For a variety of reasons, the new stadium -- theoretically to be funded by hotel bed taxes -- had tepid public support, except for die-hard fans. By contrast, most local politicians swooned for the proposition that the team's fortunes would change with an extravagant new venue.
If we build it, they said, people will come.
That's way beyond optimism. It's $634 million worth of wild delusions.
The question isn't if the fans will go back to ignoring the Marlins after the ballpark is built. The question is how soon.