MARLINS SELECT TWO FT. LAUDERDALE/ONE MIAMI SITE FOR PARK

          The Marlins announced yesterday that their "search for
     a new home field has been narrowed to three sites, all of
     them urban," according to Peter Whoriskey of the MIAMI
     HERALD.  Two sites are in downtown Ft. Lauderdale and one is
     in downtown Miami.  The team's final site selection,
     "expected by January," will depend upon which site "comes
     with the required public contributions toward construction." 
     The Marlins are seeking "as much" as $300M in state and
     local aid (MIAMI HERALD, 10/19).  Miami's Bicentennial Park
     was chosen because it is "close to highways and public
     transit and within a 15-minute walk of about 15,000 parking
     spots."  The site is just north of the Heat's new downtown
     arena.  But in Ft. Lauderdale, Sarah Talalay reports that
     "at least two Miami commissioners have concerns about using
     city parking space."  The two Ft. Lauderdale sites "also
     face property acquisition problems" (SUN-SENTINEL, 10/19).