In Miami, Barry Jackson noted Miami AD Blake James "has maintained occasional contact with David Beckham’s group" regarding a possible sharing of a stadium for an MLS expansion club. James said the group remains “interested in seeing if something makes sense." Beckham "is now strongly considering a site adjacent to Marlins Park, which would appeal to UM because of location and the Orange Bowl history." James "wouldn't consider any venue seating less than 40,000." But UM and James "also feel good about the ongoing renovations" at Sun Life Stadium, and UM "has never asked" Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross if the school would be allowed out of its lease (MIAMIHERALD.com, 3/31).
NEW BLOOD NEEDED: A TAMPA BAY TIMES editorial states it is "disappointing" the Rays "will open another baseball season Monday without resolving the stadium stalemate when the path forward is so clear." Voters in the upcoming election "can replace three of the City Council members who are blocking progress with more thoughtful leaders." The stalemate "only harms St. Petersburg taxpayers." It "reduces the city's leverage with the Rays, because the value of the lease keeps decreasing as the years go by." The city "can't pursue plans for a new stadium with a franchise that wants to look at all of its options," and it also "can't pursue a master development for the Tropicana Field site that could bring in substantial tax revenue and transform the city" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/1).
TAX ACT: In Green Bay, Richard Ryman reports the Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District yesterday notified the state that it "has all the money it needs to fulfill its legislative mandate to pay off bonds and provide for maintenance" at Lambeau Field through '31, when the Packers' lease expires. Stadium District Exec Dir Patrick Webb in a letter wrote, "It is our understanding that collection of the district's sales tax will end no later than September 30, 2015" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 4/1).
ALL TOGETHER NOW: On Long Island, Robert Brodsky reports Blumenfeld Development Group has sued Forest City Ratner, "arguing that the company, which plans to begin redeveloping" Nassau Coliseum this summer, "has tried to 'usurp sole control of the project.'" The suit "seeks an injunction preventing Ratner from moving ahead with the development without Blumenfeld, and seeks unspecified monetary damages." The suit "came four days after Forest City Ratner filed suit against Blumenfeld, asking the court to declare that the firms are not partners" (NEWSDAY, 4/1).
