Miami politicians back Marlins stadium funding

By Simon Evans

MIAMI (Reuters) - Funding for the new Florida Marlins baseball stadium in Miami was approved by city and county commissioners on Thursday with the team declaring they are now ready to begin the move.

The plan, which will cost more than $600 million, envisages the demolition of the Orange Bowl stadium and the building of a baseball park with a retractable roof on the original site.

Marlins president David Samson told the team's Web site: "The fact is, we have a binding agreement for a new stadium -- the Marlins ballpark."

The National League East Division team will also change their name to the Miami Marlins once they leave Dolphin Stadium, which they are sharing with the NFL's Miami Dolphins until 2010, and move into their new downtown home.

Miami-Dade county commissioners voted 9-3 in favor while city politicians backed the plan 4-1.

The Marlins said that stadium cost is estimated at $525 million, and the city has agreed to build an on-site, 6,000-space parking lot at an additional cost of around $94 million.

The team said that Miami-Dade county would fork out up to $347 million and the Marlins themselves will contribute $155 million.

The county-owned stadium will seat 37,000 spectators and have a retractable roof, to eliminate the disruption caused by late afternoon rain during the South Florida summer.