Released: 3-18-09

MIAMI, FL — March 18, 2009 — The Marlins, joined by the NAACP, Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce and the Latin Builders Association, today reaffirmed the team’s commitment to include all segments of the Miami-Dade community in the development of the new Marlins ballpark. Marlins President David Samson, LBA Past President Osvaldo Vento, Bishop Victor T. Curry, president of the Miami-Dade Chapter of the NAACP and Reginald J. Clyne, an attorney representing the NAACP and the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, appeared today on WAQI radio’s morning drive time show. Host Armando Perez Roura invited the group to discuss public support for the Marlins ballpark and the Marlins’ commitment to the community.

The Marlins have committed that a significant number of construction jobs, products and contractors will come from our local community. “The Marlins have been a force for unity in Miami and have reached out to all members of the community in the construction of the ballpark,” said Curry, who joined the panel discussion via telephone.

“We believe in working with the entire community and including all segments in the ballpark development. It’s the right thing to do,” Samson said. “This is part of an ongoing commitment by the Marlins to be both a good business partner and a good corporate citizen.”

The Marlins have supported hundreds of South Florida organizations through the Florida Marlins Community Foundation, including support for educational, athletic and artistic programs aimed at improving the lives of children in our community.

Vento said, “The LBA is staunchly behind the ballpark and the thousands of jobs it will create. We need to build this ballpark in Miami.”

In addition, as part of the ballpark development, Major League Baseball will build an Urban Youth Baseball Academy in Hialeah. The academy will train youths from throughout Miami-Dade County in baseball and related jobs, such as coaches, umpires and front-office administration.

The final stadium agreements will go before the Miami City Commission at 9 a.m. Thursday for final approval. Then on Monday, the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners will consider the project at a special meeting scheduled for 1 p.m.

Community support for the stadium is widespread and has been publicly endorsed by numerous community and professional organizations, including the Beacon Council, Latin Builders Association, Kiwanis Club of Little Havana and Latin Business Club USA.

Chambers of commerce that voice support are the Greater Miami Chamber, Coral Gables Chamber, Hialeah Chamber, South Florida Hispanic Chamber, and the Latin Chamber of Commerce USA located in Little Havana.

Other builder organizations that publicly support the project are Builders Association of South Florida and the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc.-Florida East Coast Chapter.

The future home of the Marlins will be a first-class ballpark that will be owned by Miami-Dade County. It will be constructed on approximately 17 acres of the historic 42-acre Orange Bowl site. The ballpark will have a retractable roof, a natural grass playing field and 37,000 seats, including approximately 3,000 club seats and 60 private suites. The ballpark will be the home field for all Marlins games.

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