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City Commission Approves Marlins Ballpark

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 20, 2009

MIAMI - The City Commission approved a plan to build a $639 million Florida Marlins ballpark Thursday, nudging the long-debated stadium one step closer to reality.

With a 3-2 vote, the commission approved the 37,000-seat stadium on the site of the demolished Orange Bowl. Marlins president David Samson said afterward the team hopes Miami-Dade county commissioners will give final approval to the project at a meeting next week so construction can begin.

"This was a very important day in our franchise," said Samson, swinging on a World Series analogy to describe how close the team is to getting its long-coveted stadium. "It's Game 6 or Game 7."

The team faces one last board vote Monday, when the Miami-Dade County Commission is scheduled to meet to decide if the project moves forward.

BLUE JAYS: Center fielder Vernon Wells is expected to return from a strained left hamstring and make his first spring training appearance this year today as a designated hitter.

BRAVES: Right-hander Kenshin Kawakami was scratched from his scheduled spring training start Thursday night because of arm fatigue.

METS: Catcher Brian Schneider is out indefinitely with a strained right calf.

WORLD CLASSIC: A wild throw by first baseman Adam Dunn led to four unearned runs as Venezuela won Group 2 by beating the Americans 10-6 on Wednesday night. Both teams are already in the semifinals. In Group 1, Japan advanced to the semifinals and eliminated Cuba 5-0 on Wednesday night.

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