Henry, by contrast, has pledged to keep the Marlins in South Florida. This may help build fan support. But as a stadium finance strategy, it demands patience. But threatening to leave is just not something this owner is going to do. While Henry has been busy meeting with elected officials, some involved in the campaign believe that the issue may have to go to voters.
Politicians appear reluctant to pledge tax support without first asking their constituents directly.
It would be a tough referendum campaign. A March poll conducted for the Marlins by Frederick Schneiders Research, a Washington, D.C.-based firm, outlined the magnitude of the task. Respondents to the poll of 1,000 voters, conducted in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade, show South Floridians almost evenly split on the issue of partial public financing for a new ballpark. Some kind of tax support appears to be inescapable The Nice Guy approach calls for taxing anyone except your average working stiff. The San Diego ballpark deal, for example, depends largely on taxes that tourists pay.