HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter - Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, Inc.FRIENDS OF MIAMI MARINE STADIUM, INC.
7770 SW 313t Street
Miami, Florida 33155
February 22, 2013
Honorable Mayor .Thomas P. Regalado
Honorable Commission Chair Marc Sarnoff
Honorable Commission_ Vice Chairman Wifredo Gort
Honorable Commissioner Frank Carollo
Honorable Commissioner Michelle Spence Jones
Honorable. Commissioner Francis Suarez
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, Florida 33133
Re:
Miami Marine Stadium
Dear Lady and Gentlemen:
Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, Inc. is pleased that the initial
report and recommendation of the select Steering Committee which the
City Commission appointed in June., 2012 has been issued. This report
has been approved and submitted by the City Manager to the City
Commission for discussion. Friends are even more pleased that the
Committee has: unanimously ratified Friends' efforts, to date; and
recommended that the City move to the next steps in a process .which
will return to all citizens of Miami a safe and operating Miami Marine
Stadium, with no .cost to them.
Bearing in mind that Friends is asking for no funding from the
City, we think it is appropriate to review a brief timeline:
1992 MMS Closed by the City
Friends of Miami Marine Stadium is formed
Miami Marine Stadium and Basin designated as
Historic by City of Miami
Marine Stadium named to "11 Most Endangered List"
by National Trust for Historic Preservation and
"2010 Watch fist" by the World Monuments Fund
Miami City Commission unanimously approves
Virginia Key Master Plan
Memorandum of Understanding Between Friends of
Miami Marine Stadium, Miami City Commission., and
Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority is signed.
February, 2008
October, 2008
2009-2010
July, 2010
May, 2012
Miami City Commission
February 22, 2013
Page 2
December 2012 Initial Report and Recommendation of select
Steering Committee.
Your Steering Committee has recommended to the City Manager:
• A designation of what property constitutes the site which
will be improved through Friends' fundraising and efforts;
e That the City transfer title to this designated site to the
Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority; •
o That the Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority enter into
negotiations with Friends, affording it a cognizable real
property interest in the designated site on an exclusive
basis;
• That the duration of the Friends' exclusive interest in the
designated site be for an approximate 18 month period after
receipt of this interest to enable Friends to launch and
substantially complete its proposed Capital Campaign, which
the Steering Committee reviewed. The Capital Campaign we
propose will raise $30 million+/- for Stadium renovation
costs, plus $7,000,000+/- as an endowment for Stadium
maintenance;
e That Friends be charged with the obligation to report to
MSEA concerning its fundraising and other e.fforts.
Friends welcomes this independent corroboration of Friends'
program, from private sector persons with experience in the areasof
commercial real estate development and leasing, operation of
entertainment venues, and development of cultural facilities involving
the public trust.
We look forward to continuing to work with the City and MSEA.
cc: City Manager Johnny
Martinez
Acting City Manager Alice
Bravo
Very truly yours,
Friends of Miami Marine
Stadium, Inch
By :
l