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Talalay: Crist on the Marlins (Marlins Stadium Update No. 3,476)
Gov. Charlie Crist has always been supportive of the Marlins’ effort to finance a new ballpark.
On Monday, the former general counsel of Minor League Baseball said the team ought to try asking the Legislature again for a $60 million sales tax rebate to help pay for a new home. In May, the team lost out on state funding for the sixth time in eight years when the Senate adjourned without considering the funding request, which had been approved by the House.
“Things have changed economically, so it might be a little more challenging under the current climate, but I would encourage them to try again,” Crist said during a meeting of the Sun-Sentinel’s editorial board. “I view it as an economic stimulant to any community that has a professional sports team.”
Crist said repeatedly this spring that he views professional sports teams as an engine for economic development and a source of pride for a community. He dismisses the notion of teams not needing help because “it’s millionaire players and billionaire owners.”
“The help in my view comes for two things: people who work at the stadium, people who sell hot dogs, people who work in concession stands, people who work in the parking lots. The dovetail of economic opportunity,” Crist said. “There’s another part I think is important, too, what those teams do to a community, particularly when they win, and sort of a spirit that it develops. Look what happened when the Marlins won the World Series, not once but twice. I was down in South Florida on occasion. It’s wonderful how it lifts the spirit of a community, and sometimes the state. And I think that’s important. I want people to be happy, I want them to enjoy things like that and it can have the added benefit of being a tremendous economic engine for a community. I would encourage them to try again.”
Comments
Amen!! I agree completely with both of the above comments! And for the whole season --so far no buys to even try to help replace the starting pitching.
It was obvious from the get-go that we were NOt going to have ALL of the starting pitchers for most of the season.
So here we are one more time way down at the bottom again!!
No money spent for a championship
team---No money available for a stadium
(What a laugh that is) and NO hope for
next year either!!!Now that is a crime!!!
Posted by: ann rueth | July 31, 2007 10:48 AM
Loria has wasted the past 8 years hoping for 60 million more before starting building. It will cost MORE than 60 million more now than it would have back in 2003, AND he would have made concession profits that instead go to Huizinga. Just BUILD the freaking thing, and THEN keep sending the bill up to the Legistlature. One of these years it will pass, but in the meantime, you risk losing Cabrera and Willis and Ramirez and even Amezega to teams with real stadiums. You can afford it Loria, just do it!
Oh, and Freddi is a step down from Girardi. Next time try to get an upgrade before you fire a Manager of the Year. That is all.
Posted by: Freddi has got to go! | July 31, 2007 8:46 AM
The economics are something that can go either way because the numbers can be slanted anyway you want them to be slanted, but the guy is right about the community pride stuff.
When the Marlins were making their playoff runs, this town was the happiest place on earth! People smiling, cheering for a common goal, everybody on the same page hoping the Marlins could pull it off. Remember - Everybody is doing the Fish? I know it may sound a little corny, but it sure was nice!
I also can say that there are very few other things, short of a natural disaster, that can bring our community together like the Marlins did during those championship runs. For those reasons alone, we got keep the Marlins in town.
Posted by: Leo Guerra | July 31, 2007 6:00 AM