The Building Better Communities Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC) has voted in favor of using $50 million previously allocated for renovations of the Orange Bowl towards funding a new baseball stadium.

The County is currently in negotiations with the Florida Marlins to build a baseball stadium at the site of the Orange Bowl which will loose its only tenant, the University of Miami Hurricane football team, at the end of the year. Beginning in 2008, the Hurricanes will play at Dolphin Stadium. 

The CAC voted 11-2 in support of re-directing funding for Orange Bowl renovations that is part of the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program (GOB) approved by County voters three years ago.  The proposed funding change now goes to the Board of County Commissioners for approval.

"Building a baseball stadium at the Orange Bowl site maintains the spirit of the 2004 bond referendum" said CAC Chair Robin Reiter-Faragalli.  "After discussing the issue at length, the majority of the committee agreed that we are preserving the use of the GOB funds."

If a baseball stadium agreement is finalized between the County, City of Miami and the Marlins, the Orange Bowl would be demolished to make way for a new baseball stadium.   Plans to renovate the 1937 Orange Bowl were scrapped when costs were expected to exceed available GOB funding and the Hurricanes subsequently announced intentions to move to Dolphins Stadium.