Marlins Tap Hunt Construction For Ballpark Pending Approval

Marlins Select Hunt Construction To Build New Ballpark

Hunt Construction, a general contractor that has constructed four retractable roof stadiums, will build the Marlins’ new downtown ballpark pending Miami-Dade (FL) County approval later this month. Hunt was the only builder to respond to an initial proposal requesting qualifications, according to industry sources, and now has to submit its official bid to serve as construction manager. Marlins President David Samson would only confirm that the team has scheduled a May 29 meeting to interview firms interested in the job. Mortenson, a contractor the Marlins selected in '05 to build their park before that deal fell through due to lack of public financing, did not respond to the RFQ. The same was true for Turner Construction. Hunt has a track record in South Florida, having built Dolphin Stadium, the NFL facility that opened in '87 in Miami and where the Marlins have played since their inception in '93 (Don Muret, SportsBusiness Journal). 

LAWSUIT TO PROCEED: In Ft. Lauderdale, Sarah Talalay reports Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Pedro Echarte Jr. Thursday ruled a lawsuit filed by Miami-based auto dealer Norman Braman "challenging a plan to finance a [Marlins] ballpark will go forward." Braman has argued that the team's proposed $515M ballpark on the Orange Bowl site "violates Florida's constitution," as the plan "relies on public funding for a private business." Braman's case is scheduled for trial on July 1, and County Attorney Robert Cuevas said that the court will "consider the funding arrangements and whether the stadium 'serves a paramount public purpose.'" Echarte dismissed claims that County Manager George Burgess violated state law by "negotiating the agreement in private" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 5/9). Miami Mayor Manny Diaz said the dismissed portion of the lawsuit was a "huge victory for both the city and the county." In Miami, Matthew Pinzur writes the "split decision allowed both sides to claim victory" (MIAMI HERALD, 5/9).