Marlins Owner John Henry completed his deal with Wayne
Huizenga yesterday to purchase the team for $150M and "took
his first steps" as the new owner "to save this ailing
franchise," according to Mike Phillips of the MIAMI HERALD.
Henry said at a press conference that he will "open his
books to the public" because, "I owe no less than that to
the fans, who are our investors and partners." Henry
estimated that he will lose between $5M-9M this season.
Henry at one point held up a teal-colored sign bearing the
Marlins' season-ticket phone number, "Call 930-HITS": "My
most crucial point today is the need to sell season tickets.
Sell season tickets...sell season tickets." Henry said he
will increase the Marlins payroll, which has dropped from
$54M in '97 to $25M this year, if they get a new baseball-
only ballpark, something he would pay for himself "if he has
to." Henry: "The future of baseball in South Florida is
dependent on building a new ballpark." The team's non-
baseball matters will be overseen by VP/Sales & Marketing
Jim Ross and Senior VP & CFO Jonathon Mariner, who will also
oversee ballpark plans (MIAMI HERALD, 1/21). Henry, on a
new ballpark: "We will work to secure a state-of-the-art,
very intimate (and) wondrous ballpark. The only question is
who's going to pay for it" (PALM BEACH POST, 1/21).
