We've gotten terrific support from Yacht Clubs-and it is not surprising. In the past, attending events at the Marine Stadium was one of the best reasons to own a boat in the Miami area. We made a presentation to a monthly meeting of  the Matheson Hammock Yacht Club-and got a very enthusiastic response from the members.

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This report from Dade Heritage Trust is entitled "The Historic Miami Marine Stadium - Rebirth of an Icon?"

Click Here to read/view the report.

In this thoughtful editorial, Miami Today editor Michael Lewis argues that funding for the Marine Stadium should be done only if the Marine Stadium has legitimate uses and a viable business plan is developed.

We agree.

We've been quietly working on these feasibility issues for two years and they are extremely important. Scroll down to read an article ("Preservation Today" November 2009) on potential end users and management by Don and Nina Worth, Co-Founders of Friends of Marine Stadium. Since the article was written in July of 2009, we've identified many more end users and have had continued discussions with groups that we believe could manage the Marine Stadium.

The issues that Michael Lewis raises are key-and we are very confident that a successful operating plan can be developed.


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The CSM Group hosts major fishing tournaments that are major events for the host communities. They contacted us because of their interest in the Marine Stadium. They would like to use the Stadium to host concerts-both for the boats participating in the fishing tournament and people in the stands. This would create a remarkable and high profile event.

CSM is one of the 28 promoters and event organizations that we have talked with who would like to use the Marine Stadium.

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Executive Director Michael Spring and the Department of Cultural Affairs have played a key role in the development of Miami as a true cultural and artistic center.

We are delighted to have their strong support for the restoration of Marine Stadium, and we look forward to working with them to continue to introduce the Marine Stadium to the many cultural and arts organizations in Miami Dade County.


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PLEASE email THE MIAMI DADE COUNTY COMMISSION AND ASK THEM TO APPROVE THE $3 MILLION APPROPRIATION for the MIAMI MARINE STADIUM. THE HEARING WILL BE AT THE COUNTY COMMISSION,
111 NW 1st STREET, SUITE 1030 (TIME; TBD: WE WILL EMAIL YOU AN UPDATE OF A TIME CERTAIN)
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On April 6, the Miami Dade County Commission will meet to consider a $3 million authorization from the Historic Preservation Fund to be used for the restoration of Miami Marine Stadium. This funding will not be available to us immediately-and there are numerous strings attached-but it is an important start. We urge all Miami Marines to contact the Miami Dade Commission to approve this resolution.

Also, this report contains a discussion on the costs of restoring Miami Marine Stadium as well as two power boat races, the Treasure Coast Hydroplane Regatta and the Sunny Isles Power Boat Challenge, which are hosting charity events to benefit the Friends of Marine Stadium/Dade Heritage Trust.


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This is a very comprehensive cover story on the Marine Stadium.

You can  view this article online

You can also download this article in a 2-part PDF file:
Part 1
Part 2

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On March 27, there will be a public planning charrette for Virginia Key, to be held at the Rusty Pelican. The charette is co-sponsored by the University of Miami and Urban Environment League, and will present design concepts for the Virginia Key from the University of Miami Architectural Studio taught by Jorge Hernandez and Hilario Candela.

Over the last month, we've made steady, quiet progress with numerous public presentations and additional press. Friends of Marine Stadium is the chosen beneficiary of the Miami International Triathlon and Treasure Coast Hydroplane Regatta-both the types of events that can return to a restored Marine Stadium.

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The Ponce Business Association (website: www.poncedevelopment.org) represents a growing number of businesses in Coral Gables.  We gave a presentation to the Association-and we appreciate their enthusiastic support.

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Article about visit to the Business School by Amy Freitag, Director of U.S. sites, World Monuments Fund. Three student classes at the University of Miami are developing alternatives for the Marine Stadium site.

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The Latin American Business Association represents a very diversified group of business executives We are pleased to have their support.

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A report on the challenges of finding an operator and users for the Miami Marine Stadium. The City of Portland has a similar challenge with the Memorial Coliseum in downtown Portland. We might note that increasingly, the effort to restore the Marine Stadium is becoming a "national story".




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This is our fourth positive editorial endorsing restoration of the Marine Stadium by the Miami Herald.

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Article about the results of the engineering study initiated by the World Monuments Fund. Quotes from World Monuments Fund Executive Director Bonnie Burnham and City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.

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Results of engineering study announced: Concrete restoration costs estimated to be between $5.5-8.5 million, depending upon how much additional preventive work is done to extend the life of the structure. This compares to a study done for the City of Miami which estimated the cost to be as high as $15 million. The estimates do not include other aspects of renovation (seats, bathrooms, railings, Handicapped accessiblitiy). Also, a follow on study is necessary to determine the condition of the piles.

The study was commissioned by the World Monuments Fund and was done by Simpson Gumpertz and Heger (SGH) a highly respected engineering firm which had actually analyzed the structure in 1993.

Read the update for more information.

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Marine Stadium Bliss

This organization represents businesses in downtown Miami. The Marine Stadium was presented to the Board and they immediately approved this resolution.

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PRESS-RELEASE:STUDY SHOWS THAT RESTORATION COSTS ARE LOWER THAN PREDICTED 
FOR THIS WIDELY CELEBRATED MODERNIST ICON

Download the this PDF file to read the Press Release.

This engineering study was organized with the assistance of the World Monuments Fund. Done by the engineering firm of Simpson Gumpertz and Heger (SGH), its purpose was to document the cost of restoration of the concrete. The study estimated that restoration costs would range from $5.5-$8.5 million, depending upon how much additional work is done to extend the life of the restoration. This figures compares to estimates as high as $15 million done in a previous report (2008) for the City of Miami.

SGH used core sampling techniques to document costs. The report done for the City was based on a visual inspection.  SGH is familiar with the Marine Stadiium as they had done a study in 1993 of the structure. The sub-contractor, Structural Preservation Systems, worked on the City's previous study.

The study recommends that a follow-on study is done to determine the condition and costs of the piles under the land and under the sea bed.

We very much appreciate the assistance of the World Monuments Fund in this study and would like to thank the other sponsors of the study:

The Villagers, Inc.
Dade Heritage Trust
The National Trust For Historic Preservation
The John & Selene Devaney Foundation
The Office of County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez

Structural Repair and Protection Cost Estimate and Attendant Condition Appraisal of the Miami Marine from Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Inc.

The Friends of Marine Stadium have partnered with Excel Productions to help assure that the Marine Stadium site is designed to accommodate triathlons. The Treasure Coast Inboard Hydroplane Regatta has offered to provide us with the proceeds of the sale of beer at a beer tent at the Regatta on April 24-25. Also, there will be three classes at the University of Miami who will be looking at Virginia Key and the Marine Stadium Basin during the spring semester.

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