Published by: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted: February 14, 2009
Written by: Sarah Talalay
Marlins Stadium Update No. 2.13 million
(The scene at Miami City Hall)
> Posted by Sarah Talalay at 9:18 AM 2/13/09
There’s a full house at Miami City Hall this morning, where the city commission is late starting its meeting to consider funding for a $515 million ballpark for the Marlins. Some in the audience are clad in Marlins jerseys and caps. There are also some opponents.
Miami resident Elaine Jepeway stood alone in front of Miami City Hall, holding up a paper grocery bag that she’d split apart and had covered with the words “NO DEAL.”
“I thought there were going to be other people here,” said Jepeway, 67. “This is just such a fiasco with the economy … We should use the money for something that’s needed. Nobody goes to the games. I wasn’t coming, but I thought it’s the right thing to do … I think it’s just not the time to do it.”
Meanwhile, a Marlins fan circled the city hall parking lot in his pickup truck carrying a billboard that read “I want to take my child to a Marlin World Series in 2013.”
Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and president David Samson are in attendance. City Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, who is on maternity leave, is not present and not expected to vote on the deal. The stadium agreements need a simple majority of the four commissioners present to pass.
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Marlins Stadium Update No. 213 million (The public speaks out)
> Posted by Sarah Talalay at 11:15 AM
More than 25 members of the public are signed up to speak at Miami City Hall in favor or against a new ballpark for the Marlins. The debate has become less about the use of public money for the $515 million venue and more about whether it will create the jobs, residents and business people say are desperately needed.
Several people in the construction industry have spoken in favor of the jobs the stadium will create. Others said those jobs are an illusion, won’t pay enough and the money should be spent on housing, education and other needs.
The tourist tax dollars designated for the project can only be spent on sports venues, convention centers and other projects to promote tourism.
A man from Hialeah said he had 5,000 signatures in favor of the stadium. A Miami activist called the deal “terrible” and implored the commission to put the 335-page stadium contracts before voters.
“Let the Marlins get a loan to buy the land at the old Miami Arena site, just like any private business should have to do,” Elvis Cruz said. “Let them build the stadium themselves and let Major League Baseball guarantee it.”
Before the public testimony, Major League Baseball President Bob DuPuy spoke of the significance of building a ballpark in Miami for generations of families to enjoy.
“No one remembers their first visit to a convention center,” DuPuy said, “but almost everyone remembers their first visit to a baseball game.”
Miami Mayor Manny Diaz called on commissioners to approve the ballpark deal for its much-needed jobs during a period of high unemployment, because it will revitalize a neighborhood in the city that sorely needs it and will help make Miami as a world class city.
“It’s very easy to say no. I believe this is not why we get elected,” Diaz said. “We get elected to act, to be decisive, to lead.”
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez told commissioners the issue is not new, and that it is time to make the decision. He worried the Marlins will leave “because after 10 years, we couldn’t come up with a contract.”
Alvarez said he hopes the team does “make a lot of money. If they make money, we’re successful in this community.”
Alvarez reminded commissioners, the county is fortunate to have professional football, basketball -- and baseball.
“They may never win a World Series again, but they’ve already won two,” Alvarez said.
Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria spoke briefly, telling commissioners he’s owned the team longest of its three owners, “because I have an unwavering commitment to see things well done, professionally done, it will continue in that same vein.”
But Loria added, “I do take exception to Mayor Alvarez’s comments we may never win another World Series.”
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Marlins Stadium Update No. 2-2 tie -– City votes deal down… for now
> Posted by Sarah Talalay at 2:21 PM
The Miami City Commission deadlocked on 2-2 vote to move forward with a plan to finance a $515 million ballpark for the Marlins, meaning the deal died. (Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, on maternity leave, is absent).
But the commission has just taken a break and team, city, Miami-Dade County and Major League Baseball officials have gone behind closed doors to see if a deal can be salvaged.
Before breaking City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, who along with Commissioner Tomas Regalado opposed the deal, suggested several amendments to revive the deal. He wants the Marlins to cover extra costs on a parking garage the city is to build for $94 million, turn over naming rights dollars to the city and county to service their debt on the project and any profit, if the team is sold, to go to the city and county.
Commission Chairman Joe Sanchez initially seconded the motion, but then decided it would “kill the deal” and rescinded his motion.
At the moment, there is no deal on the table and certainly no need to head to the Miami-Dade County Commission chambers.
When I asked Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, a supporter of the ballpark, what happens now, he smiled and said “We’re taking a 10-minute break.”
As always, stay tuned.
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Marlins Stadium Update No. 2-1, no, wait another break
> Posted by Sarah Talalay at 4:02 PM
Miami City Commissioners reconvened, but are no closer to a deal. Their meeting has devolved into political chaos.
In responding to Commissioner Marc Sarnoff’s proposals to cover extra costs of parking garages and to turn over naming rights and any profits of a team sale to the city and county, Marlins President David Samson said the team would agree to cap the cost of parking garages and lots at $94 million.
As for the other two provisions, he said the team could not agree, but if the commission wanted he would be willing to renegotiate the entire deal. Not just the parking agreement and non-relocation, but the ENTIRE deal.
Samson reminded Sarnoff and the other commissioners that the agreements before the commission were similar to the agreement to build a stadium in principle – known as the Baseball Stadium Agreement – that commissioners approved a year ago.
"We are open to renegotiate the entire agreement," Samson said. "All five agreements."
The commission decided to move forward with a vote on Sarnoff’s motion with the added provisions, which Samson said will result in “no deal.” But the voting ended at one no (Angel Gonzalez) and two yeses (Sarnoff and Tomas Regalado), when commission chairman Joe Sanchez lashed out at Regalado.
“You just voted against the deal,” Sanchez said.
“I’m voting for the residents of Miami, Mr. Chairman,” Regalado said. “Respectfully, it is not about the deal. It’s about the residents of the city of Miami. I believe these terms can be achieved.”
By the way, both Sanchez and Regalado are running for mayor of Miami to replace Mayor Manny Diaz.
Regalado continued: “We want the stadium, these are details that you all didn’t work out, but according to you Mr. Manager, you got a lot of things from the county. Well, now is the time to come back to the table.”
All the commissioners sounded like they believed in helping finance a ballpark for the Marlins, but they can’t yet agree how, despite having the framework of a deal for the past year.
City Manager Pete Hernandez suggested another recess to meet with team and county officials. The group has gone to huddle in the city offices.
“I think today is a truly sad day for the county,” Sanchez said. “My colleagues have taken the hopes of many, the people who live in Little Havana.”
Again, stay tuned...
Marlins Stadium Update … To Be Continued
> Posted by Sarah Talalay at 5:41 PM
Deadlocked in their vote for a new ballpark for the Marlins, the Miami City Commission decided instead to hold off further votes until next month.
The commission’s ballpark discussion will continue on March 12, which presumably will give time for any further negotiation that might make the $515 million financing proposal palatable to more city commissioners – and perhaps even allow for Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, who is on maternity leave, to attend.
The Miami-Dade County Commission, which had been waiting since 1 p.m. to start its meeting on the ballpark plan, instead didn’t hold its meeting. The commission chairman will decide when the county should hold its next meeting. Any substantive changes in the ballpark deal would need to be reviewed by both the city and county.
Marlins President David Samson said he appreciated the political process and assured fans of the team and supporters of the ballpark that he is not giving up.
“I do not believe this marks the end, because we will continue to try to figure out a way to reconvene this meeting and have the county meeting that has not even begun yet,” he said.
“I tell our fans who are watching, spring training starts tomorrow, I will be in Jupiter for that. We are going to continue working to make sure the ballpark opens on time and on budget in 2012.”
He said fans should not believe that work on the ballpark is over: “I assure you when that is no longer the case you will hear it from me.”
The deadlock came when City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff asked that the Marlins agree to three additional items: covering overruns on parking garages and lots, and turning over proceeds from naming rights and any profit if the team is sold -- to the city and county. Samson said the team would agree to cap the parking costs at $94 million, but not the other provisions.
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Marlins Stadium Update … To Be Continued
> Posted by Sarah Talalay at 5:41 PM
Deadlocked in their vote for a new ballpark for the Marlins, the Miami City Commission decided instead to hold off further votes until next month.
The commission’s ballpark discussion will continue on March 12, which presumably will give time for any further negotiation that might make the $515 million financing proposal palatable to more city commissioners – and perhaps even allow for Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, who is on maternity leave, to attend.
The Miami-Dade County Commission, which had been waiting since 1 p.m. to start its meeting on the ballpark plan, instead didn’t hold its meeting. The commission chairman will decide when the county should hold its next meeting. Any substantive changes in the ballpark deal would need to be reviewed by both the city and county.
Marlins President David Samson said he appreciated the political process and assured fans of the team and supporters of the ballpark that he is not giving up.
“I do not believe this marks the end, because we will continue to try to figure out a way to reconvene this meeting and have the county meeting that has not even begun yet,” he said.
“I tell our fans who are watching, spring training starts tomorrow, I will be in Jupiter for that. We are going to continue working to make sure the ballpark opens on time and on budget in 2012.”
He said fans should not believe that work on the ballpark is over: “I assure you when that is no longer the case you will hear it from me.”
The deadlock came when City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff asked that the Marlins agree to three additional items: covering overruns on parking garages and lots, and turning over proceeds from naming rights and any profit if the team is sold -- to the city and county. Samson said the team would agree to cap the parking costs at $94 million, but not the other provisions.
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