Marlins Park Cost Taxpayers a Lot, But It Brings Economic Benefits, Too

One waitress says she has benefited from the investment, "and I think everybody in the end will"

The new Marlins Park has been much criticized for its high cost for taxpayers: the public is paying $360 million of the $515 million price tag.

But as the gleaming ballpark prepares to open its doors for Opening Day Wednesday, could it actually put money in your pocket? That is what Perla Veras, a waitress at the City Hall restaurant, is hoping.

“It’s one of my favorite days – every time I know that a game is happening,” she said.

The restaurant where Veras works is about a mile north of AmericanAirlines Arena, and she gets more tips on the nights the Heat are on the court. Now she hopes Marlins Park will do the same, even if it’s further away.

She said she thinks she has benefited from the investment, “and I think everybody in the end will.”

Tony Argiz, managing partner at the MBAF accounting firm, said the stadium, overall, is an economic boon for Little Havana, and brings “a lot of dollars that are going to be circulated.”

His accounting firm conducts studies on the impact sports teams have on a local economy. The Marlins hired 6,000 construction workers and added many new staff jobs as well.

“There are 2,000 new jobs that have been created at the new ballpark, and that’s also going to generate a lot more dollars that are going to be circulated,” he said.

Stores and restaurants are not open yet at a retail complex outside the ballpark, but Argiz says be patient, and in the long run they will make an impact here.

Meantime, home prices near the park “have already shot up,” he said.

And the Marlins have already seen a 25 percent bump in the value of the franchise, to $450 million, according to Forbes magazine.

Their payroll has increased from $61 million to $93 million.

Steven Hass, the owner of City Hall restaurant, said he has been able to hire more workers, even with the season not yet begun.

“Any type of arena, stadium, anything like that really penetrates into the neighborhoods, and I think everybody benefits from it,” he said.

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