Gimenez on CBS-4: Port soccer stadium site is just ‘viable’

Gimenez on CBS-4: Port soccer stadium site is just ‘viable’
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In an interview with Jim DeFede that airs Sunday on Channel 4, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez calls the Port of Miami Gimenez, DeFedesimply “a viable site” for a soccer stadium to accommodate the expansion Major League Soccer team that retired British player David Beckham wants to bring to Miami.

Not the “best site.” Not even “a great site,” mind you. Just a “viable site.”

Asked if he thought the port was “right now” the “best” site, Gimenez — who has likely heard from staff that many commissioners do not like the site for the stadium — is non-committal.

And, in what seems like a crisis management campaign to defuse the mounting opposition to the port location for a future stadium, Gimenez again dismissed the intelligence of anyone who is already against it.

“A lot of the things being said about why it’s not a good site are frankly not true,” Gimenez tells DeFede on WFOR CBS-4’s Facing South Florida, which starts at 11:30 a.m. — and which is unlikely to be as good as it was last week when there was a cat fight between Soccer On the Bay’s paid New York City booster John Alschuler and Miami Seaport Alliance’s paid voice of the opposition John Fox.

Still, Ladra’s gonna watch to see Gimenez, who is also expected to talk about the upcoming budget shortfall, try to save himself from this free fall.

“What I’ve told the Beckham group from the get-go is that my first priority about the Port of Miami is viability of the carlos-gimenez-beckhamPort of Miami, because it is the second largest economic generator here in Miami-Dade County,” Gimenez says, according to a preview of the program online.

“And I certainly wouldn’t be putting forth something to the public if that becomes the site — and I’m not saying it is — that is going to jeopardize the second largest economic generator in our county,” the mayor tells DeFede.

Gimenez also told Ladra on Thursday that he did not necessarily have a preference for the port site — even though he seems to have focused all his energies on that location since late last year, when began the secret talks about the stadium for an MLS team with retired British soccer star David Beckham. “That’s a lie,” he called back over his shoulder as he walked quickly away from me and Political Cortadito news partner Mira TV cameraman Axel Oliveros on Thursday after he left a particularly hostile crowed at the Kendall Federation of Homeowners Association meeting.

But DeFede apparently thought Gimenez preferred the Port site, too. Like the say in the Geico commercials, everybody knows that.

Could it be because Beckham and his investors, who have very clearly stated that the 20-acre port site in downtown Miami is their preferred home, have indicated that it would be a deal breaker to offer anything but one of the most valuable pieces of waterfront property owned by taxpayers?

C’mon! Like Ladra said last year, when the mayor and his cronies’ threat was we would lose professional soccer if we didn’t vote to fund the renovations of the Miami Dolphins stadium with tourist tax dollars: Miami is a natural for soccer and it’s going to be here.

Does anybody really believe that Major League Soccer and anyone with dollar signs in their eyes would give up a chance to start a team — with the endorsements, TV time and merchandise that entails — in what is undoubtedly the largest soccer market in the U.S.? A team that is poised to become, almost immediately, the top team and the most beloved team in the country?

Because what many people don’t realize is that this is Major League Soccer, not World Cup soccer. There will be no Messi sightings. Real Madrid will not be playing here. This will be for about 20 U.S. teams and three from Canada. No big stars. Yet.

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Ralph Garcia-Toledo, right, is often accompanied by the mayor’s dutiful daughter-in-law, Barbie Rodriguez Gimenez, left.

Or could the port preference be driven by his buddy and former driver, increasingly influential lobbyist Ralph Garcia-Toledo, who has been forever working to bring the Pan American Games to South Florida?

Ladra really hopes DeFede asks him that follow up question.

Because while Miami is definitely poised to become the place where the big American soccer stars will be no matter where the stadium is, a waterfront stadium near the MetroRail with a pedestrian bridge to downtown shops and restaurants sure looks better in PowerPoint.

And it may yield better returns on naming rights and future television broadcasts of such events.

6 Responses to "Gimenez on CBS-4: Port soccer stadium site is just ‘viable’"

  1. Some agreement … The county shells out $147 million in subsidies to get $26 million in rent. The Heat would pay $500,000 a year in rent. This is a 680,000-square-foot facility. This comes to a whopping SIX CENTS per square foot per month in rent. What are the prevailing rents for waterfront property in downtown Miami?

  2. Thanks for the heads up. Good show.. I got to see Carlos 3.0 the reboot…it sure seems Cava is driving Lynda back to accountable.

    Since he can no longer count on Lynda to maintain his veto proof block he too has become more reasonable.

    His dog whistle on Dedefe’s show to the unions which he and Lynda have been threatening with cuts and layoffs all year…

    All of a sudden the $208 million dollar hole is more like half..and he says he’s budgeting for the workers promised snapbacks in September AND leaving their healthcare alone..

    He suddenly realized he can meet service level without tax increases or first line worker layoffs by pushing desk jockeys back on the streets. ironic, exactly what the unions have been saying for years. Wonder if he is trying to placate them to stay out of district 8 this summer?

    His secret Heat giveaway last week, is now off the table after it was made public and Lynda had to moonwalk on her support.

    Lynda had put aways all her selfies posing with Beckham and his deal has gone from viable to volatile.

    Lastly he said won’t put a tax hike vote on the ballot. The commission is going to have to do it. (no chance in an election year, especially while the mayor is still trying to work pro-sport franchise giveaways).

    Lynda is even trying to green up eco creds making all the rounds on Earth day. Only problem, her green is really the color of the cash rock mining is showering her with and it won’t wash off by August.

    BTW did anyone notice the Mayor bailed on his scheduled public appearance at the Baynanza kickoff with her Saturday? Political pay back or is he staying away from unscripted public appearances in South Dade after his public flogging last week?

  3. “The Miami Fusion folded in 2001, in part due to poor attendance. And even with Beckham’s star power, a new team remains risky. Fans here are notoriously of the fair-weather variety. Before LeBron James arrived in 2010, not even the National Basketball Association champion Miami Heat sold out all its games.”

    Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/05/3914127/soccer-star-david-beckham-to-bring.html#storylink=cpy

    Why is there no promised soccer park next to the AA stadium?

    “Limited parking could be built underground, as in the Miami Heat’s AmericanAirlines Arena, but it’s unclear how much more parking space would be available. Iglesias said some fans could park in the same Biscayne Boulevard lots they use for Heat games and then walk over the bridge to the port.”

    Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/11/26/3780446/beckham-group-consider-soccer.html#storylink=cpy

    “With thousands of cars flooding into downtown for games, the plan counts on about 7,900 parking spaces in downtown and 2,500 spaces at the stadium,” said Margarita Reyes, a Biscayne Boulevard resident. “The numbers just don’t add up.”

    http://www.local10.com/sports/portmiami-real-estate-development-visions-collide/25197390

    Beckham’s option for a team ends in December. Can this stupid discussion churn until then? He’ll be begging to place a stadium anywhere in Miami just around Thanksgiving time.

    This is a land grab for the other acres around the stadium. The sports part is just to churn up fervor in fans using them as as pawns to front the fight that benefits the billionaires. Such an obnoxious and obvious strategy.

  4. Only in a third world city such as ours are individuals of this ilk permitted to run around without any concern or fear of the law. Individuals such as Armando Gutierrez, Freddy Balsera, Carlos Gimenez, Jr., Marcelo Llorente, Ralph Garcia Toledo and a whole cast of other lobbyists and consultants thump their nose at local, state and federal authorities and engage in criminal violations that would land violators in other cities in jail in no time. The listed individuals meet and talk on the phone and discuss contracts behind the scenes away from public eyes in violation of the Sunshine Law. That would surely be a violation if Joe Centorino ever decided to follow up on it but that would be incovenient and dangerous to his perpetuity as head of the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics. At the same time our State or U.S. Attorney could follow up on one of the dozens of criminal allegations they receive each month, obtain enough evidence to listen in to all their telephone conversations, follow them to every meeting, line up every dot and put them in prison for a long time. That too would be dangerous since the well of political contributions and a chance to rub elbows at social events would soon run dry. Having lived through the days of Stephen Clark, Alex Penelas and Calos Alvarez, I can attest that Carlos Gimenez is the most corrupt and less caring of the bunch. With the support of The Miami Herald, and radio mouth pieces such as Joe Rose, Jimmy Cefalo and Bernadette Pardo, Gimenez has managed to stay afloat pushing his putrid agenda and taking us for a ride. If history serves us right, Gimenez will survive until the day he crosses one of his powerful benefactors. On that day the “wheels of justice” will move forward at outstanding speed and he will find himself in an orange gown and sitting behind bars. That will be a good day.

  5. The arrogance in Carlos, his wife, and son Junior is quite overwhelming. We all now that Carlos is striking it rich with the Dolphin stadium and Beckham ordeal. These are schemes created so his entourage, including his son can get paid mega money. Similar to the scheme over in Miami where Mayor Regalado and Commissioner intentionally made an issue that Ultra Fest would end. They forced Ultra to hire Brian May (Sarnoff’s boy toy) and Armando Guitierrez (the real Mayor of Miami) as lobbyists. It is “pay to play” scheme, which is becoming ever so common in our third world city Miami. In Gimenez’s case, Marcelo Llorente, Carlos Gimenez Jr., Fred Balsera, Jose Mallea, and Ralph Garcia-Toledo are the money collectors. Carlos Sr. will collect his portion later. Well maybe sooner as his ass is getting closer to being removed out of office similar to his predecessor. Carlos your arrogance is finally catching up with you again!

    Ladra, what do you think? Point well taken?

  6. If the destruction the Gimenites have created in this county was not so sad, it would be almost laughable! The MLS saga is but another episode of the ongoing saga of Miami’s Godfather trilogy- complete with Ralph Garcia-Toledo playing the role of Lucca Brassi!

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