clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Stadium News - Sort of

Oh, this is just lovely.

Police and firefighters marched outside of Miami City Hall on Thursday to protest the deal for a new Marlins ballpark at the Orange Bowl site.

Crews have started to take down the old Orange Bowl, and controversy over who will supply police and fire services at a baseball stadium on this site could take down the stadium deal.

Union members said that, from a public safety standpoint, the stadium is dangerous being in the middle of Miami.

"Within a three-mile area of that stadium there are over 40 fire rescue units staffed around the clock," said Miami Firefighters Union President Robert Suarez.

And then there is this:

"That property, and only that property that is going to be owned by the county, should be patrolled and protected by county police officers," said John Rivera, Director of the Miami Dade Police Benevolent Association.

I'm hopeful this will be worked out.  

Since the county is going to own the stadium it would only make sense that their security officers should patrol the site.  And it also seems to make sense that the Miami Fire Department provide the rescue and paramedic services to the park.  From what I've seen, they both do a good job.

But this is a turf war, so you never know how it will turn out.  However, I find it hard to believe this will end up as deal killer.  Although, the county, from their discussions are planning to fight this one all the way.  Hopefully cooler heads will prevail.

They have about 23 days to work this out.