Mayor Gibson emphasizes job-creating impact of world-class events
Miami Gardens – As state legislators finalize their preparations for the beginning of the 2011 session, the City of Miami Gardens has unanimously passed a resolution in support of two bills that would reform the manner in which counties can impose and administer a one-cent tax paid by tourists.
Among other things, the proposed legislation would allow the bed tax proceeds to be expended on critical tourism-enhancing projects, such as the renovation and expansion of the Miami Beach Convention Center and the modernization of Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Amid widespread concern that Sun Life Stadium – in its current state – will not be able to attract future Super Bowls and BCS Championships with the same degree of frequency to which South Florida is accustomed, Miami Gardens decided to take action and endorse the legislation filed by Rep. Erik Fresen (R-Miami). “Our support of House Bill 141 and Senate Bill 466 is two-fold: they will not only ensure that our venues can compete for world-class events that our communities enjoy, but also generate revenue and support new jobs that we so desperately need,” said Miami Gardens Mayor Shirley M. Gibson.
Gibson’s sentiments were reflected in the language of the resolution, which emphasized the importance of the economic impact and additional employment opportunities that the stadium enhancements would generate for Miami Gardens and South Florida. Specifically, it is estimated the current plans to improve Sun Life Stadium would create more than 3,700 jobs and generate approximately $500 million of economic activity in the near-term. Over the long-term, the increased economic impact generated by an enhanced Sun Life Stadium would create an additional 1,167 permanent jobs.
Councilman Oliver Gilbert III, who sponsored the resolution, praised the City’s action and urged legislators to carefully consider the stadium’s impact on the regional economy as it heads into the legislative session. “The stadium is an important part of the development and economic growth of Miami Gardens and South Florida as a whole,” said Gilbert. “As the legislature debates whether to allow bed tax dollars to be used for the improvement of the Miami Beach Convention Center and Sun Life Stadium, I think it is important to remember that if South Florida is to truly prosper, we have to invest in every part of the community, including stadiums that host world-class events. The businesses and City of Miami Gardens will benefit for many years to come from a modernized Sun Life Stadium.”
The Miami Gardens resolution comes on the heels of previous statements of support issued by the Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the Aventura Marketing Council, the Latin Builders Association, the South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee, and the Orange Bowl Committee.
