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ON HOLD: Marlins Stadium- No funding from state


Aessotariq

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Because it's up to the Senate, apparently. Jeb and the mayors can only attempt to persuade the Senate. This is why our rep Simmons is attaching the arena money to an unrelated bill. A little horse-trading appears to be our only recourse.

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^ It's all parliamentary maneuvering... it's not even on a committee docket so it's so well locked up it can't even go on the floor for a vote. Might have to add more pork to get enough votes for it to even pass.

Posted on Wed, May. 04, 2005

BALLPARK PLANS

Marlins' stadium team playing harder

A bill to help the Marlins build a new stadium remained bottled up in the state Senate, though a powerful group of Miamians made another run at helping the team in Tallahassee.

BY LESLEY CLARK

[email protected]

TALLAHASSEE - This was supposed to be the year.

The Florida Marlins, three times rebuffed in attempts to win a state sales-tax subsidy for a new ballpark, got their act together, touting an agreement with the county and the city. The team even took a new tack when legislators arrived in Tallahassee: team representatives stayed home, their effort fronted by a tag team of local mayors.

But despite it all, the team finds itself in familiar territory all over again: on life support in the Florida Senate with just three days left in the legislative session.

A delegation of Miami bigwigs launched a last-minute appeal Tuesday, pleading with Senate President Tom Lee to free up $60 million in public financing for a new ballpark for the team.

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The 11th hour is coming...

Posted on Thu, May. 05, 2005

STADIUM SUBSIDY

Marlins in game till the final out

With just two days left in the legislative session, lobbyists for the Florida Marlins and Miami-Dade officials continue to push for a sales tax subsidy to build a new retractable dome stadium.

BY LESLEY CLARK

[email protected]

TALLAHASSEE - Not willing to throw in the towel, the Florida Marlins lobbying team pursued two avenues Wednesday to revive a faltering bid for a $60 million sales-tax subsidy: cajoling skeptical senators and brainstorming for new ways to get the measure heard.

Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess arrived in the Capitol to join the burgeoning contingent laboring to get cash for a proposed new ballpark with just two days left in the legislative session.

As Burgess and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz worked reluctant senators to convince Senate President Tom Lee that they have enough support to get the Marlins bill heard by the full chamber, lead lobbyist Ron Book worked on finding a way to avoid having to produce a two-thirds vote of the Senate.

Read more: Miami Herald

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Pretty much. With the Senate refusing to consider this bill, anything that was attached to the House bill would die. And from what I've read, that basically covers any appropriations, tax incentives, etc., for all sports franchises, including the Marlins, the NASCAR hall of fame, and the Magic.

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BREAKING NEWS

With only one day left in the 2005 legislative session, local media are reporting that the Florida Senate will likely not deliberate on the $60 million sports franchise proposal, the Senate President has said. Without state funding, this deal is basically dead in the water.

This leaves the Marlins with two options: continue playing at Dolphins Stadium, or leave. Or the county/city need to find $60 million more dollars from somewhere.

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Posted on Fri, May. 06, 2005

MARLINS STADIUM

Strikeout for Marlins stadium

State Senate President Tom Lee said the bill to give the Marlins money for a new stadium is dead in his chamber. The legislative session ends today.

BY LESLEY CLARK AND MARC CAPUTO

[email protected]

TALLAHASSEE - Game over.

Senate President Tom Lee delivered the death knell to the Florida Marlins' dream of a new stadium late Thursday, dashing the hopes of Miami lobbyists and lawmakers who camped outside his chamber for a week, pleading with him to take up a $60 million sales-tax subsidy for a new ballpark.

''This bill just didn't have the support of the Florida Senate,'' Lee said. ``It will not pass.''

The pronouncement came as no surprise -- the Senate has twice before killed the Marlins' bid for a tax subsidy -- but until Thursday the measure retained a sliver of hope as a contingent of Miami bigwigs flocked to the Capitol to lobby legislators.

But in the end, it took Lee standing in his office as the Senate session wound down to collapse a meticulously crafted agreement that, for the first time in years, successfully transcended the tricky machinations of Miami-Dade politics.

Read more: Miami Herald

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Well... the Marlins' contract at Dolphins Stadium ends in 2010. The next step is to find some way to find $60 million from another source, which might be tapped from some other city or county fund, a donation from a really generous philantropist(s), etc. A good chunk of the money is coming from a 1% county Sports Franchise Tax collected on hotel rooms ("bed tax"). Not sure how much more money is available from that bucket.

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Posted on Sat, May. 07, 2005

MARLINS

Team mulling stadium options

After their latest stadium setback, the Marlins might resume talks with Las Vegas, which is still interested in luring a team but has not built a venue.

BY BARRY JACKSON

[email protected]

Rejected in their bid for a state sales tax rebate to help pay for a new stadium, the Marlins were mulling their options Friday.

In the next several days, the team is expected to speak with officials from the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County to try to find a way to bridge the $30 million funding gap and complete the $420 million ballpark deal. If those attempts fail, the Marlins might pursue discussions with Las Vegas in the next few weeks, according to an official with knowledge of the team's plans.

Read more: Miami Herald

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Mayor Carlos Alvarez Comments On The Florida Marlins Tax Subsidy Bill

(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez is disappointed by the apparent lack of progress as it pertains to the Florida Marlins tax subsidy bill in the state legislature.

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Posted on Tue, May. 10, 2005

MARLINS STADIUM EFFORT

Mayor optimistic about stadium

Marlins officials met with city, county leaders to discuss ways to surmount a stadium construction funding gap. Miami Mayor Manny Diaz says he is `very optimistic.'

BY BARRY JACKSON

[email protected]

After a meeting with Marlins officials on Monday night, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz said he was ''very optimistic'' that a deal to build a $420 million retractable-roof stadium next to the Orange Bowl can be salvaged despite a $30 million funding gap.

''We explored a lot of different options, laid out different alternatives,'' Diaz said of the meeting, which was attended by Miami City Manager Joe Arriola, Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and team president David Samson.

The Marlins, who lease at Dolphins Stadium, had hoped state money would cover the funding gap. But they were unable to secure a $60 million state sales tax rebate during the Legislative session that ended last week. That rebate would have allowed them to borrow $30 million...

Read more: Miami Herald

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MLB just can't keep their nose out of it. More empty deadlines and threats about the stadium. They should shut down baseball using the RICO act.

June deadline for ballpark

Major League Baseball wants a financing blueprint for a new ballpark in place by June 9, something Miami-Dade leaders say is a near-impossibility.

BY MICHAEL VASQUEZ, NOAKI SCHWARTZ AND BARRY JACKSON

[email protected]

Hoping to jump-start slow-moving negotiations, Major League Baseball has issued an ultimatum to Miami-Dade political leaders: Finish a financing plan with the Florida Marlins for a new $420 million stadium by June 9, or else.

Or else . . . what, exactly?

Baseball execs aren't saying.

But for now, they are not raising the touchy subject of shipping the team elsewhere.

A letter to city and county leaders from MLB's chief operating officer has also raised the question of whether all sides even agree on how much money they need.

During the recent state legislative session, Miami-Dade County and Miami officials -- along with the team -- lobbied unsuccessfully for a sales tax break worth $30 million in up-front money, which they said would complete a patchwork funding package.

But the MLB letter that mentions the June 9 deadline talks about a $45 million stadium funding gap...

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/11663915.htm

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furthermore...

I'm a huge Marlins fan. But I wouldn't hesitate to help them pack their bags for Vegas if they keep their blackmailing ways up. Baseball will be back in one way or another. South Florida is just too big of a market for MLB to ignore. That's one reason why I don't take these threats too seriously. I hope the city and county hold their ground on this 30-45 million. Let Loria pony up if the current situation is so dire.

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^Wow, Lake feels so adamantly on this subject he had to post his opinions TWICE!  ;)

Meh, I'm sure we'll be fine without 'em.  It's not like they're a large regional employer or some Fortune 500 company...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And on that note...I would have rathered provide BK with 50 for them to stay (which they fortunately did for free).

From the looks of the Marlin games, most Miamians appear to rather watch the games from home....

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Buying time, county extends stadium deal

...''That's very, very arrogant,'' Commission Chairman Joe Martinez said at Tuesday's meeting, a sentiment echoed by others who had read the May 12 letter.

''I am a little insulted and kind of offended,'' said Commissioner Carlos Gimenez.

Yet another commissioner hinted his reaction to the letter might include speech not suitable for the chambers.

''My conversation could not be repeated here in public,'' said Commissioner Dennis Moss. ``I was not very happy to say the least.''...

...City officials have already agreed to extend the deal between Miami and the county, which would have expired when the legislative session ended this month.

Extending the so-called ''memorandum of understanding'' for 90 days would essentially buy some time while alternatives are explored -- without having to start from scratch.

That would keep the deal along a ''critical path,'' said County Manager George Burgess...

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/11676192.htm

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