Miami Pays Most of Cost for New Ballpark

[madinmaryland]

MIAMI — The push for a new baseball stadium here began the day the Florida Marlins first took the field in 1993. While city after city worked with major league teams around the country to help build nearly two dozen stadiums, the Marlins were left to play — and endure countless rain delays — in a cavernous football stadium in front of thousands of empty orange seats.

Then the recession came along, and the team got what it wanted.

Miami and Miami-Dade County have agreed to cover three-quarters of the projected $645 million cost to build the Marlins a home with a retractable roof and four huge parking garages. In return, the city and the county will receive no new revenue from the park, and the team can keep all the money from the 50 luxury suites, concessions and advertising, as well as from naming rights, which alone could generate more than $100 million.

Such generous terms were not uncommon during good times, before city and county officials faced yawning budget gaps, potential layoffs and cuts in social services. Yet they forged ahead, anyway, largely dismissing voter opposition and the lessons learned elsewhere that new stadiums sometimes fail to deliver the economic punch promised in forecasts and that the public financing for them can handcuff future generations.

The deal was a fresh reminder that even during a recession, sports hold sway over communities regardless of the potential costs.

“Outside of Fidel becoming part owner of the team, nothing would have stopped the deal,” said Carlos A. Gimenez, one of the three Miami-Dade County commissioners who voted against the agreement earlier this year. “I’m not anti-baseball, but I’m anti-bad deal. Anyone with any sense can see this is cockeyed.”

...snip

Wow! In the words of someone, :wow: the people from Miami who can't even go to the game are now stuck paying for a stadium that will be sparsely used.

:evilgrin:

[trumad]

1. There's no proof the stdium will be sparely used...

Watching the game in a football stadium never worked and a field in the heart of Miami will certainly draw more fans.

[madinmaryland]

2. Building a new stadium is no guarantee the stadium will draw more fans,

unless of course it is built by Jerry Jones!

:D

[El Supremo]

6. 83% paid for by the suckers of Arlington!

From Wiki:

Originally estimated to cost $650 million, the stadium's current construction cost was $1.12 billion, making it one of the most expensive sports venues ever built.<12> To aid Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones in paying the construction costs of the new stadium, Arlington voters approved the increase of the city's sales tax by 0.5 percent, the hotel occupancy tax by 2 percent, and car rental tax by 5 percent. The City of Arlington provided over $933 million (including interest) in bonds as funding <13>, and Jones covered any cost overruns. Also, the NFL provided the Cowboys with an additional $150 million, as per their policy for giving teams a certain lump sum of money for stadium financing.<14>

[madinmaryland]

7. That means Denver's share covered the big screen display!!

:rofl:

[JonLP24]

10. One thing I will say

When the Cardinals wanted a new stadium there was a few proposed sites. I wished it would've been built here in Mesa in a huge open lot. Because of Fiesta Bowls, College National Chamionships, Super Bowl, Concerts, and other events would mean lots of revenue for the city as well as local property values would rise(not sure what that would mean today). But the ballot measure narrowly failed but Glendale, AZ approved the site.

Now here's the kicker, guess what voters approved for that large area? Drum roll please.... an outdoor shopping mall with a Super Wal*Mart. :puke:

[Upton]

4. There will be the usual new park bump in attendance

probably last anywhere from 1-3 years but, after that, things will return to the status quo...meaning the the worst attendance in MLB.

[madinmaryland]

5. I knew the "expert" on attendance would chime in!

:D

[trumad]

11. Well you guy's have great attendance

but your team still sucks year in year out.

Now that's funny.

[Captain Hilts]

3. At least baseball stadiums generate an economy. Football-specific stadiums are a TOTAL waste.

And neither should be paid for by taxpayers.

[madinmaryland]

8. What about the other events the stadium has.

Rock Concerts, etc.

[Captain Hilts]

9. You're lucky to get 30 dates out of a football stadium.

Monster truck shows.
U2.
A college game or two.

It's horrific that your tax dollars and mine paid to build the Ravens their own stadium right next door to Camden Yards. Let' 'em play in Camden Yards.