Proof-of-Concept… a new home field?

by TexCane

For the third consecutive spring, Miami hosted an overflow crowd of more than 5,000 fans for the annual Spring Game at Cobb Stadium.

Miami has to construct temporary seating for the game due to the highly restrictive City of Coral Gables. However, the university now has a solid proof of concept to justify a true home stadium for our Hurricanes on or near campus.

The only question is where to build it. And politics!

Over the years, there have been many efforts to build a small capacity stadium in the area around or near campus. It started back in the 1980s when legendary football coach Howard Schnellenberger proposed a 30,00 seat stadium on the site of the present Cobb Stadium. The Coral Gables city council rejected the university’s application for building permits.

When the old Orange Bowl was torn down to build the Marlins baseball stadium, an effort was again made to design the new stadium for multi-purpose use (baseball and football.) Politics again got in the way.

Fast forward twenty years, a wealthy alum, generously offered to build a stadium for the Canes. A number of sites were considered, including the Coral Gables High location and Tropical Park, among other sites. Again, Coral Gables city council politics blocked the effort and a financial downturn for the alum ended that attempt to find a permanent home for our Hurricanes.

Meanwhile, the university continues to be rebuffed by the City of Coral Gables for building permits for new academic buildings on campus, including expansion of the engineering/archecture school.

When will enough be enough?

Perhaps sooner than you think. Miami’s lease of Hard Rock Stadium runs through 2028. There have been recent rumors the university might seriously consider building a second second campus outside of Coral Gables. Such a campus could include new Law, Engineering, Architecture, Hospital/Nursing and a School of Journalism.

And a football stadium.

Where?

Rumors suggest the new campus will be larger than the present main campus. Oh my, are we talking about a new main campus?

Obviously, our immediate interest is focused on football. We have obtained an artist conceptual drawing (see above) of a 45,000 seat stadium expandable to 50,000 seats.

Quiet talks are rumored there are multiple locations available if the politics can be managed. Our sources say this will be a make it-break it factor in any future effort to build “Hurricane Harbor.”

BOTTOM LINE:

Despite need and a solid proof-of-concept, a permanent home for our Hurricanes is highly unlikely. Politics will continue to block every effort. Defeat the politicians and a new stadium can become a reality.

I guess you know where we stand on this issue.

CaneReports will keep you posted on any new developments.

GO CANES!