A lawsuit by Norman Braman, an auto dealership magnate in the Miami area challenging the constitutionality of funding for the proposed Florida Marlins stadium has been given the green light and will go to trial in July. As reported by The AP:

A judge in Miami-Dade Circuit Court decided Thursday to let the lawsuit go forward. Braman claims the $3 billion plan is unconstitutional because of the way it is financed. Besides the 37,000-seat ballpark and parking garage, the plan calls for construction of a tunnel to Miami’s port, a new downtown trolley line and money for the arts.

The Marlins ballpark, which would be built at the site of the decaying Orange Bowl, would cost approximately $515 million. The 6,000 space parking structure is priced at $94 million.

The Marlins have targeted a 2011 opening date.

While Braman scored a victory in getting the case to trial, the judge did throw out claims in the lawsuit contending that the funding agreement was reached in secret, a violation of Florida law.

(See renderings of the possible new Marlins stadium design here)

---



Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer.

Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment