MIAMI -- Could the dream of a major league baseball-only stadium in south Florida finally be coming true?

Related Content: Video

Miami-Dade County is laying out its plans to fund a new stadium for the Florida Marlins in Downtown Miami and NBC 6 reporter Sharon Lawson had some insight on the plan's location.

The county, the city of Miami, the Florida Marlins, and the state of Florida must combine funds to build a $490 million facility adjacent to and on the north side of Government Center, officials said.

Officials said no opposition surfaced Tuesday afternoon to legislation that would give $60 million in state money to build a half-billion dollar, retractable-roof baseball park for the Marlins.

Two similar bills sponsored by Miami lawmakers quickly floated through the Senate Commerce Committee in less than an hour after testimony from three south Florida supporters of the new stadium.

Proposals for a new Marlins stadium have frequently come before the Legislature in recent years only to fail. But this is the first under newly appointed Gov. Charlie Crist, a proponent of the economic benefits spun off by professional sports franchises.

Crist's first job as a lawyer was as a counsel for the minor leagues.

Crist's predecessor, former Gov. Jeb Bush, generally opposed helping out the Marlins with a state subsidy.

"We have every indication that we should be successful," County Manager George Burgess said.

The preferred site for the publicly owned 37,000-seat stadium would be in downtown Miami, directly north of the government center and west of a Metro Rail station, officials said. The stadium would include 60 suites and have a retractable roof.

"We are very intrigued by the urban location, directly North of the Government Center," Burgess said.

It's scheduled completion date would be 2011, officials said.

The Marlins would receive $2 million annually from the state over 30 years if the legislation passes.

"It would be right on our transit line with very good access to the expressway systems," said Burgess.

But with that legislation, there are a few other major obstacles that could stand in the way of a stadium deal being completed including moving a child daycare facility on the north side of the Stephen P. Clark Government Center, and most importantly, finding a different site for the long-planned Children's Courthouse.

"If we can find a location we believe is better, then we think this is a good site for the ballpark," Burgess said. "We believe we have better sites directly East of the Metrorail guide way and closer to the family court."

Reports show that the courthouse has been a focal point of county plans for a few years, and last year Burgess said if a reasonable plan could not be worked out involving the courthouse, he would not go along with any Marlins deal.