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Stadium approved for Marlins
Updated: Sunday December 17, 2000 6:38 PM
MIAMI (AP) -- Christmas came early this year for Florida Marlins owner John Henry. After two months of negotiations, the team has reached a tentative agreement with Miami-Dade County and city officials to build a $385 million, state-of-the-art ballpark in downtown Miami. The exact location has yet to be determined. "Today we take that first step to securing baseball in South Florida," Henry said at a news conference Sunday. "It's our duty to create a new and vibrant Miami." Henry, whose club would operate and run the facility, said the 40,000- seat stadium would include 60 luxury suites, 3,000 club seats and 1,500 parking spaces. The deal would bind the Marlins to the stadium for the next 40 years, with Henry paying $240 million over that span. He also would be required to use a 4 percent surcharge on ticket sales to pay for the facility. The team also plans to change its name to the Miami Marlins, although Henry noted that the new name has to be approved by Major League Baseball and would not take affect until probably 2004. The ballpark would be co-financed by the surplus from a county hotel bed tax, which county manager Merritt Stierheim said was more than $100 million. Miami Mayor Joe Carollo said the city plans to give the Marlins land to build the ballpark. The team wants to use Bicentennial Park, which is adjacent to the Miami Heat's home, the AmericanAirlines Arena. "This community fought hard for this team -- there was a real threat to lose baseball," said Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas, insisting that no new taxes would be used to pay for the ballpark. "The (bed tax) money is there to be used for projects like this. It can't be used to pay for schools, more police or better transportation." State Rep. Mario Diaz Balart said he will likely sponsor a bill in the upcoming Legislative session beginning in March that would call for the state to give up its sales tax revenue -- roughly $7 million -- generated by the new ballpark to pay for stadium operating costs. The agreement reached late Friday needs legislative approval. The deal is a relief for Marlins players and coaches. Since winning the World Series in 1997, the team's payroll has dropped dramatically with many players being traded away or not re-signed. Former owner H. Wayne Huizenga broke up the championship team in 1997 and 1998 after he failed get public financing for a new stadium. He then sold the team to Henry in 1998. Along with Henry's promise to keep the team's nucleus intact, the players and coaches hope management will pursue some free agents that might help improve on last year's 79-83 record.
"As a player I feel secure," said third baseman Mike Lowell. "I feel strong that they can now go after some new pieces to add to our puzzle to help our team."
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