Dolphin Stadium through 2011. If the county approves the ballpark, the Marlins plan to negotiate a one-year extension at Dolphin Stadium.
In opposition, commissioner Tomas Regalado said: "For the city of Miami, this is a bad deal."
Regalado added he was moved by the people who spoke in the public hearing about the need for jobs.
"I was really moved by the aspirations of the people to get the jobs," Regalado said. "We only have aspirations. We don't have assurances."
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff spoke of the changing economic times and the impact it has on the deal.
Sarnoff voted no on the first vote, but his swing vote yes passed the infrastructure vote.
Sarnoff used the construction of the AmericanAirlines Arena as a comparison for concern.
The arena for the NBA's Miami Heat was supposed to cost $200 million. Because of cost overruns, the arena was built at $240 million.
Sarnoff added that a 20 percent overrun would add $125 million to the Marlins' stadium project.
Arguing for the stadium, city manager Pedro Hernandez noted that if the building is voted down, the public funds earmarked cannot be used for police, firefighters or schools.
And the Marlins, not the city, are responsible for overruns.
The lease for the stadium is 35 years, and Miami-Dade County, not the Marlins, will own the ballpark.
Sanchez, a supporter, noted that the park would create jobs.
"People don't care if they are short-term or long-term jobs," Sanchez said. "They want to work."
Sanchez added he feels the project would create "economic vitality" around the ballpark.
"The number of jobs lost last year, it's alarming," Sanchez said
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