Marlins President Samson’s Letter Calls For New Stadium

Marlins’ Samson Writes Letter Asking For Sales Tax Rebate

Marlins President David Samson in a recent letter to Florida state House Speaker Allan Bense indicated that “not only does the team need a new stadium with a retractable roof because of rain delays and fan ‘discomfort,’ but the team’s landlord [Wayne Huizenga] will not renew the team’s stadium lease, which expires in 2010,” according to S.V. Date of the PALM BEACH POST. Samson is asking the state for $2M annually over 30 years, saying that the money “would allow the team to borrow $30[M] today and ‘close the current funding gap’ toward a $360[M] stadium.” Samson’s letter stated, “This entire transaction, and in fact the future of baseball in South Florida, hinges on securing a sales tax rebate from the state.” But Senate President Tom Lee said, “I thought that we already appropriated money to help them move to Vegas. I was very disappointed that they publicly announced the negotiations and discussions with Las Vegas, and I don’t negotiate with terrorists” (PALM BEACH POST, 1/20). In Miami, Mary Ellen Klas reports Bense indicated that he is “open to considering helping” the Marlins get the $2M annual tax rebate. Bense: “I want to give it a fair look-see. I’m not ready to commit yet” (MIAMI HERALD, 1/20).