MLB (Marlins) in SA?

[mike detroit]

San Antonio won't get the marlins. the perception, nationwide, is that san antionio is a small town that can barely support one major sport team. is that a wrong and unfair perception? absolutely, but it exists nonetheless.

[fyatuk]

just a quick question but, if SA did get the Marlins (or any other MLB team) what would be a good name?ive heard some ppl saying the Marlins could buy the naming rights to the Missions,sounds good to me.

also

What would be a GOOD location for the stadium in YOUR mind? Personally I think the grounds of the at&t Center.

Well, we might know by the end of the day on the Marlins. State Senate should be voting on a subsidy that will probably make or break the current talks with Hialeah. If it passes there, it'll likely pass the House and get Gov. Bush's sig as well. If it doesn't, the deals basically dead.

Personally I think the Longhorn Quarry is the best location in terms of potential success. The AT&T center is probably the best in terms of city development though.

Of course unless negotiations would change it, you still have $110 million gap (at least, you'd have to assume the county would make the team responsible for overruns) that the Marlins don't have the on-hand cash to fund. And given the market, average income of the area, and Marlins historic financial struggles, it might be hard to get a private sector loan. Wonder if they could talk Perry into a low/no interest loan from the TEF since that's completely under his control.

[dtk]

So, basically, SA is primarily being used as the foil to get what the Marlins really want - a fancy new stadium in FL. Surprise, surprise.

No no no, Surprise is in Arizona...

Seriously, I'd love it if San Antonio got a Baseball team.

[Extra Stout]

Of course unless negotiations would change it, you still have $110 million gap (at least, you'd have to assume the county would make the team responsible for overruns) that the Marlins don't have the on-hand cash to fund. And given the market, average income of the area, and Marlins historic financial struggles, it might be hard to get a private sector loan. Wonder if they could talk Perry into a low/no interest loan from the TEF since that's completely under his control.

Stop looking to the state for handouts to get a professional sports team.

[fyatuk]

Stop looking to the state for handouts to get a professional sports team.

1) I didn't ask for a handout, I asked for a loan from an account meant to give loans and grants to entice corporations to move into/stay in the state and assist small businesses. Perfectly valid use of the TEF in line with its purpose.

2) I really wasn't serious anyway. It was more of a comment on the fact that Hialeah is looking for state funds to get the Marlins on their site.

[METALMiKE]

I live on a street called Hialeah.

[Buddy Holly]

Of course unless negotiations would change it, you still have $110 million gap

Actually, you have to add the Marlins portion to the stadium which I believe would be over 200 million.

Although, I think they'd def. want a roof on the thing so that adds about 40-50 million to the cost.

[Buddy Holly]

BTW, the bill/amendment did not pass the Senate.....

[METALMiKE]

Marlins denied state funding for stadium

Team still determined to get new home in Miami-Dade County
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

MIAMI -- For the third straight year, the Marlins had their bid to secure state funding to help build a stadium shot down.

But less than an hour after the Florida Legislature adjourned without approving state assistance, Marlins president David Samson told MLB.com that the team is determined to get a new stadium built in Miami-Dade County.

"We are disappointed with the result that occurred in Tallahassee," Samson said early Saturday morning. "But I've talked to officials from the county and city of Hialeah, and we agreed to wake up tomorrow and continue building the momentum we've had the last few weeks."

The Marlins are negotiating with Hialeah officials on a 38,000-seat, retractable-roof stadium. Those talks will continue, even without state funding.

At midnight Friday, the Florida House of Representatives adjourned without putting the Marlins' stadium issue up for a vote.

Actually, the push for state funding was a mild surprise. On Wednesday, politicians from Miami-Dade County and the city of Hialeah pursued state help in the form of a sales tax subsidy.

At 11:45 p.m. ET, the Florida Senate, which had opposed assisting the Marlins in the past, approved the $60 million sales tax subsidy by a 20-16 vote.

The subsidy would have given the Marlins a $2 million tax rebate on sales tax generated by the stadium over the next 30 years.

But with just 15 minutes left in the session, time ran out in the House.

Samson thanked the politicians who supported and pushed hard to get state help. Samson didn't speculate if Florida Gov. Jeb Bush would call a special session to revive state support.

"We continue to have a lot of momentum locally to get this done," Samson said.

The Marlins were granted permission to seek relocation last November. San Antonio has made a strong push should the team opt to leave the state of Florida.

Encouraged by discussions with Miami-Dade County and Hialeah, Samson repeated early Saturday morning that remaining in South Florida is the Marlins' primary objective.

"We remain resolute to keep the Marlins in South Florida," Samson said.

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[fyatuk]

Actually, you have to add the Marlins portion to the stadium which I believe would be over 200 million.

Although, I think they'd def. want a roof on the thing so that adds about 40-50 million to the cost.

Using the figures supplied by Judge Wolff and the Marlins, in SA the Marlins contribution would be $110 million. That is probably a low ball estimate.

A retractable roof stadium in Miami would cost $480 million supposedly, and I doubt the difference in land/construction costs would be $130 million, so I think a retractable roof is probably closer to $100 million. And they should do a roof, since outdoors in July and August around here SUCKS!

And about your other posts, it DID pass the Senate, but with only 15 minutes until the end of session there was no chance to vote on it in the House, so it is dead. The Senate most likely timed that on purpose since it was pretty much assured of passing in the House. Makes the Senate look good for approving it without it really having a chance of going through.

[word]

I read that the Fla legislature just gave the Marlins a $50 million subsidy to keep 'em alive, as they do their other teams. I think I read the attendance at the Marlins last home game was around 6600, which is lower than what their AAA farm team gets on average.

[gameFACE]

^^You must be thinking of the $60 million subsidy that was denied last night. It passed the Senate but time ran out for the bill to be heard by the House. Seems kind of silly but there must be some political reason for this to have happened. What a bummer. Now they've lost eight straight games, the lights went out at Dolphin Stadium last night, and funding doesn't get passed. Damn, if you're a fan living in Florida things must really suck!

They still have plenty of options though.

[word]

Good deal. SA still has a chance. I think they would do well here. they couldn't do worse than where they are.

[gameFACE]

Looks like Richard Oliver may have read my posts in here before he wrote this article for the Snooze:

The lesson learned, at long last?

We deserve better than being patronized as part of someone's bureaucratic s game. Accordingly, the message now should be blunt for whichever disgruntled franchise owner comes calling next, whether Jeffrey Loria or Tom Benson.

We'd love to have you join one of the nation's ascendant communities.

But make no mistake.

Just because we lust after you, it doesn't necessarily mean we need you.

And that the games people play don't always take place on the field.

But we knew that already.

That dealing with sports franchises looking to move is dirty business is nothing new to us, of course. The recent years have shown us that such courtships demand more than deep pockets and a willing citizenry.

It often requires soap, hot water and heavy gargling.

No one comes away from these things feeling completely clean, and we can now survey the grime from this most recent flirtation and see it for what it is: another layer of needed experience.

Certainly, reeling in the Marlins would be a home run. But San Antonio should understand, more and more, that it is the real catch.

The ambitious Wolff, who is rightfully admired for his dogged spearheading of attempts to elevate the city's national iden y, appears to recognize this with more certainty than ever before. Stung by recent criticism by Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson, who accurately reflected a growing national perception that San Antonio sometimes appears to be "groveling," the judge set a May 15 deadline for Florida to accept an offer of $200 million in public funding and free land toward a stadium.

The Marlins are expected to ignore the date. Major League Baseball, by its silence, has indicated no desire to surrender the nation's No. 17 media market in favor of No. 37.

Big deal.

Others will come sniffing around, and the past few weeks show that San Antonio officials increasingly appear ready to negotiate with more than crossed fingers and dreamy stares.

Wolff has joined Larson in stressing that any future discussions will only be pursued with teams and leagues simultaneously. It's a sound game plan designed to eliminate the city being used as a political pawn, and it may be in play soon.

full article

[METALMiKE]

San Antonio, Marlins end courtship for now

By Carlos Frías

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, May 11, 2006

The Marlins won't be moving to San Antonio, at least not any time soon.

Officials in Bexar County, Texas, had set a May 15 deadline for the Marlins to pledge a move west. But the team this week declined to meet the deadline, saying its preference was to work out a deal in South Florida, according to a San Antonio official.

"Major League Baseball wants them to exhaust all the possibilities in South Florida. That's what the Marlins indicated they want to do. That's their preference," Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson said Wednesday.

The Marlins made the decision despite a recent setback in their quest for money to build a South Florida stadium.

Friday night, with less than half an hour before the end of the 2006 legislative session, the Florida Senate passed a bill to give the Marlins $60 million in subsidies to help build a stadium. But as the clock struck midnight, the session ended before the House could vote on the bill.

Judge Nelson Wolff, who presides over the Bexar County Commission, spoke with Marlins President David Samson after the no-vote and Samson said they still were intent on working out a deal in South Florida, Larson said.

San Antonio, which has failed to land baseball and football teams in the past, again feels like it has been rejected, Larson said.

"We're going to stop courting them for now," Larson said. "As in a classic courtship, we're hurt and they're getting what they want."

Wolff wanted a written commitment from the Marlins by May 15, expressing their intention to move if voters in November approve $200 million in rental car and hotel taxes to help build a stadium.

Wolff did not return calls Wednesday and a Marlins spokesman said the team had no comment.

South Florida leaders hoping to work out a deal with the Marlins remain confident, despite the recent failure in Tallahassee.

Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina, who approached the Marlins about building a stadium in his city on land east of Florida's Turnpike, said he was told there were sufficient votes in the House to pass the bill. That legislation would have offered up to $60 million in subsidies to the Marlins and Florida's eight other professional teams.

The Marlins remain at least $100 million short of the $420 million the team says it needs to build a retractable roof stadium, although recent cost estimates have the project reaching $500 million.

Robaina said they will eventually need that $60 million commitment from the state for the deal to happen.

"I think our doors are open for next year," Robaina said. "It's important to have that component. I wish we had it today. I'm sure we'll get it next year."

Bexar County's Larson said the courtship of the Marlins is "definitely over this year," but San Antonio will reconsider the Marlins' interest if a deal reaches an impasse in South Florida.

"I don't think that door is closed completely," Larson said.

[CubanMustGo]

Bexar County's Larson said the courtship of the Marlins is "definitely over this year," but San Antonio will reconsider the Marlins' interest if a deal reaches an impasse in South Florida.

"I don't think that door is closed completely," Larson said.

How many times does this need to be said:

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

[Horry For 3!]

They just talked about this on the news right now, that a deal didn't get done and they proposed a deal to build a statium worth 200 mil.

[METALMiKE]

yah,the Marlins didnt meet the deadline.

[gameFACE]

They were never going to. Please tell me you're not really upset.

[METALMiKE]

ok im not upset AT ALL,I knew it all along that SA wouldnt get the Marlins.

[Vashner]

I say we dump 200 mill into the alamodome..

Make it all fancy with wood floored lux boxes and .

[Extra Stout]

I say we dump 200 mill into the alamodome..

Make it all fancy with wood floored lux boxes and .

The Alamodome cannot be configured for baseball unless the roof is removed.

That was part of Henry Cisneros' conspiracy to keep SA a small market.

[METALMiKE]

The Alamodome cannot be configured for baseball unless the roof is removed.

That was part of Henry Cisneros' conspiracy to keep SA a small market.

I think he's saying that to lure a NFL team,not to put MLB in the dome...

[METALMiKE]

just thought of a good name for a SA mlb team;

the San Antonio Admirals


with something like this as the logo.