With the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts officially open, Marlins President David Samson has lost his bet with Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association CEO Stu Blumberg.

In March 2004, Blumberg placed a bet with Samson that the performing arts center would open before a new ballpark for the Marlins. Samson took the ballpark. The wager? $1.

“I am planning to go to the bank and get a roll of pennies and deliver it in person,” Samson said. “I will leave it on his personal special table at Joe’s Stone Crab,” where Blumberg lunches regularly.

Actually, according to Blumberg, Samson already paid the debt a few weeks ago.

“He Scotch-taped four quarters on a note and mailed it to me,” Blumberg said. “He said ‘Congratulations.’”