Marlins Strikeout A-G-A-I-N in Getting State Funding to Build a New Ballpark

For the umpteenth time over the last few years, the FL Legistlature failed to pass a bill to help fund a new retractable roof ballpark for the Florida Marlins in downtown Miami (the funding bill passed the House this time, but it's sister bill in the Senate died). At this point, I think the Marlins will seriously look for a new city to play in. Its obvious that the politicos in Florida don't seem to care about MLB surviving in South Florida.

Sooooooo, anybody interested in the Carolina Marlins? or how about Portland? Hmmmm, maybe Montreal should get another shot at MLB (I think they got screwed by cheap ownership in their latter years, which killed interest in the team). San Antonio might be interested in talking to them again. Unless they can pull off a last second deal (a la Pittsburgh Penguins in getting a new arena deal fianlly in place), I think the Marlins will be playing elsewhere by 2009.

================


Marlins ballpark effort snagged again in Florida Legislature

By BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida Marlins struck out again at the state Legislature, which ignored the team's quest for a $60 million state subsidy to help build a new ballpark for the sixth time since 2000.

For the second straight year, the proposal (HB 323) got halfway home. It cleared the House last week but failed Friday - the last day of the annual 60-day session - in the Florida Senate. In the 2006 session, it passed the Senate but sank in the final seconds in the House.

The latest setback came despite the backing of new Gov. Charlie Crist, a sports enthusiast who believes professional sports provide good economic anchors. Crist's first job after law school was as an attorney for minor league baseball.

"I have a warm spot in my heart for baseball, so I think we ought to keep trying," said Crist. He wouldn't rule out adding the issue to next month's special 10-day session on property taxes.

The Senate had little appetite for siphoning millions of taxpayer dollars to a sports franchise in the same session when lawmakers couldn't find money to expand a low-cost health insurance program for thousands of Florida children.

The team, City of Miami and Miami-Dade County have committed to paying $460 million of the $490 million project. The remaining $30 million would have come from bonds backed by the $60 million in state money.

Team officials declined to discuss the setback.

"We'll have a comment tomorrow," owner Jeffrey Loria said.

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz said he was disappointed but would not give up trying to keep the team in South Florida. He said the city may look to local resources to fund the project without a state contribution.

"It's a huge economic impact to our economy," said disappointed state Sen. Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah, who has pushed the issue for several years. "Keeping them is one of the my important things that I would like to do. I'll work on it until we pass it."

Stadium projects in the last year for the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics and Minnesota Twins have left the Marlins as the last team seeking a new home.

"We like going to other cities because we like to see the new ballparks," Marlins catcher Matt Treanor said before the team's home game Friday against San Diego.

The Marlins have played at Dolphin Stadium, the home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, since the baseball team's inception in 1993.

"It's not like this is a bad place to play," Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla said. "It's more for the fans. Obviously it's a football stadium, not a baseball stadium."

 

Call em the Charlotte Hornets. No, seriously.

Hell, call em the Knights even...

As long as it aint another "Carolina" team.

 

I don't think Charlotte can support a MLB team 81 games a year..

 

I agree, Charlotte will not support a Major League team. Charlotte is not a good sport town. I would love to have a MLB team nearby but no way would Charlotte be a good big league town. They should beat the NBA to Vegas. It's gonna happen, Vegas is going to get a major pro sports franchise.