May 19, 2004
Miami mysteries
Michael Putney in the Miami Herald runs down a list of the unanswered questions in the Marlins' $367 million stadium plan. Among them:
- "How much in cash will the Marlins contribute to this deal? Does the $20 million in equity that Samson mentions include the cost of new architectural and engineering plans for the Orange Bowl site?"
- "If the Legislature doesn't agree to a $30 million sales-tax rebate, where will the money come from?"
- "Has anyone surveyed owners of homes and apartment houses needed for the stadium site about their willingness to sell?"
- "What kinds of highway and road infrastructure would the stadium require, and who would pay for them?"
- "What guarantees are there that the Marlins will be able to pay the rent and meet other financial obligations, which total $157 million, over 32 years?"
- "If the Marlins, who would control stadium construction, make unacceptable cuts in design, construction or materials to meet their unrealistic $325 million price tag, who would have the power to stop them?"
Putney notes that none of the city and county commissioners who voted for the stadium deal this month asked these questions; they'll get another shot at it when the plan comes up for a final vote in the fall.
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