Florida Marlins Gambling on Miami For New Stadium Site
The Marlins will only be representing the entire area of South Florida for a few more years. If a new stadium proposal is approved, the Marlins would begin play in the new stadium in 2011.
For years now, the Florida Marlins have been looking for a place that they can call home. Late last week, it became apparent that an agreement has been reached to fund a ballpark on the site of the former Orange Bowl.
The state will not have to kick in any money under the new plan. Miami-Dade County will be responsible for $347 of the financing. $297 million will come from tourist tax dollars.
The Marlins will cover $155 million, and they also would be responsible for any overtures that would occur in the building of the 37,000 seat stadium. The city of Miami would chip in $13 million.
The final step that must be cleared is the city and county commissioners voting on the financing. If approved, the team would be on their way to having their own stadium for the first time in their existence.
"We have reached an agreement among all the parties and have a baseball stadium agreement we're all comfortable with that we're distributing and briefing commissioners on over the weekend and early next week in advance of a special meeting," said County Manager, George Burgess.
Upon moving into the new stadium in 2011, the team would change their name to the Miami Marlins.
EXCLUSIVE PROMOTIONS