How they split the cost

Here's a good example of how difficult it could be to answer a simple question about baseball stadium financing: Who paid for what?

In today's story about the opening of the Charlotte Sports Park, we broke down the funding of the       $27.2 million facility this way -- 54 percent Charlotte County, 33 percent state, 13 percent Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays challenged the figure early this morning, saying their contribution was greater. In short, it is and it isn't. Here's why: The $27.2 million project will actually be paid off over a number of years. With interest, the money going out the door over time is more like $47 million. Of every dollar being put in to paying off the stadium renovations, the Rays are indeed contributing around 13 percent.

But the team says its contributing more of its money early on, meaning its dollars have greater buying power. Following?

Put another way, the Rays are contributing about 13 percent of all the cash needed for the project, but because they are contributing more cash sooner than the state and the county, they say they are actually paying for more of the work.

How much more? We're trying to figure that out. When we do, we'll let you know.

Then take an aspirin.

Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

*

'We know how to build baseball stadiums'

Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg didn't say a lot about the prospects for a new stadium in St. Petersburg Wednesday. He didn't have to. Sternberg let the Rays' new $27.2-million spring training facility do most of the (figurative) talking.

On his way to the field, he did offer Ballpark Frankness this little gem:

"We know how to build baseball stadiums. We know what fans want.”

His point is obvious. But I also thought City Council member Jeff Danner offered a pretty good retort.

“I’ve always had confidence they would know how to build a good stadium. The question (for St. Petersburg) is where and how to pay for it.”

So what say you? Is this all talk?

-- Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

Marlins ballpark vote today

MIAMI (AP) — For the Florida Marlins, this day has been a long time coming.

The franchise has won two World Series titles since its inaugural season in 1993, but still has no home of its own. Sixteen years after the team's first game, South Florida politicians might be ready to change that.

City of Miami and Miami-Dade County commissioners are scheduled to cast their final votes Friday on a proposal for a retractable-roof, $515 million stadium in Miami's blighted Little Havana neighborhood. If the proposal is approved, it will be the last step before groundbreaking for the stadium, which is projected to open in 2012.

"I'm always humbly concerned," club president David Samson said of the upcoming vote. "Until the votes actually happen, of course I'm going to be concerned. But I'm cautiously optimistic. We are in their hands."