Miami Dolphins Owner Is Going To Pay $400 Million To Renovate Sun Life Stadium

[BillsImpossible]

With all of the new NFL stadiums that have been built in the last decade, one would think Miami would have built a new stadium by now considering how many Super Bowls Miami, FL has hosted.

Stephen Ross is going to fork over $400 million dollars to renovate the Miami Dolphins home field, formerly known as Joe Robbie Stadium.

Why not just build a new stadium for that kind of money? This makes the Bills recent renovation plan look modest in comparison at $130 million.

What's really going on in Miami?

The people of Miami didn't support the idea of funding the renovations, so the Dolphins billionaire owner said fine, he'll pay for the renovations himself.

Is that a smart move?

The Dolphins can't sell out home games, fan attendance seems to be getting worse every year, and the public doesn't support the team with their tax dollars even though Florida is one of the most tax friendly States.

They don't even have a State Income Tax in Florida.

I am NOT a fan of taxpayers footing the Bills, pun intended...but I do think the people of Buffalo would look at a 1% hotel tax increase as small change.

Public support matters, and Miami doesn't have it.

Buffalo does.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24476923/report-dolphins-owner-ross-to-fund-400m-in-stadium-renovations

The original renovation plan in Miami called for the public to pay for the stadium renovations, but the state legislature ended its session in May without approving the proposal (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/22190365/dolphins-stadium-bill-rejected-miami-super-bowl-bid-probably-dead). The proposed deal would have raised up to $289 million for renovations by raising the Miami-Dade hotel tax from 6 to 7 percent.

[Skooby]

Cool, hopefully the Bills get real good & can win the Super Bowl by then. I'd prefer to not have a far drive.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

It's because Miami got ****ed by the Marlins. The Florida Legislature is so furious about it, they won't even bring the measure to a public vote. (http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/05/03/3379238/lawmakers-reject-dolphins-stadium.html)

I can't say I blame them. Loria pulled a massive screwjob on that city. If MLB was able to, they should force him out.

As regards the Buffalo situation, a 1% hotel tax wouldn't even begin to cover a new stadium. Buffalo would have to tax residents and wouldn't be able to pass that cost onto tourists.

[OpIv37]

Why not just build a new stadium for that kind of money? This makes the Bills recent renovation plan look modest in comparison at $130 million.

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First, you can't build a stadium for $400 million anymore. Double it and you're probably good. As rich as the owner of the Fish is, it's difficult to come up with enough money to build a stadium with no public funding.

Second, you're not comparing apples to apples. They're trying to make their stadium ready to host a SB. We're simply trying to keep our stadium from imploding on itself in the 6-10 years it's going to take to get a new one. If the owner had no intent on hosting a SB and simply wanted to buy 6 more years of functionality out of the stadium, he could probably do it for $130mm.

[DynaPaul]

They don't even have a State Income Tax in Florida.

That's exactly why they're not paying for a stadium or did you think our NYS tax actually went to running the state and its infrastructure?

[gr8slayer]

$400 million wouldn't even buy you half a stadium anymore. In today's NFL, it's $1 billion+ or bust. There's no doubt that they're putting money into it to make another bid at a Super Bowl.

[Yasgur's Farm]

This is so funny... Rich stadium had a start construction price tag of $27M in 70 whatever.

[Scumbag College]

Are they going to remove 20,000 seats so they can sell out a game?

[Historian]

They should use the 400 mil to renovate the Orange bowl, and tear down the dump they play in now.