When is the groundbreaking on the new Florida Marlins stadium set to occur?
Marlins set stadium groundbreaking for July 18 MIAMI — The Florida Marlins will break ground on their new stadium July 18 at the site formally occupied by the Orange Bowl. The 37,000-seat ballpark will have a retractable roof and is scheduled to open in 2012. “The groundbreaking will be open to the public and we are expecting a large crowd, we hope … if the weather holds up. There won’t be a roof by then,” Marlins president David Samson said Monday. Following three straight weekend games against the San Francisco Giants that all were delayed by rain, the Marlins had averaged 10,852 during the first eight games of a current 11-game homestand. Work at the new stadium site actually is set to begin July 1. The days leading up to the groundbreaking ceremony mainly will be used to clear the area. The event will take place nearly four months after Miami-Dade County commissioners finalized the stadium deal on March 23. Since the team began play in 1993, three different owners all tried to get
UPDATED The Marlins have scheduled their ceremonial ground-breaking for Saturday, July 18 and the public’s invited. That’s assuming, of course, that financing for the new ballpark can be secured, but officials are optimistic given the ratings the bonds received so far from the rating agencies last month. Miami-Dade County officials were to begin selling the bonds Tuesday and Wednesday, but those dates have since been moved to June 17 and 18. Marlins President David Samson says the delay isn’t cause for alarm. “The ratings were positive,” Samson said. “We’re confident there will be individual and institutional buyers for these bonds.” Assuming the bonds are sold, grading and site preparation are to begin July 1 at the former site of the Orange Bowl. Then the ceremonial ground-breaking will be held on July 18, complete with team, county, city and Major League Baseball officials, and, of course, those fancy shovels. Fans are invited, too. “It’s going to be, and we try not to over use the
A formal groundbreaking is scheduled for July 18. The Marlins plan to move into the new stadium in time for the 2012 season. The Marlins have tried for years to get their own stadium, one with a retractable roof. Since their inception in 1993, they’ve shared a building with the Miami Dolphins, and ownership groups have long blamed the frequent threat of rain for poor ticket sales Sources: http://www.google.
