CANES at O.B. about OVER

[cygnus34]

FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ

Canes at OB `doesn't look good'

By BARRY JACKSON

bjackson@MiamiHerald.com

Several officials involved in the discussions -- and a couple of Miami politicians -- consider the University of Miami's move to Dolphin Stadium likely. ''It doesn't look good at the moment,'' city commissioner Angel Gonzalez said of UM staying at the Orange Bowl.

One UM staffer said work has begun on the logistics of a move north. But no decision has been made, and there are issues for UM to work through before and after a deal is signed. Among them:

• Suites: That's the focus of a key negotiating point not resolved. The price, how the revenue would be split and who gets priority seating are in question. Some Dolphins suite-holders might get first crack at some suites because of their leases, but UM also wants priority seating for donors. Unlike at the OB, UM would get some parking and concession revenue and pay less rent.

• When to leave: Lori Billberry, Miami's director of facilities, said UM has no out clause before its OB lease expires after the 2009 season. But there's sentiment inside UM to depart before the 2008 or 2009 seasons, and there's a sense the city would oblige.

Miami city manager Pete Hernandez said if UM leaves and the Marlins build on the OB site, construction would begin in 2008, making it impossible for UM to play there after this year.

• Marlins conflicts: Dolphin Stadium president Bruce Schulze said the Marlins have scheduling priority even over the Dolphins. Though he won't speculate on UM, Hurricanes officials privately say they could adjust to conflicts with the Marlins until the baseball team moves. Only one MLB team, the Minnesota Twins, shares a stadium with a college football program.

• Ticket plan: UM officials say it will take time to craft a ticket policy and relocate ticket holders to comparable seats at Dolphin Stadium. UM will study how the Dolphins did it when they left the OB after 1986. The Dolphins are expected to allow UM to contact their season-ticket holders in a cross-marketing plan. UM also would provide buses to transport students from campus to Dolphin Stadium.

• Other issues: Some UM officials aren't thrilled with playing in a facility named ''Dolphin Stadium.'' And UM isn't fond of the dirt infield during Marlins season. But neither is expected to be a deal-killer.

So is there any scenario in which UM stays at the OB? One informed UM official could see it happening only if the Marlins' stadium plan collapses soon, and the city uses its $108 million Marlins contribution toward renovating the OB. But Hernandez is noncommittal about whether all that money could even be used on the OB.

''The perfect thing would be to keep the University of Miami, but I don't think it's going to happen,'' Miami city commissioner Joe Sanchez said. ``If it's a divorce, they're the ones walking out.''

UM and the city can't agree what the OB upgrades cost -- Hernandez said it's $160 million to $170 million, but UM believes it's much more. Hernandez said ''$100 million to $120 million is what we have available. [but] we haven't lost hope.'' No new meetings between UM and the city have been scheduled yet, he said.

[cygnus34]

Short blurb in Sun-Sentinal yesterday.

Discussions with UM

Huizenga said discussions are ongoing with UM about moving its home football games from the Orange Bowl to Dolphin Stadium.

"Their attendance would rise and they would have a heck of a nice building compared with what they have," said Huizenga, whose massive renovations of Dolphin Stadium are ongoing. "Don't get me wrong. There is a lot of tradition at the Orange Bowl. We all know that. We just have to wait to see what they want to do."

[BullBlood]

The OB is a horrible stadium and I would hesitate to go back.  Miami needs to attract more fans to home games.