Posted: Mon. Mar. 26, 2018 9:58 a.m. -- Updated: Mon, Mar. 26, 2018 5:34 p.m.
By: Andy Slater
Dee Gordon, Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich, and now, Marlins Man.
Just before Opening Day, the Marlins added another big-name off-season loss to their final total.
The Marlins best-known fan, South Florida attorney Laurence Leavy, was unable to come to an agreement with the Marlins to renew his seats behind home plate.
Leavy gained national fame by traveling across the country sporting his iconic orange Miami Marlins jersey.
Leavy has been a Marlins full season-ticket holder since 1993, the team's inaugural year. He regularly both attends games right behind home plate and gives away hundreds of tickets a year to other fans encouraging them to support the team.
He sent the team a check for $200,000.
In return, Leavy was willing to sign a 3-year deal for 4 season tickets for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons, something beyond what the Marlins offer.
Instead, the team rejected Marlins Man’s proposal.
However, the Marlins sent him two counter offers, making it clear to Leavy that they were willing to negotiate.
"I've received more of a discount for other teams with a multi-year deal, including the Yankees, and I never have to pay years in advance," Leavy says. "This very reasonable offer was made in good faith and had nothing to do with Jeter getting in my Marlins car, throwing out the first pitch, or any other falsely reported nonsense."
Leavy made it clear on my show Monday afternoon that his offer equaled about $205 per seat, per game, instead of the $250 he was previously paying. He was also doubling his seats from 2 to 4.
"I almost sent them a check for $600,000 for a 10-year deal paid in advance," Leavy says. "That's what I was going to do initially."
This is the not the first interaction between Leavy and the Marlins new ownership group.
Leavy gained national attention during a town hall with the team, asking CEO Derek Jeter why Marlins fans should be expected to pay big league prices for a team that promises to not deliver a big league performance.
"I wish the Marlins much success," Leavy says. "I look forward to becoming a Diamond Club member again when they have a winning product, if that happens in my lifetime."
For his part, Jeter has been seeking investors to add to his group and trying to promise long-term profits for a team that is rebuilding.
However, Jeter is not a fan of the word rebuilding, and prefers building instead.
It remains unclear how those potential investors will feel about this new ownership group turning down a $200,000 check from a fan.
"I'm disappointed they didn't take almost a quarter-million dollars for empty seats," Leavy says.
At this time, a Marlins' spokesman says the team does not have an official comment.
Opening Day is on Thursday. If Leavy's six-figure check is on Jeter's desk, he still has time to cash it.
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