Tuesday, May 26, 2015

My thoughts on proposed new Beckham/UM Joint Stadium

My take last February on this topic

Much has changed since then. 
  1. There's a new President in Julio Frenk, who takes over on 9/1 from Donna. 
  2. The Sun Life renovations
  3. More urgency to get this done before Donna leaves on June 1. 
  4. A few sites have been eliminated except for two: Marlins Park site, and the one by the airport. 
The one UM would favor the most is the site by Marlins Park. The question is would Beckham and MLS feel the same way? Mayor Carlos A Gimenez said "Time is running out." You know the urgency is there from the City/County to get this done. 

UM doesn't favor the Overtown or the Bertam Yacht site by the Airport, but they would consider it if the deal was right. 

On the Marlins Park site, there are two areas Beckham/MLS/UM are considering. 
  • The first site is west of Marlins Park, on three city-owned parcels currently used as green space and parking lots and on six privately owned residential and office properties. Taken together, the land along Northwest 17th Avenue amounts to nearly 10 acres. However, according to Barry Jackson in the Herald in February 2014, a county official told him back then that this site would be unlikely. Fast forward to today, this area becomes more and more likely that if UM joins Beckham in the stadium, this would be the area they would go with here. 
  • The second site, on 19 acres of county-owned land northeast of the ballpark on the shores of the Miami River, appears far less feasible. There’s a public-housing facility for the elderly on the property. No shot this site happens.
WHY THE SITE BY MARLINS PARK COULD WORK:
  • In a word: parking. 
    • If you remember the days of the OB, then you realize that renting out parking spaces on a temporary basis works. 
    • There are four garages next to the ballpark already. 
  • Mass Transit: The city also has a free-of-charge trolley line that loops in riders. This is key for those that would rely on Mass Transit, especially for day games from Broward and Palm Beach. Close to Campus as well. 
Map A is from UM to the Marlins Park site: 

Map B is from West Palm Beach to the Marlins Park Site:

Map C is from Fort Lauderdale to the Marlins Park Site:

WHY THE SITE BY MARLINS PARK MIGHT NOT
  • For the first site, Beckham and his crew would have to deal with the city, but much has changed between Feb 2014 and now, and if you remember how they treated UM and the way the Marlins deal went down to evict UM from that site, its been a big problem and still is and even now still rankles the UM faithful. 
    • Although Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado said back then that no one has contacted him about that the site, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez just said on Joe Rose's show this morning, "It has to happen now.... We can't wait too long."
  • For the second site, the issue here as it was back in February 2014 like it is now, is that Miami-Dade County would have to relocate the King High Towers housing complex which comprises two 14-story high-rises. According to Gregg Fortner, director of the county’s public housing and community development department, he said through a spokeswoman that there is “no possibility” of public-housing property being used for a soccer stadium. Pretty much that second site is dead in the water here. 
  • Another issue is that the Marlins, an MLS soccer team, and UM would also have to deal with scheduling challenges, given that their seasons overlap — though MLS plays far fewer matches, UM plays 7-8 home games a year. The conflicts would be mainly in September, when the Marlins wind down and UM starts up.
  • Lack of Mass Transit back to Broward and Palm Beach for Night Games.
BETRAM YACHT SITE BY MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Map A: From UM to this site

Map B: From West Palm Beach to this site

Map C: From Fort Lauderdale to this site


WHY THE BETRAM YACHT SITE BY MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COULD WORK:
  • Mass Transit: Tri-Rail (From Broward and Palm Beach) and MetroRail has direct service to Miami International Airport, which would be within walking distance of the site. Close to Campus as well. Easy access to the Airport/Hotels: If fans want to fly in, they could do that. You could have boaters/water taxis/ferries have an option along the waterway (think Tennessee and Washington).
  • Easy access to Major roads: You have the 95, the 112, the Dolphin, the Palmetto very close by. 
WHY THE BETRAM YACHT SITE BY MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WON'T WORK:
  • Parking: Lack of Parking in the area. One would have to go to a large mall then take a shuttle bus to the Stadium. How much stadium parking would be available for tailgating? Highly doubt that Miami Central Station would be sufficient for Gameday parking/tailgating, especially for big games such as FSU/ND, etc. 
  • MIA Traffic: On a good day, traffic to and from the airport is high, but add 40K (45K for big games like ND or FSU), and that could be a big time issue. 
  • Lack of Mass Transit back to Broward and Palm Beach after Night games: Where Tri-Rail and MetroRail has direct service to Miami International Airport, and would be within walking distance of the site, the problem becomes getting back to Broward and Palm Beach following night games. 
OVERTOWN by MIAMI WORLD CENTER SITE

Map A: From UM to Overtown (by Miami World Center)


Map B is from West Palm Beach to Overtown (by Miami World Center)


Map C is from Fort Lauderdale to Overtown (by Miami World Center)


WHY THE OVERTOWN (MIAMI WORLD CENTER AREA) SITE COULD WORK:
  • Development of MIami World Center: Miami World Center's people just broke ground late last year on the Retail portion of the project. This is Phase 1, which will be done by the end of Next year. Would be a good landmark for fans to get to the stadium. 
  • Close to major areas: Bayside, AAA, Port of Miami, etc. 
  • Mass Transit: All Aboard Florida is coming for those CANES coming from the Orlando area, they would be able to come straight into Miami for the game (Starting in 2017). Stadium within walking distance.
    • Tri-Rail coming from Broward and Palm Beach to MetroRail Transfer station. 
    • MetroRail has direct service to the site and then walking distance from there. 
  • Easy access to Major roads: You have the 95, 395, the Dolphin, Biscayne Blvd. very close by. 
WHY THE OVERTOWN (MIAMI WORLD CENTER AREA) WON'T WORK:
  • Parking: Lack of Parking in the area, like with the site by the Airport. Miami World Center has 3,000 spaces now, and 7,000+ when its all said and done. Also, parking by AAA would be an issue, especially when there are events that overlap (i.e., Heat games) The question is how many of those would be available for UM games, especially big games like FSU, and would tailgating be allowed in the parking garages if spaces are available? 
  • Traffic: Think AAA for Heat games, but on a bigger scale. but add 40K (45K for big games like ND or FSU), and that could be a big time issue especially on Biscayne Blvd. 
  • Lack of Mass Transit back to Broward and Palm Beach and in this case, points North (i.e, Orlando) after Night games: Where Tri-Rail and MetroRail has direct service to Miami International Airport, and would be within walking distance of the site, the problem becomes getting back to Broward and Palm Beach following night games. Another question would be would All Aboard Florida have Special trains going back to Orlando after night games? Organizers need to get that addressed. 
As Mayor Gimenez said this morning on Joe Rose's show, time is running out to get this done.