Work is now underway that will transform the site of the former Orange Bowl into a ballpark for the Miami Marlins. Already the heavy equipment is moving dirt at the 42-acre worksite and a growing number of hard hats are on the job. Major new construction could not come at a better time. The new stadium will support thousands of employment opportunities -- jobs tied directly to construction and, once complete, long-term jobs associated with a sports venue.

The most powerful outcome of a 37,000-seat stadium may well be on the streets of Little Havana where the shops and other business interests will see new life. Spring 2012 -- the anticipated opening date -- will launch a new era of excitement and purpose in one of Miami-Dade's oldest neighborhoods. In addition to housing the Miami Marlins, the stadium will provide a new locale for a myriad of usages from concerts to amateur athletic events.

None of us has a crystal ball, but the incentives for a bustling business corridor to develop between the stadium and downtown are too great not to occur as our economy recovers. The entire County will reap the rewards. Urban patterns are changing with a new focus on close-in development, and the ballpark, which is less than two miles from downtown, is poised to anchor a thriving and important neighborhood in the heart of Miami.

I invite everyone to join me in looking toward the future -- not only that of our winning hometown team, but also the very real promise it presents for the type of economic revitalization that keeps communities strong.

Sincerely,

Mayor Carlos Alvarez