Thinking Outside the Box: LeBron and Bosh Join Heat, Marlins Can Also Capitalize

This is the first in an undetermined number of articles called "Thinking Outside The Box." In this space, I'll suggest different ideas for the Heat, Marlins, Panthers, and Dolphins about how they could help their teams, South Florida, and sports fans.

Some of these ideas might be obtuse, some might be so obvious that you wonder why they haven't thought about them yet. But I think about these because I care as a South Florida Sports fan and want to see this city become a top tier sports city, up with the likes of New York and Chicago.

 

An NBA article without free agency, and my picture is of the New Marlins Ballpark.

WHAT?  WHY?

At first glance two and two don't go together here.  We're discussing a story about NBA free agency, yet the headline picture you clicked on is of an under construction baseball stadium that opens in April of 2012.  A stadium that will also be available for other events, as stated by David Sampson in this interview on marlins.com.

"Marlins president David Samson envisions the stadium may some day play host to football, soccer, concerts, conventions, and maybe even the Final Four basketball tournament."

The NBA wasn't mentioned, but with the possibility of a Wade-LeBron-Bosh led Heat team looming—assuming Steven A. Smith was right in his report—at least one Heat game a year in the new ballpark could be possible, and if the Marlins aren't considering it, then they should.

Almost a full year ago, I suggested in an article a working relationship between the Heat and Marlins , merging their non-baseball and basketball operations to cut costs, while at the same time starting up a Regional Sports Network and collecting ad revenue from the network. I even mentioned the possibility of a Christmas Day classic that would be the official kick-off to the Orange Bowl facilities.

With Wade-Bosh-LeBron, not only will the nearly 50,000 available tickets be sold out—37,000 that will be the permanent attendance, plus another 15,000 temporary tickets of possible seats that would surround the court itself—but it would also begin the Orange Bowl festivities at the original home of the Orange Bowl, somewhat at least.

The game's going to be on National television, but it can even be expanded.  It could be a part of a triple-header that could go like this.

1pm: High School Basketball Game between a Miami-Dade—sorry for this week Miami-Wade—County Basketball Power and a Broward County Basketball Power. I'm not sure which schools to include, but it would be a great kick off.

3pm: College Basketball game between Florida and Miami.  Neutral Site, non-conference (for now), on national television, and a bump in The U and Florida's RPI.

6pm: Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls/Los Angeles Lakers/Oklahoma City Thunder/New York Knicks. Why include the Thunder?  Here's why: people want to see Durant vs. Wade/Bosh/LeBron.

Who wins? Miami.

A National Spotlight on the city. The Marlins get money from hosting the basketball festival, and the Heat get to set a franchise attendance record every year.

Now you see what the new ballpark has to do with LeBron/Bosh/Wade?

Every Heat game would be an event, why not make it an event that would make Miami look like a better sports town?

You could even have the roof open to take advantage of the nice weather that time of year. 

Pat Riley, use this as a bargaining chip, you can't play a basketball game at Wrigley Field or Yankee Stadium in December.

Jeffrey Loria, David Sampson, just sit back, let the Heat take over for one day, and watch the money come in.

December 25th, 2012: I want to be in the stands at the new Marlins Ballpark to see such an event.

Lets make it happen Miami!

 

Thomas Galicia has more half-baked ideas where that comes from.  Leave a comment for your thoughts on this idea. You can look him up on facebook and e-mail him [e-mail]. Follow him on twitter, @miamisportsdude. You could skypehim with your opinions at miamisportsdude.