Miami

Final Insult? Ex-Marlins Owners Say They Owe City and County Zero From Sale: Source

What to Know

  • The former owners of the Miami Marlins are now claiming they owe the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County nothing after the team's sale.
  • Under the deal worked out, the former owners are required to share five percent of the net profits from selling the Marlins.
  • Former owners are allowed to deduct items such as debt as part of the agreement, which could reduce or even eliminate any amount owed.

In what may be their final insult, the former ownership of the Miami Marlins is now claiming they owe the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County nothing as a result of the team’s recent sale to a group led by former baseball superstar Derek Jeter.

A source told NBC 6 News on Thursday that the group led by former majority owner Jeffrey Loria informed the county of their intent to not provide any of the proceeds from the $1.2 billion sale that was finalized shortly after the end of the 2017 baseball season.

Under a 2009 agreement added to the deal worked out between the former ownership and government officials in exchange for $2.6 billion to build Marlins Park - considered by many to be one of the worst deals in sports history - the city would get five percent of any net proceeds if the team was sold in 2017, a number that would drop to zero if they were sold after March 31, 2018.

Loria and others, who bought the team in 2002 for an estimated $158 million, are allowed to deduct items such as debt, taxes or expenses relating to the sale as part of the agreement, which could reduce or even eliminate any amount owed.

With the team's value being the source of debate - some reports having it at $500 million - the net profit would equal nearly $700 million, meaning the city and county would split close to $35 million if those numbers confirmed by the team and county officials. Both sides now have 30 days each to resolve the situation before an arbitrator is brought in.

New ownership have begun a fire sale with the team’s roster, including trading last year’s National League MVP, Giancarlo Stanton, along with fan favorites like Marcelle Ozuna, Christian Yelich and Dee Gordon.

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