"Centers" Vs. Stadiums

'Miami's Carnival Center for the Performing Arts welcomes its first audiences this week, but a decade-long struggle with delays and budget woes isn't over yet. As the final touches were being applied, the project's cost rose to $518.1 million -- and is likely to go higher.

'It has become the largest single public-private project in South Florida history, according to Miami-Dade County Manager George M. Burgess.

'With hopes for a $460 million domed Florida Marlins stadium sputtering once again, the arts has trumped sports in South Florida with the most expensive cultural project south of the Lincoln Center in New York City.' (SunSentinel)

AND FARTHER NORTH...: 'Florida Atlantic University had the opportunity to compete to bring a major league baseball team spring training base to Boca Raton. Unfortunately, this was stymied by political weakness and the money pit known as the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

'Some background: As a baseball fanatic, last year I contacted FAU Athletic Director Craig Angelos and suggested that he combine the FAU need for a new baseball complex with an attempt to bring a major league team to Boca Raton for spring training. The complex also would be available to local high schools and youth groups during the remaining 320 days in the year. (Note: I have no financial interest in such venture.)

'A number of teams who train in Florida were considering moving (either within Florida or to Arizona) and they were open to discussion. Not surprisingly, the teams wanted to know that local politicians were in favor of having them. The state of Florida this spring enacted legislation that provides a portion of funding for a spring training complex and which requires match funding by local government.

'We turned to the local Palm Beach County commissioners and the mayor of Boca Raton for support for a project. To our surprise, we were met with responses ranging from indifference to hostility. Only Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, stepped up as an advocate.

'A letter from the head of the Tourist Development Council explained why no hotel bed tax money would be available. Apparently, this money was needed to "cover other losses in the future" at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. This is in addition to the "over $80 million of bed tax funds in the Convention Center" already. Also, another $30 million "in other county funds" is being used to "offset the cost of building a $100 million Convention Center hotel."

'This led me to the Palm Beach County Convention Center Web site to see what we are getting for all this money. I was startled by, in my opinion, the pathetic list of forthcoming events, certainly when compared with the Broward County Convention Center: bridal expo, dive show, antique show -- hardly events that put heads in beds. Broward County need not worry about its Palm Beach County competitor.' (SunSentinel)