Get breakfast and up to date on Miami Marine Stadium

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The future plans for the Miami Marine Stadium will be the topic of discussion this week at the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club meeting in Miami Beach.

Don Worth, co-founder of the Friends of the Miami Marine Stadium — which advocates for the Bayside watersports stadium’s restoration — will be the guest speaker and bring people up to date on the latest developments, including a proposal by Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado for some $45 million in bond referendum dollars to fund improvements that has gotten some lukewarm response.

Last May, City Commissioners took what many longtime advocates consider the first serious step in the promise to repair and reopen the landmark — closed since 1992 — when they chose a team that includes a noted preservationist architect, Richard Heisenbottle, and the original architect of the stadium, Hilario Candela, to design the renovation. Heisenbottle led the renovation of both Miami City Hall and the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center downtown.

That was a win for the Friends group, which had pushed for Candela and the controversial boat show held at the stadium in February as well as a $120-million renovation that was shot down.

But where are we today? Are there still plans to add wet slips into an expanded stadium, which purists say would damage the integrity of the stadium’s original design? What about the “flex park” that is also being pushed by the Regalado administration? And would we have to give back the $1 million grant that is covering the renovation design if these non historic uses are incorporated?

Also, what alternative potential funding could there be? Because there doesn’t seem to be much appetite on the city commission for the mayor’s $45-million bond. Discussion on the issue was deferred last month because commissioners wanted more details. Commissioner Joe Carollo blocked it citing the mostly ignored five-day rule, but expressed concern over the lack of information or analysis of the expenses and revenues associated with Virginia Key facilities pre- and post- renovation.

So, where else could we go if the city had to go somewhere other than the public trough? Certainly selling the graffiti-covered metal seats — cool as they are — won’t cover the price tag. But what about naming rights? Or corporate sponsorships? American Express in 2013 paid $80,000 for a study of the abandoned structure’s pilings. Could they be interested in underwriting some of the renovation? Or else call Visa.

These could be some of the questions answered on Tuesday. The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. at Manolo Restaurant, 685 Washington Ave.

  Tomas Regalado