Jun 19, 2009 7:52 pm US/Eastern
Marlins Stadium Overcomes First Hurdle
Judge Allows Tourist Tax Dollars To Finance Stadium
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
-
-
New rendering of the Florida Marlins Stadium to be built on the site of the now-demolished Orange Bowl.
Urban Design Review Board/CBS
The Florida Marlins are one step closer to playing ball at their new stadium after a judge denied a plaintiff's motion that would have prevented Miami-Dade County from using tourism tax dollars to build it.
The lawsuit filed against the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County came from two individuals who alleged the use of the tourist tax dollars would be unconstitutional.
But Judge Lawrence A. Schwartz ruled that the "subject bonds is not unconstitutional and therefore the Series 2009 Refunding Bonds may be issued."
County and city commissioners have remained confident despite the legal challenges.
"These are the last shots that folks can take to derail the process. But I believe those who supported it will continue to support it, and we will move forward and build this stadium," Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Dennis Moss told CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.
The Marlins have been looking for a new stadium for years to get out of playing at LandShark Stadium.
The overall stadium deal will cost taxpayers between $500 and $600 million. Miami-Dade County will own the stadium and contribute around $300 million to help build the stadium. The city of Miami will donate the land and another $13 million in taxes. Miami city commissioners agreed to build a 6,000 space parking lot. The cost of which would reimbursed by the Marlins.
The Marlins will contribute around $155 million to the stadium's construction as well. The Marlins will get all revenue from the stadium and the $35 million in rent the team will pay is included in the overall $155 million team contribution, according to ESPN.com.
The Marlins stadium deal stands in contrast to a recent deal signed by the city of Santa Clara, California to build a new football stadium for the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers stadium deal calls for the use of $79 million in public funds, $35 million from hotel taxes, and the rest of the $937 million would come from the 49ers, the NFL, naming rights and concessions, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
In addition, the 49ers will pay for any cost overruns, pay the city $1 million in rent for up to 40 years, and give up a cut of the overall stadium revenue.
The new Marlins stadium is set to begin construction on July 18 and be ready for opening day in 2012.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Burned Teen's Family Staying Positive
Click to enlarge
I-Team: Tracking The Florida Stimulus Money Trail 
Stumble It!
Reporting
