Braman! Admit defeat. Quit fighting new Marlins park! (Plus, we're good looking)

     [Urgent Wednesday early-evening bulletin: Travel + Leisure magazine, in its 2008 "America's Favorite Cities" survey, has cited Miami for Most Attractive People. Click here for results. I had actually noticed that Sunday at Dolphin Stadium. But I figured we only looked good compared to Jets fans!].

     The judge hearing Norman Braman's lawsuit to stop the Miami Megaplan -- which includes the new Marlins stadium -- ruled Tuesday a new ballpark would serve a public purpose. Read the story here. This is a huge victory for the Marlins, for their fans and for South Florida in general.

       Today's ruling means six of the seven counts in Braman's lawsuit have now been tossed, with only one yet to be ruled on. It is time for Mr. Braman (pictured at left) to admit defeat and to concede as gracefully as he can manage. It is time for the courts to rule on the final point so groundbreaking finally can begin on the new retractable-dome stadium at the old Orange Bowl site. (Pictured at right, Billy the Marlin offering a thumbs-up on today's ruling, despite his lack of thumbs).

     The Marlins released the following statement from owner Jeffrey Loria in the wake of today's ruling, condensed here by me:

     "We welcome Judge Cohen’s ruling, which confirms that our elected officials have made the right decision for the future of our community.  It is unfortunate that so much time and so much of the public’s money has been wasted in this legal process. It’s time to get all of these projects, including the ballpark, back on track for the benefit of the people of Miami-Dade County.

     "This is a critical step in securing the long-term future of Major League Baseball in Miami.  We will proceed immediately to finalize discussions with the County and the City to put in place all the long-awaited final agreements. We look forward to the Marlins playing in the new ballpark for generations to come. The new ballpark will provide approximately 2,000 jobs during the three-year construction cycle.  It will be an economic boon to the County and the City and will provide a first-class venue not only for the Marlins, but also for the community as a whole.

     "We look forward to unveiling the detailed plans for the ballpark in the very near future. We believe that the upcoming decision on the use of the Community Redevelopment funds [the seventh point in the lawsuit] does not impact the ballpark project. Since no CRA dollars are being used for the ballpark project, the remaining count in the lawsuit does not relate to the construction of the ballpark."

     Marlins fans and fans of progress for South Florida: Rejoice!

     Braman and other curmudgeons: Time to step down and be quiet, please.

Comments

[Steven]

AMEN!

[rogperu]

can someone please post norman brahams home phn number
and boycott all his auto dealerships

hes a cynical old man who at his age, should not want this (and not it will be) to be his legacy
this is how he will be remembered

[dean]

at last count, marlin fans outnumbered curmudgeons (great noun) 600 - 598. i hope the seats in the new stadium will be painted a less conspicuous color than god awful orange. i'm sure the seats will remain empty unless of course, it's a saturday night and tone loc or tori amos is giving a free post game concert.

by the looks of all the passionate posts, i can sense the raging extasy of all the marlin fans over the great news, mr. cote.

[Joe]

Braman has already said he will take it as far as the Florida Supreme Court if he needs to. This is not over by a long shot. His personal vendetta against Loria will not allow it too. Even if takes years to make its way through the appealic(sp?) courts and then the supreme court and passes, Braman wins because the overages from the increased construction costs of delays will cost Loria $100 million.

[Go Fish]

The Marlins, city, and county seem pretty confident that they can go forward regardless of appeals. The judge in this case was very thorough. She is not a sports fan and only cares about the law. The law is on the Marlins side. Braman should just admit this and stop wasting money and the courts time. He can take this matter to the Florida Supreme Court if he likes, but they set the precedent for this ruling when they ruled on the Bucs stadium in Tampa.

Go away Norman. Time to break ground and end this 2 decade stadium saga once and for all.

[Quijote]

My daughter attend a public school and her science and geography book are both from 1993!!!

I think our government needs to use this PUBLIC money to figure out how to correct much bigger issues at hand...like textbooks from 1993 and teachers that need to assume two jobs because they've been without a raise for nearly a decade. I guess $400M can't cover raises for all dade teachers, but it can surely buy new textbooks and then some.

[Flipper72]

This is great news! The Marlins having their own stadium, will definitely increase their attendance. It will also help out the economy in South Florida as well as create more jobs for the local community.

It's a win-win-win situation...!!!

[ginrai]

Hey Braman be a braveman and admit you lost the battle and later join us in our new Marlin ballpark. Which we have been waiting for over a decade. Braman the city would of screwed us some other way. This new ballpark creates alot more new jobs too. Watching the Marlins in it will be alot more comfortable.

[Lab3003]

I 100% support Mr. Braman. Spending this money on ballpark is amoral and is not in the scope of government. Why don't the higher-ups spend money to improve my business? Why should the Marlins, a team with few fans and a track record of insulting those fans, receive public funds when the city/county and other gov't entities are struggling with properly funding public education?

Furthermore, how did the county swindle the people into convincing them we should demolish a historic landmark in favor of a baseball team that is more than willing to go on record INSULTING their own fans? I don't understand and I truly hope the Marlins leave town or the ownership group sell their interest in the team to people who'll appreciate their fans.

[Canesjunkie]

I can't believe you are excited about a baseball stadium when we have so many other problems in this city. How about putting that money towards education or bailing out homeowners from foreclosure?

Is a baseball stadium really going to help the city of Miami? What types of jobs is it going to provide? We should be using this money to entice major corporations to move to this area. That will increase the number of jobs available and the overall tax base in this city. A baseball stadium in not going to do that.

People don't even go to Marlins games. Didn't they have 600 people at a game last week? Thats terrible!!! Don't give me its because the stadium is far away either...what was the attendance at Dolphins opening day??? A lot more than 600 people.

[Canesjunkie]

You wish Brahman would give up. He wins if he keeps this in court long enough for the state money to be reallocated. Once that happens its goodbye stadium and goodbye Marlins.

What jobs get created with a stadium...hotdog vendors??? Get real, you can't live in this city on the salaries those people would make. Try finding people real jobs.

[Cap]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm glad the Marlins won this case, but I'm disappointed in the supporters of Braman. Do you really think Braman is fighting for you? An old billionaire who owns a car dealership?

This one's not for the Miami Sports fans, but you Floridians don't deserve the Marlins, or any other sport franchises for that matter. This new stadium will offer jobs, however miniscule or luxurious, but I'd love to see how well your economy would hold without the Marlins, Dolphins, Heat and Panthers.

[Canesjunkie]

Cap:

The size of his bank account has nothing to do with me. He's rich, good for him.

He's fighting to keep city funds in a neighborhood where he has his business. That neighborhood also happens to be extremly poor. He's not fighting for me, but I support his cause. Roe v. Wade wasn't for me either, but I would've supported it.

Jobs with sports team aren't real jobs. They are terrible jobs that offer no advancement. These are survival jobs, there a lots of those out there. What about real jobs where people can make careers? Sports teams and stadiums don't offer that.

[federicoVI]

Braman should PAY court costs and lawyers fees !

[ginrai]

There are other jobs other than hot dog venders in a stadium or ball park. Like Security, maintenance work, etc.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

The new stadium will also provide a lot of construction jobs for tradesmen. Think about it, a couple of years of work for an industry that is in the tank in Florida.

[Canesjunkie]

Those are the same jobs we can create by trying to build Miami into a center for business.

My main point in this whole thing is...why do we insist on using this money on a baseball team. Why can't we use it to attract major corporations to this area.

Build business offices, not a stadium. If the Marlins really want a stadium, they should build it with their own money.

[ginrai]

Naturally the ones that oppose it are the usual selfish implanters that support their native teams from miles away. Like PatsoBozotonHack here.

[Lab3003]

The concept, "We are lucky to have professional sports," is ridiculous. It is those franchises that are lucky to be in our city. We are the customers.

I would never go to one of my clients and tell them, "you are lucky that we even operate in Miami." That attitude has to change. I'm all for sports, I love sports. But not while other areas that could use the revenue are in more dire straits financially.

[Canesjunkie]

ginrai:

We 'selfish implants' are contributing to the tax base in this state and city. This isn't just a sports issue, its an issue with the decisions the government is this city make.

Like Lab3003 says, its about use of revenue in other areas that need it more. Look at Quijote's comment about 1993 text books for kids. That's ridiculous!!!

I own a home here, I intend to stay. What type of city are we...one that values its baseball team more than the education of its population?

[ginrai]

An implanter who is a canes fan? Don't believe you. You might even be the bozotonian under a different name tag. I'll stand by my opinion anyway.

[Canesjunkie]

No way, bro. I even went to grad school at UM. I love the Canes!!!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Thats the beauty of this whole thing.

[Mr. Woodcock]

"If you put lipstick on a pig it's still a pig."

"Mono vestido de seda mono se queda."

Translation:

A monkey in a tuxedo is still a monkey.

[Mr. Woodcock]

Tearing down the OB to build a stadium for the Marlins will go down as one of the biggest boondogles in County history. Wrong sport at the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Surfinterp]

I am a huge Marlins fan who is rooting for Norman Braman.This is a Bud Selig designed ploy to increase the value of the franchise at the expense of the taxpayer.Loria has done nothing for this team or community to deserve this.Why doesn't he get the 634 people who showed up for last week's day game to foot the bill.
.

[Phinatic4life]

Why is there so many haters in Miami? When there wasn't a team everyone wanted the team including the haters and all of you new haters that came out of the woodworks. Maybe you should go out and support your local team like they do in other cities and stop making excuses for everything. You all sound like a bunch of grown up babies who just look for excuse after excuse and probably have never attended a game for any of our local teams.

[Phinatic4life]

Why is there so many haters in Miami? When there wasn't a team everyone wanted the team including the haters and all of you new haters that came out of the woodworks. Maybe you should go out and support your local team like they do in other cities and stop making excuses for everything. You all sound like a bunch of grown up babies who just look for excuse after excuse and probably have never attended a game for any of our local teams.

[thejuandiggler]

It's time to rally behind our Marlins . us as a fan base has been an embarassment to sport fans everywhere ! I live in Orlando and still managed to go to 4 games this year.
Yeah no more orange seats please !

[thejuandiggler]

I am against the public funding though but outside the Cowboys and Yankees everyone is in on this scam !
Here is to a cease of all NASA funding, I could care less if life is in Mars , just pay the firemen, teachers, and cops better !

[jorge]

Why on Earth does Norman Braman want to contest this mega plan in the first place? Who appointed him the leader and symbol of progress in the public?

He owns car dealerships!!!

Judges have shown 39 years of case law that suggest that Braman is wrong. SOoooo why keep going?

And, judges also seem to dislike pointless challenges such as these. If Braman had a particular interest that would be divested as a result of the Marlins stadium, the situation could change.

[Jimbo]

hey, the city of Miami is clearly not a big time baseball city. Getting a new stadium aint the answer. The Marlins have won 2 championships and no one comes. Marlins were in contention the whole season and hardly anyone came. You have more displaced/relocated Mets, Phils fans there that attend. I think your wasting your time and $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[oscar_g]

I just want that damn infield OUTTA THERE when the Fins play.

[mike1]

If he was working forward getting the stadium built in downtown, I'd be all for it. I don't like the unexciting location.

[poBoy]

Cote ... You're genuis.

Miami ... We all need to realize how great this is going to be for our city.

Marlins ... We love you!

[Lab3003]

Mr. Braman is opposed to this program because during the '80's he asked for county monies to repair the areas surrounding his downtown dealership. He goals was to expand his auto business in addition to beautifying the areas surrounding. The county told him it would be wrong to spend public funds in support of private business. So now, whenever public funds are going to sports teams (i.e. ANOTHER PRIVATE BUSINESS), he'll be vehemently opposed, partly because of civic duty but I do believe it has a revenge element to it.

I don't agree with his motives, but I do share his positions.

[cam]

braman should be sued by the citizens of miami dade for court costs and atty fees for wasting our time. good blog, cote.

LETS GO MARLINS! IT AINT OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS! the rockies did it last year, we can do it this year! get your butts to dolphin stadium, south florida!

[Oscar]

THIS MONEY SHOULD GO TO HELP EDUCATION AND ATTRACT BUSINESSES!
Actually, the money being used for the Marlins stadium is part of a tax base that can only be used for convention centers, cultural centers, athletic teams, or other venues. Yeah we need money for education and we need to attract business, but this money, by law, cannot be used for those things. In addition, studies show that major venues like a stadium spark development in an area so, in a way, the Marlins stadium will attract businesses. By attracting businesses (including the Marlins multi-million dollar business which until now has resided outside of the city), the stadium will increase the tax base and therefore, increase the amount of money that can be then spent on education.

HOW IS THIS GOING TO ATTRACT JOBS? THE ONLY JOBS THIS WILL ATTRACT ARE HOT DOG VENDORS!
The jobs Mayor Alvarez, Mayor Diaz, and Mr. Cote are referring to are the thousands of high-paying construction and engineering jobs that would be created while the stadium is being built. Considering that the temporary lull in development is leaving many of those people without jobs, a major construction project (or several) would help support the industry while we wait for the market to bounce back in 2010. Not to mention the permanent jobs that are created to manage and maintain a venue of that size.

WHY BLOW THIS MONEY ON A TEAM THAT ATTRACTS NO FANS DESPITE WINNING 2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS?!
The reason the Marlins don't attract fans to games is not because of a lack of support - television ratings for Marlin games are actually among the highest in the country. The Dolphin Stadium location does not work for baseball, not because of the weather or because they have to share with football teams; it does not work because it is too far from the major population centers. Looking at the teams with perennially high attendance (New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, etc.), they all have their stadiums located in urban areas with easy access to a variety of forms of transportation. Of course anyone can make it to Dolphin Stadium on the weekend for a Dolphin or Cane game, but try leaving your job downtown at 5, heading home to change clothes and maybe pick up the kids, and then heading up the Palmetto, I-95, or the Turnpike in rush-hour traffic to get to the stadium before a 7:05 game. Not going to happen. That's why the Marlins don't have high attendance; that's why everyone watches them from home. Granted the OB is not in downtown, but the Orange Bowl is closer to where most Marlins fans work and live (studies show a vast majority of fans come from Miami-Dade County), and can be reached both by major highway and mass transit (the Culmer and Civic Center stations are within walking distance). Don't get me wrong, a stadium alone cannot solve the Marlins attendance woes, Miami has always been an event-oriented city, but fielding a competitive team in a conveniently-located stadium should go a long way in filling seats.

Some of us want better education and to improve our commercial environment. Others just want to make sure their team just stays in town and gets what they deserve and have long been promised. With the new stadium, both sides get what they want, and, more importantly, we all get what we need: Progress.

[Canesjunkie]

Oscar:

I understand your point about construction jobs, but these are not long term opportunities. Most of those people will only be employed for the time the stadium is being built. A lot of that construction and engineering money doesn't stay in this area.

The law stating that this money can only be used for certain items....thats one of the real issues with this whole thing. Why can't they reverse that allocation for this money. If it can only be used for infrastructure, then use it to fund a transportation system around schools that would benefit the city as a whole.

Another point...not everyone can afford to go to a Marlins game. It will get pretty expensive if they build the stadium.

[Oscar]

Canesjunkie:

Without a doubt, the construction jobs are temporary. The real estate boom created thousands of high paying jobs and really created a high demand for that type of work locally. Now that the boom is over and the cranes are standing still, many of those workers have gone without work. Moreover, many of those local organizations born out of the boom lack the resources to survive until this real estate recession is over. The idea is, that a major construction project well help keep that industry afloat for the duration (until 2010-2011). By that time, most experts agree that the market will have bounced back.

In regards to the tax issue, these taxes are paid by tourists when they do things like stay at a local hotel. The idea behind the rule, is to use taxes generated by a sector of our economy that would, at least in theory, benefit that sector. Unfortunately, we rely heavily on tourism to sustain our local economy, especially in difficult times like this. Retaining the tax money in that area is meant to help that area of our economy grow. I won't argue with you. We definitely need to evaluate how we allocate our resources. We should focus on the money that can be used for those things we so desperately need and spend it frivolously. This money cannot be used for that, but using it for something like a new stadium should, through development and a larger tax base, grow the pool of money that can go to education and attracting new businesses.

It is true that not everyone can afford to go to a Marlins game. A new stadium will not change that, but it should not raise ticket prices either. On the contrary, right now, the Marlins operate under very slim margins at Dolphin Stadium (thank you Wayne). The lease agreement they have in place gives them no money from parking and I think barely any from concessions. If anything a new Marlins stadium would allow them to lower prices - though I doubt that will happen. It's unfortunate that not everyone who wants to can attend a game, but that does not mean we should take that away from those who can. What if we did that with everything? Those cannot afford it will at least still be able to watch on television, which is more than they'd be able to do if the team moved the team to the Moon.

The city just lost its greatest historic sports venue, it's time that we make an investment and build one for the future. Nothing will ever replace the Orange Bowl, but we can build on the tradition of that site and make something different. It's hard enough losing our Canes to Dolphin Stadium, we cannot afford to lose our Marlins, and the economic opportunities that they represent, to another city.

[Oscar]

Man, I write a lot. Sorry about that.

[roswell]

I love sports as much as the next guy, and I would love to see the marlins in a new stadium, but this is a poor use of taxpayer’s money. Just a couple of questions?

First, when did it become govts job to finance private business? If this is such a good deal why don’t we just build Ford and GM new car factories? We could just raise taxes and build it for free; cause you know if would provide jobs? Maybe a new headquarters for Microsoft or IBM etc....

After the temporary construction jobs are gone, what are the taxpayers getting? Are they getting a percentage of revenue? Or just the privilege of paying $20 for parking and $7 for a hotdog just so you can sit with the 600 other fans who give a crap about baseball in South Florida.

If this really were such a good deal the Marlins wouldn't need any public funds, because private investors would have been tripping over themselves to get in on this.

South Florida you got screwed.

[Jordan]

OMG It is ridiculous how uneducated you people are about the matter. The stadium is being built with no extra charge from us taxpayers. The money used from the stadium is not coming from our pockets. How and when can this info permeate your thick skulls? The money for the stadium is from tourist dollars dumbies.

[Jordan]

Not to mention that the one and only reason why fans don't come is because of the location of the stadium. How is this not a valid excuse? That's the reason I don't go to the games. And people say, 'why do the Dolphins get attendance?" First off, they play one day a week, so less gas to get the stadium. Second, they play on Sundays, people don't have work. If the Dolphins played on a weekday, half of the normal crowd would show up too. Look what happened to the Canes in their opener. 20k fans paid to get in. There is unreliable public transportation to Dolphin Stadium, as well. Compare that to Little Havana, where the public transportation traffic is significantly higher. And the Marlin fan base, hate to say it, is much more concentrated in Miami than it is anywhere else. Proof? Why don't the fans that live close to the stadium go to the games... there is your proof. We have all these Browardites and West Palm Beachers who don't care because they are not even from South Florida and catering to them has not worked. So if it were up to me I would forget about that demographic because they are unreliable. Not to mention, Broward county's population keeps decreasing by the day. So many ignorant uneducated people who don't know the facts when it comes out of their mouth as verbal diarhea... it's pathetic. This would serve so much good to the community. Sports is a huge part of the cultural fabric of ANY community. Walk through New York without seeing a Yankee cap on and I will give you 100 bucks. Our community needs to cater to sports teams a lot more before they cater to people who have no idea who they are talking about.

[Jordan]

Correction: If the dolphins played on a weekend half of the crowd WOULDN"T show up

[Dick]

The stadium bashers keep harping on the low attendance at Dolphin stadium for Marlins games. It’s no wonder that loyal fans stay away in droves. Dolphin stadium is a football stadium, not meant for baseball no matter how well intended Joe Robbie was when he built the place. “Bless his heart.” It was football first, and baseball…well that would be nice. Now it’s been 15 years and the Marlins are still there. They gave us two World Series Championships in their first decade. What did Miami give them—another lease on Dolphin stadium?

The fans were willing to put up with the lousy sightlines, cavernous stands that looked empty even with a ballpark sized crowd, and exposure to the frequent drenching rain showers and the ever-baking summer sun. Enough is enough. When we finally reached the point when it’s just too frustrating and too uncomfortable to make the trek and sit in that uninviting and unwelcoming bowl, a few commissioners and pundits say, “see, nobody cares.”

Build a real ballpark and people will show up. Then all the opponents to the new stadium will lower their voices and in years to come remember being in favor of it all along.

[miamian09]

I love to read the comments about why don't we use the money for education, to pay our teachers more and our firefighters. I frankly have to laugh out loud. First of all if you want that it's very easy, the local government will gladly increase your property taxes. Look at your statement next time to see where your money is going.
Second point is we haven't had a stadium built yet. The Marlins are going on their 3rd ownership to get this done. So if getting more money for books, education, homeless, teachers, or anything else wouldn't you think it could have been taken from something else all this time ? I read about people saying that construction jobs will only be for 3 years. I say so what, that is 3 years of someone supporting their family and helping the local economy. Every single city has built a baseball stadium and some more than one with public funding. Why, because the cities get as much out of the facility as the owner does. Even Steinbrenner who can build the Yankee stadium on his own is getting financial backing from NYC.

Miami is a city of whiners and complainers always with a quick excuse.

[Baskerville Holmes]

THE STADIUM IS ONE GREAT SWINDLE...
and that is why they do not allow the VOTE.
VOTE AND LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK.

The 2 Mayors have betrayed their constituents and have taken it BEYOND THE BANANA REPUBLIC STAGE.

The politicians of Miami and the baseball millionaires do not even want to let the public vote on the issue. It was a back room sweetheart deal done late at night. It is a clear swindle being perpetrated by a group who want to raid tax coffers to build not just a baseball venue but a stadium where the millionaires that own the team get all the concessions, including parking, merchandising, and all every future events including concerts, monster truck rallies, etc. The City and County gives the publicly funded stadium over to the private millionaires to continue making private fortunes.

The school system in this area can not even afford to pay their school teachers accordingly and it is hard to imagine that they are so brazen in trying to raid the public coffers. Apart from it all, the site selected for building the stadium is a horrible location that excludes Broward and Palm Beach fans of baseball.

Also watch 2 related interviews here:

______________________________________________

Norman Braman Interview with PBS on stadium issue

http://uvu.channel2.org/PublicSite/Video.aspx?id=3210&skin=1

______________________________________________

Dave Samson interview (gives the feeling of the Woody Allen VIRGIL STARKWELL Character in TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN)

http://channel2media.channel2.org/media/issues/issues.wmv

[Baskerville Holmes]

A GREAT SWEETHEART DEAL, A ROTTEN DEAL FOR TAXPAYERS AND A GREAT SWINDLE!!!!

All profits from non-baseball events, for concerts, for anything, merchandising, parking, concessions that have nothing to do with BASEBALL going to the Loria clan which destroyed and ruined baseball in Montreal and sell off all their star players... Look at them all over the years, it is not Miguel Cabrera and Josh Becket but also Vladimir Guerrero, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, all of the great Montreal stars were sold and baseball was driven into a grave in the great city of Montreal, a city which even hosted the Olympics.

This is carpetbagging at is best and Mayors Diaz and Mayor Alvarez have become now what the world expects them to become because of their heritage........ Latin American Banana Republic politicians that betrayed their constituents. SHAME ON MAYOR DIAZ AND MAYOR ALVAREZ and all those that made that backroom backdoor midnight deal.