Show Me The Money: Miami Says Marlins Need $ For New Stadium
The Marlins "would like to build a new stadium on the site of Miami Arena or close to it and have told Miami city manager Joe Arriola they know they need to contribute financially to the project but aren't ready to say how much," according to Barry Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD. Arriola said meetings last week with Marlins President David Samson "left him with the impression the Marlins were unwilling to pay for any of the estimated $450[M] for a proposed ballpark and would cover only rent payments up to $100[M]." After telling Samson "he wasn't interested in such a scenario," Arriola called him "to clarify his position." Arriola: "David Samson said, 'We know we need hard cash and we understand we need to make a much more reasonable proposal.'" Arriola said Samson, who declined comment, also told him "downtown Miami is the preferred site." Arriola: "I doubt very seriously that we could contribute toward construction. We are not building a building for anyone. We could help with the land and infrastructure. They would like us to write a check, but that's not going to happen" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/19). In Ft. Lauderdale, Sarah Talalay wrote Samson has been "meeting quietly with" city and county officials over the past several months to "gauge interest in helping finance a stadium." The team has hired "two consultants versed in land acquisition and financing" (SUN-SENTINEL, 4/18).
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