Selig, Du Puy 'Very Disappointed' That State Of Florida Won't Pay For Roof

'"There still seems to be optimism. We're hopeful that something can be put back together," Selig said Tuesday during a question-and-answer session before the All-Star game.

'Legislation that would have provided a $60 million subsidy was approved by the Florida House in April, but the Senate never voted on it before its annual session ended. In 2006, the Senate approved a bill that died in the House.

'"It's, frankly, very discouraging at the moment. The commissioner is very upset about it. No one's very happy," said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer. "We thought the stars were aligned. We thought that everything was in place to get that final piece. We were very disappointed when the legislature adjourned without passing (it)."...

'"I think south Florida, with right ballpark, could be an excellent major league franchise," Selig said. "There isn't a doubt in my mind."

'Baseball remains in contact with government officials in the Miami area.

'"We don't want to give up on the market," DuPuy said.

'Because of the constant threat of late-afternoon rain in Miami, Major League Baseball wants a new Marlins ballpark to have a retractable roof.' (USAToday)

EXPANDED-COVERAGE: 'Commissioner Bud Selig said he is not ready to tell the Marlins to look outside of South Florida. The club in recent years has looked into the possibility of moving to places like Las Vegas and San Antonio, Texas.

'"They still seem to be optimistic," Selig said of Marlins officials. "When you look at all the demographics, I really like South Florida. South Florida is a major league area but the ballpark is not conducive to baseball in any way, shape or form." Even if the Marlins secure funding, they still have no firm site. The club would like to be just outside of downtown Miami, but many political leaders in Miami-Dade County prefer an Orange Bowl site. The OB might be razed if the University of Miami decides to play its football games at Dolphin Stadium.

'DuPuy is frustrated that the Marlins have been put into a position of waiting for a decision from UM.

'"We had a great downtown site and all of a sudden the news developed that the Orange Bowl might be vacated and the commissioners got very concerned about a vacant Orange Bowl and a white elephant, so people turned their attention back to the Orange Bowl site," DuPuy said.

'One thing that MLB and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria agree on: To attract fans from around South Florida, a new stadium would have to have a retractable roof because of the frequent threat of showers.

'"You're asking people to come an hour and hour and a half and they want to know the game is going to start at 7 o'clock and they want to know the game is going to be over at 9:30, 10," DuPuy said.' (PalmBeachPost)