http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/300837.htmlIn a move that's hardly surprising, the city of Miami has decided to demolish the Orange Bowl, a 70-year-old sports cathedral that has staged some of the biggest and most memorable events in South Florida history.
And soon, the public will get a chance to buy pieces of the stadium, even the urinals.
Miami City Manager Pete Hernandez said Thursday that he will recommned the stadium be torn down. The issue will have to go before the Miami City Commission.
Hernandez said the demolition likely will occur in March or April, after a yet-to-be hired firm spends several weeks selling off memorabilia from the stadium. The final event at the Orange Bowl will be a high-school football All-Star game, on Jan. 4.
Hernandez said the decision to demolish is being driven largely by the desire to use the land for a retractable-roof ballpark for the Florida Marlins. But Hernandez said demolition is not contingent on striking a deal with the Marlins.
''I can't afford to wait until I have a deal completed on baseball,'' Hernandez said. ``Once we go past our final event on Jan. 4, we need to get it ready hopefully for baseball or something else.''