Marlins ballpark agreement reached!!!!!

im happy for them, they can start making a profit off the team and keep players when they become good.
their first championship, they lost 21 million dollars....its crazy
 
So what, are they going to actually start signing people to long-term contracts now?
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This is huge for Marlins fans. Plus, with the young talent we have, in 2011 we will field a pretty nice team.
 
They should make it 5,000 capacity. The front runners will just have to watch the playoff games on the teli.
 
good news, hopefully we'll be contenders by then...but then again were slated to win in 09' so 11' will be an off year
 
They should just find a high school field and play there; I doubt they'd even fill up the stands there.
 
I still think it would have been soooooo much better to find a way to build the stadium down near Bayside and the AAA.
 
Here's the thing, and I'm not trying to defend the SoFla fanbase in general, but you really have to not only have lived down here since the Marlinshave been around but really understand the history to get the Marlins/population dynamic.

South Florida has a rather large Latino population, which you would think bodes well for baseball. However, the franchise's history down here has reallycreated a disconnect between the fanbase (not just the Latino), but everyone in general. Wayne Huizinga in 1997 and 1998 essentially took the franchise on thepath of a star that burns so bright it eventually burns itself out and disappears. He poured tons of money into the roster with guys like Bonilla, Alou,Sheffield, etc. for that one year, got the fans excited about an nascent franchise, won the 'chip, and sold everyone off (and out). As could beunderstood, this caused some mistrust amongst the fanbase and the franchise, and it took a few years to finally get it back. Then comes 2003 with Pierre,Willis, Cabrera, etc., a really fun team to watch and an easy group of guys to root for. They win over the city with their late-season chase, win it all, andwithin two seasons most guys are gone as well. Now this past winter, the two faces of the franchise are traded as well.

It's bad down here, no doubt. Fans don't come to games and ownership won't put a quality product on the field and keep it there because theydon't want to "bleed money." It's really created a chicken and egg situation down here. Are the fans to blame for not showing up, causingthe franchise to penny pinch to survive? Or is the franchise to blame for not manufacturing a quality product over enough time to build the trust andfollowing of a loyal fanbase? Very tense dynamic to be sure.

That's why I'm excited about this new stadium. REALLY excited. If anyone's watched a Marlins game at Dolphin Stadium (aka Joe Robbie, aka ProPlayer Park, aka Dolphins Stadium), you'll know it's not the classic enjoyable baseball experience you get at places like Baltimore, San Fran, etc. Anew park, designed specifically for baseball, should in theory create a unique atmosphere and baseball experience missing since the franchise's inception. The retractable roof should make it more pleasant when it's 87 degree with 80% humidity for night games, or when the classic Miami afternoon thunderstormrolls in. Financially, this new stadium should inject new life into the franchise's pocketbook, now forcing ownership to put their money where their mouthis and actually see if they're willing to spend when they actually can afford to, or if it really is the bottom line first. The fact that it'll be atthe old Orange Bowl site, in the heart of Little Havana, and within comfortable range of public transportation and I-95, will lure both the long-ignored Latinofanbase and make it easier for the general fanbase as well to get to the park.

Ideally, this is what I hope happens, but we'll see. The first two years of the new stadium, crowds are coming in just because of the novelty of the newpark (which if you're familiar with the architecture of the American Airlines Arena and new Carnival Center for the Performing Arts, you figure that thenew stadium is going to a visual/architectural marvel). Revenues from bigger crowds and better contractual situations will give the franchise more capital toprocure and retain a quality on-field product. In turn, over time the fanbase will be able to grow secure in the knowledge that there won't be fire salesevery 5-6 years. Everybody wins.

But we'll see. Sure as hell am psyched though.
 
Originally Posted by ooIRON MANoo

The Marlins' Florida's fanbase is a huge joke.
Fixed. Miami Dolphins aside, bunch of fairweather fans.

canes football too. you even saw some band wagon jumping with the canes basketball team this year when they were doing good. miamis a football city &nothing else is gonna get the same respect

im happy they finally reached an agreement on this, hopefully itll help bring in more people, even though the owners are cheap as hell. likeeaglebball said, they really pissed everyone off when they unloaded the championship teams. hopefully they can actually keep players now
 
^^^
What makes it even worse is that each dismantling was by a different ownership group: Huizinga after 1997 and Loria after 2003. For as much as he annoys mewith his pompous arrogance, I'd much rather have George Steinbrenner as Marlins owner: he's got deep pockets, and just wants to WIN, man. Not likethese stingy businessmen running the franchise now that just care about the bottom dollar. There's rich, and there's sports team owner rich. Currentownership is the former to be sure. Hopefully the new stadium will give them some more room to play this game with.
 
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