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Marlins fail to win final stadium approval in Miami
City commissioners split on financing, delay vote one month

By Sarah Talalay | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
February 14, 2009

MIAMI - Although they were dealt a major setback Friday when Miami City Commissioners failed to approve their $515 million ballpark deal, the Florida Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! vowed to continue pursuing their plans for a new home at the former site of the Orange Bowl.

During a meeting that dragged on for more than seven hours, city commissioners twice voted 2-2 on different versions of the ballpark plan, which meant the deal stalled. City Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones is on maternity leave and was absent.

When two recesses didn't resolve outstanding issues, the commission nearly adjourned, but chose to postpone a final vote until March 12, giving the city, team and Miami-Dade County time to work out additional issues and perhaps allow for Spence-Jones to be present at the city meeting.

Because the city meeting didn't produce a deal, the county commission called off the meeting it had scheduled Friday afternoon, but only after supporters and opponents showed up to speak about the plan for a 37,000-seat retractable roof stadium. Substantive changes by either the city or the county would need the other's approval.

Marlins President David Samson tried not to show his frustration with the day's events.

"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," Samson said.

County Manager George Burgess said County Commission Chairman Dennis Moss will reschedule a special meeting for the county.

"It's been a long process," Burgess said. "A few more weeks is not going to be the end of the world."

Samson said he will be at the opening of Marlins spring training in Jupiter today, but ballpark discussions will go on.

"We are going to continue working to make sure the ballpark opens on time and on budget in 2012," he said.

The Marlins pay rent at Dolphin Stadium, where they receive little revenue from parking, concessions and advertising. The plan considered Friday calls for the city to contribute the land and $13 million in hotel bed taxes and build $94 million worth of parking garages and lots, for which it would be reimbursed with annual payments from the team. The county is to pay $297 million in hotel bed taxes and a $50 million general obligation bond. The team is to pay $155 million and cover cost overruns.

The contract ran into trouble at the city when Commissioner Marc Sarnoff said he thought the team was getting too sweet a deal. He and Commissioner Tomas Regalado opposed the deal, but Sarnoff suggested three new provisions: that the Marlins help cover cost overruns on the parking lots, that they turn over proceeds from naming rights and that if the team is sold within 10 years, any profits would go to the city and the county.

"I just don't think it's taxpayers' job to enhance a man's asset," Sarnoff said. "It's not taxpayers' job to increase the franchise value. And if the franchise value right now is $300 million and it goes up to $600 million, it seems to me the taxpayers should benefit from that franchise increase in the event of a flip."

Samson said the team could agree to cap parking lots at $94 million, but opposed other demands.

Sarah Talalay can be reached at stalalay@SunSentinel.com or 954-356-4173.