Published by: The Miami Herald
Published: February 19, 2009
Written by: Jack Dolan and Charles Rabin

Marlins fans and stadium critics who thought they'd know the fate of the team's new home by March 5, will now have to sweat out another long weekend.

The Miami-Dade commission won't vote on the proposed stadium until Monday, March 9, chairman Dennis Moss announced on Thursday.

“Some commissioners were not going to make it and he wanted to give all commissioners a chance to participate,” said Moss’s spokeswoman Griselle Marino.The city of Miami is still scheduled to vote on the stadium deal on March 4.

The $609 million stadium has key government backers, but still faces significant hurdles. It must win approval from both the city and county.

In Miami, two commissioners are threatening to vote against allowing the Marlins’ chosen construction firm to make infrastructure improvements around the stadium without a formal bidding process.

In the county, several commissioners have threatened to vote against the deal unless the Marlins prove they have the financial wherewithal to raise their $154 million share of the construction costs.

Under the current proposal, the county would borrow $347 million to build the stadium, and provide another $12 million for public works improvements in the area.

“I want surety,“ Commissioner Sally Heyman said on Thursday afternoon. “The Marlins don't want to open their books, but they want us to open our bank.”



Back to top