NewsMarlins host media tour of new park
Team president says stadium is 'on time and on budget'
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
10/30/09 11:50 AM EST
This is part of an MLB.com/Marlins.com exclusive series with Marlins president David Samson chronicling the progress and developments of the new retractable-roof stadium that is scheduled to open in 2012. Throughout the series, which will run weekly in the offseason, fans are encouraged to e-mail David at D.Samson@Marlins.com with their thoughts.MIAMI -- What once was a vision of a baseball park on the Orange Bowl grounds is now becoming a reality, as construction steamrolls ahead at the site of the Marlins' new ballpark in the Little Havana section of Miami.
On Thursday, the team invited the local media to the first of what will be quarterly tours of the 37,000-seat ballpark that will open in 2012.
Marlins president David Samson used the occasion to answer questions about the new stadium. He also captured the moment by having a picture taken of himself in his new office, which will be behind home plate, facing toward the plaza.
"It was the first of our quarterly media tours," Samson said. "We will let members of the media tour the site and get updates on construction, firsthand."
Wearing hard hats, a large number of media members walked the grounds.
"They got to see that the super columns have been erected, and the ballpark is beginning to take shape," Samson said.
The super columns are 12 tall structures that will support the retractable roof. Already, four of them are at their maximum height.
Fans can follow all stages of construction via the new ballpark webcam on www.marlins.com.
"Four more will be fully built by the end of November," Samson said of the super columns. "And there are four 'tree columns' on the west side of the ballpark, in the west plaza.
"The roof will sit on top of these four columns to provide shade over the plaza."
As more concrete is poured, more parts of the park will become noticeable.
"You could see the form taking shape on the east side of the building, which is the outfield side," Samson said. "Every day it changes now.
"Once you see sort of the seating bowl taking shape, you really can see the ballpark coming."
The stadium remains on schedule and on budget.
In the few months construction has been under way, the Marlins already have exceeded one important goal -- employing Miami-area workers.
Hiring local workers was a main objective, and a big reason the project was approved by South Florida officials.
According to their latest figures, which were through the end of September, there are more than 300 workers on the site, and most of them reside in Miami-Dade County.
"Local participation has surpassed our goal as far as local workers on site," Samson said.
Out of all the firms that have been hired for the project, the team's contractual goal was having 30 percent from Miami-Dade County. Right now, 65 percent are local.
"There has been great local participation," Samson said. "We're definitely on time and on budget."
As work moves forward on their new home, the Marlins must finalize where they will play in 2011.
Technically, the Marlins' lease at their current park -- Land Shark Stadium -- runs out after the 2010 season. The team must work out a one-year extension for 2011 in the stadium owned by the Miami Dolphins.
Samson doesn't anticipate any problems getting the extra year. But with the Dolphins in the middle of their NFL season, Samson says there are two months to get that matter resolved.
Last week, there was some controversy surrounding the parking garage that will be built next to the Marlins' new ballpark. As part of the construction plan, the city of Miami is responsible for construction of a garage that will have nearly 5,900 parking spaces. By a 3-2 vote, city commissioners backed funding on the garage, which will cost $120 million.
"There was nothing there," Samson said of the city's squabble. "The parking decks are not over budget at all. They will be built, I'm sure, on time and on budget, for the opening of the ballpark."
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
