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darkcloud4579 · 02-19-2004, 11:51 PM

MARLINS BROOKYLN BOUND?
MIAMI - Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, frustrated with inability to get a new stadium deal in South Florida, has officially "had it" with local officials. "We've been going through this for almost 20 years now, since the team was founded," said Loria. The Marlins have tried for new stadiums in both their World Series victory years, but lawsuits, lack of municipal funding and other hurdles like environmental challenges have prevented ground from breaking on a new ballpark for the team.

In comes Brooklyn, NY. The city recently completed a $1 billion facility that included an arena for the NBA Nets, whose move was approved the NBA Board of Governors two years ago, the team has been playing temporarily on Long Island.

The city's faithful have murmured over a baseball stadium in the city and privately, officials in the Commissioners offices are clamoring for a fourth NY area market (after the Hartford Whalers expansion, along with the Mets and Yankees) to help competitive balance in the region.

Loria, is mum on where he wants to move the team. But has put officials on notice that he is seeking out other markets and the ones he wants are "big city and major," said Loria. A National League team in Brooklyn would have no reparations to pay to the Yankees, since the team is in a different league. But the deal is hardly a cinch yet, since there is no stadium deal to speak of.

More on this sometime in the off-season.

NEW BALLPARKS ARE COMING
Speaking of New York, the Mets are finally breaking ground on their own new park, right near Shea Stadium. The park called Citigroup Stadium, will be completed in 2009, will contain 65,000 seats and will house both the Mets and the New York Jets, who will move back to New York. "This will be a first-class, state of the art ballpark," said owner Fred Wilpon.

The Minnesota Twins have a stadium deal in place, to be completed in 2010, if the team is officially sold to an ownership group led by NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. The group includes former Twins player Paul Molitor, who is likely to become Team President and GM. 3M Ballpark would replace the Metrodome.

The sale would end the tenure of Carl Pohlad, who in recent years has refused to spend money on the team. Now that the team is one of the only teams in the majors failing to turn a profit, he has changed his tune. The sale is reportedly worth close to $285 million.

02-19-2004, 11:51 PM	#52
darkcloud4579 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 8,659	DIAMOND NOTES - AUGUST 30, 2007 MARLINS BROOKYLN BOUND? MIAMI - Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, frustrated with inability to get a new stadium deal in South Florida, has officially "had it" with local officials. "We've been going through this for almost 20 years now, since the team was founded," said Loria. The Marlins have tried for new stadiums in both their World Series victory years, but lawsuits, lack of municipal funding and other hurdles like environmental challenges have prevented ground from breaking on a new ballpark for the team. In comes Brooklyn, NY. The city recently completed a $1 billion facility that included an arena for the NBA Nets, whose move was approved the NBA Board of Governors two years ago, the team has been playing temporarily on Long Island. The city's faithful have murmured over a baseball stadium in the city and privately, officials in the Commissioners offices are clamoring for a fourth NY area market (after the Hartford Whalers expansion, along with the Mets and Yankees) to help competitive balance in the region. Loria, is mum on where he wants to move the team. But has put officials on notice that he is seeking out other markets and the ones he wants are "big city and major," said Loria. A National League team in Brooklyn would have no reparations to pay to the Yankees, since the team is in a different league. But the deal is hardly a cinch yet, since there is no stadium deal to speak of. More on this sometime in the off-season. NEW BALLPARKS ARE COMING Speaking of New York, the Mets are finally breaking ground on their own new park, right near Shea Stadium. The park called Citigroup Stadium, will be completed in 2009, will contain 65,000 seats and will house both the Mets and the New York Jets, who will move back to New York. "This will be a first-class, state of the art ballpark," said owner Fred Wilpon. The Minnesota Twins have a stadium deal in place, to be completed in 2010, if the team is officially sold to an ownership group led by NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. The group includes former Twins player Paul Molitor, who is likely to become Team President and GM. 3M Ballpark would replace the Metrodome. The sale would end the tenure of Carl Pohlad, who in recent years has refused to spend money on the team. Now that the team is one of the only teams in the majors failing to turn a profit, he has changed his tune. The sale is reportedly worth close to $285 million.