Tubby
11-23-2005, 06:41 AM
Marlins get OK to seek new home; move won't come before 2008
By Sarah Talalay, Staff Writer
MIAMI GARDENS · Unable to finalize a deal to build a stadium in Miami, the Florida Marlins have been granted permission from Major League Baseball to seek relocation outside of South Florida.
Marlins President David Samson said Tuesday that while the team's preference is to remain in South Florida, team owner Jeffrey Loria was forced to request permission to look elsewhere because he had no real prospects for a stadium.
"No longer can baseball in South Florida be assured," Loria said in a statement. "It is now clear that there will be no baseball stadium in the city of Miami. So we must begin to explore other options."
Samson, who said Loria will not sell the Marlins, said the team won't move before 2008 and that without a stadium solution it won't stay past 2010, when its lease at Dolphins Stadium expires.
Word was quick to get out, with officials from Portland, Ore., making the first call to the team Tuesday afternoon "to introduce ourselves," said Drew Mahalic, CEO of the Oregon Sports Authority. Portland was a runner-up in the sweepstakes to land the Montreal Expos, who moved to Washington, D.C., this year.
Marlins executives met with Las Vegas officials in December. Both sides said relocation wasn't discussed, but Las Vegas, also a runner-up for the Expos, was called a "serious" contender by baseball officials to land a team. On Tuesday, Mayor Oscar Goodman said through a spokeswoman that he was aware of the Marlins' situation and that he's "going to play it by ear."
The Marlins' announcement, combined with a decision to pare the payroll, marked the first deliberate move by the Marlins to show they cannot stay without a new stadium that would generate the dollars needed to field a competitive team. But it barely registered with most Broward County and Palm Beach County politicians, who have been lukewarm about a stadium for years.
Gov. Jeb Bush said he hoped the Marlins would stay and that he would work with state and local leaders to keep them, but local legislators and county officials spoke mainly of their fondness of the team, not of putting money toward a stadium.
"South Palm Beach or North Broward would be a great place," said state Rep. Richard Machek, D-Delray Beach. But he said using taxpayer money for a stadium would "prey on local citizens for profiteering."
Broward County Mayor Ben Graber said he would be willing to discuss a new stadium in Broward.
"There are all kind of things we can talk about," he said. "Maybe a partnership with all three counties. But if they come looking for a big check, they aren't going to get it."
Although Samson said no deals are close, he acknowledged that talks have taken place with Huizenga about possibly building on land near Dolphins Stadium. Huizenga's representatives declined to comment Tuesday.
Miami-Dade County officials expressed a willingness to continue working with the Marlins, although they don't have any more money to offer. The team had hoped to open a 38,000-seat retractable-roof stadium next to the Orange Bowl in 2009, but has not been able to bridge a gap in the financing plan left when the state Senate failed to consider a $60 million sales tax rebate for the stadium.
"I didn't want to see them go, but I'm not going to sell the town out to keep the Marlins," Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Joe Martinez said.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Manager George Burgess, however, said they understand why the Marlins need to consider alternatives.
"I think it was them doing what they believe they need to do from a business perspective," Burgess said. "I know they'd prefer to stay in South Florida. ... We're going to do all we can to work with the team."
The Marlins have been seeking a new home for years because they receive only percentages of concessions, parking and sponsorship signage at Dolphins Stadium, where they pay rent. The team is expected by the end of this year to renew for the 2007 season and has a series of one-year options that run through 2010.
Samson said the team, which will stay a minimum of two more years but no more than five, will not stay at Dolphins Stadium beyond 2010, even if stadium and Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga offers a lease extension.
"We simply must play in a baseball-only facility," Samson said.
Samson said Loria had committed as much as $212 million to a ballpark he said would cost $385 million, although officials said they thought the price would be much higher.
Samson lashed out at the city of Miami and accused officials of questioning Loria's financial wherewithal to complete the deal.
Miami City Manager Joe Arriola was out of the office on vacation, but Mayor Manny Diaz said he was surprised by the Marlins' announcement.
Meanwhile, Major League Baseball President Bob DuPuy reiterated that Commissioner Bud Selig would like the Marlins to remain in South Florida.
"Given the apparent lack of interest in concluding the stadium deal and given that the Marlins currently have one of the worst leases in Major League Baseball and given the amount of revenue sharing they're receiving from the industry, the commissioner decided it's important to explore whatever options might be available to the team," DuPuy said.
A move would require a three-quarters vote of baseball's 30 owners.
Loria became owner of the Marlins in 2002 when he sold the Expos to MLB so he could buy the Marlins from John Henry, who in turn bought the Boston Red Sox.
By Sarah Talalay, Staff Writer
MIAMI GARDENS · Unable to finalize a deal to build a stadium in Miami, the Florida Marlins have been granted permission from Major League Baseball to seek relocation outside of South Florida.
Marlins President David Samson said Tuesday that while the team's preference is to remain in South Florida, team owner Jeffrey Loria was forced to request permission to look elsewhere because he had no real prospects for a stadium.
"No longer can baseball in South Florida be assured," Loria said in a statement. "It is now clear that there will be no baseball stadium in the city of Miami. So we must begin to explore other options."
Samson, who said Loria will not sell the Marlins, said the team won't move before 2008 and that without a stadium solution it won't stay past 2010, when its lease at Dolphins Stadium expires.
Word was quick to get out, with officials from Portland, Ore., making the first call to the team Tuesday afternoon "to introduce ourselves," said Drew Mahalic, CEO of the Oregon Sports Authority. Portland was a runner-up in the sweepstakes to land the Montreal Expos, who moved to Washington, D.C., this year.
Marlins executives met with Las Vegas officials in December. Both sides said relocation wasn't discussed, but Las Vegas, also a runner-up for the Expos, was called a "serious" contender by baseball officials to land a team. On Tuesday, Mayor Oscar Goodman said through a spokeswoman that he was aware of the Marlins' situation and that he's "going to play it by ear."
The Marlins' announcement, combined with a decision to pare the payroll, marked the first deliberate move by the Marlins to show they cannot stay without a new stadium that would generate the dollars needed to field a competitive team. But it barely registered with most Broward County and Palm Beach County politicians, who have been lukewarm about a stadium for years.
Gov. Jeb Bush said he hoped the Marlins would stay and that he would work with state and local leaders to keep them, but local legislators and county officials spoke mainly of their fondness of the team, not of putting money toward a stadium.
"South Palm Beach or North Broward would be a great place," said state Rep. Richard Machek, D-Delray Beach. But he said using taxpayer money for a stadium would "prey on local citizens for profiteering."
Broward County Mayor Ben Graber said he would be willing to discuss a new stadium in Broward.
"There are all kind of things we can talk about," he said. "Maybe a partnership with all three counties. But if they come looking for a big check, they aren't going to get it."
Although Samson said no deals are close, he acknowledged that talks have taken place with Huizenga about possibly building on land near Dolphins Stadium. Huizenga's representatives declined to comment Tuesday.
Miami-Dade County officials expressed a willingness to continue working with the Marlins, although they don't have any more money to offer. The team had hoped to open a 38,000-seat retractable-roof stadium next to the Orange Bowl in 2009, but has not been able to bridge a gap in the financing plan left when the state Senate failed to consider a $60 million sales tax rebate for the stadium.
"I didn't want to see them go, but I'm not going to sell the town out to keep the Marlins," Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Joe Martinez said.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Manager George Burgess, however, said they understand why the Marlins need to consider alternatives.
"I think it was them doing what they believe they need to do from a business perspective," Burgess said. "I know they'd prefer to stay in South Florida. ... We're going to do all we can to work with the team."
The Marlins have been seeking a new home for years because they receive only percentages of concessions, parking and sponsorship signage at Dolphins Stadium, where they pay rent. The team is expected by the end of this year to renew for the 2007 season and has a series of one-year options that run through 2010.
Samson said the team, which will stay a minimum of two more years but no more than five, will not stay at Dolphins Stadium beyond 2010, even if stadium and Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga offers a lease extension.
"We simply must play in a baseball-only facility," Samson said.
Samson said Loria had committed as much as $212 million to a ballpark he said would cost $385 million, although officials said they thought the price would be much higher.
Samson lashed out at the city of Miami and accused officials of questioning Loria's financial wherewithal to complete the deal.
Miami City Manager Joe Arriola was out of the office on vacation, but Mayor Manny Diaz said he was surprised by the Marlins' announcement.
Meanwhile, Major League Baseball President Bob DuPuy reiterated that Commissioner Bud Selig would like the Marlins to remain in South Florida.
"Given the apparent lack of interest in concluding the stadium deal and given that the Marlins currently have one of the worst leases in Major League Baseball and given the amount of revenue sharing they're receiving from the industry, the commissioner decided it's important to explore whatever options might be available to the team," DuPuy said.
A move would require a three-quarters vote of baseball's 30 owners.
Loria became owner of the Marlins in 2002 when he sold the Expos to MLB so he could buy the Marlins from John Henry, who in turn bought the Boston Red Sox.