No stadium. Now what?

[Dave Gray]

What's the hope now?

Do we hope that Ross gets private funding to fix up Dolphins Stadium?  Do we want him to upgrade or tear down and build new?  Do you want to move the team North for a better deal from taxpayers?  How do you want it laid out?

[MikeO]

Ross has said he won't do a deal with private funding. It must be a partnership with the taxpayers

[CF DolFan]

Move the team north!! I like the sound of the Ft. Pierce Dolphins!!   

I honestly don't care how they do it but I would like to see them build a new state of the art stadium. It's one of those things that makes me shake my head as so many others seem to be able to figure it out. Why can't we?

[Pappy13]

What's the hope now?

Wait a year and try again. In the mean time forget about improving the stadium and improve the team. That will put people back into the seats more than improving the stadium will anyway and that will improve the Dolphins bottom line much more than improving the stadium would. Improving the stadium is really only needed to get Super Bowls back in South Florida, which would be nice, but it's not really a necessity at this point.

[Phishfan]

This team exist without Super Bowls, many teams do. First step, don't panic. This thing was a rush job and that is why it didn't get to go through. Try again, this time don't rush to get a SB that you had all but already been told you were on the outside looking in of. Second step, win games. That will put people into the existing stadium which will help for an argument of public funding. The Marlins crapped on South Florida already. The Dolphins need to be winners and need to build support if they want a case for either a new or improved stadium.

[Dave Gray]

I am afraid of "State of the Art".  I want something that has longevity because it is built in a way that it meets long-term needs.  Good seat layout, reasonable weather protection, clear monitors.  I don't need a bunch of other bells and whistles, like TVs in the bathroom and all the other crap that the current stadium upgraded a few years back.

[Phishfan]

Right on Dave. I'm going to a game for the game. TVs in the bathroom just add seconds onto the line time for each person anyway. Give me good seating, decent parking, close bathrooms and concessions and let me watch the game.

[Brian Fein]

Let's face it, the previous deal was a huge push to get SB 50.  Its going to be a massive huge deal and that's why they tried to rush this through.

I don't think that the stadium deal is completely dead.   It had a lot of support.  I think they need to try again and it will go through.  Meanwhile, someone needs to go out and kidnap Mr. Weatherford and hold him in a dingy basement until he agrees to support it.

[Pappy13]

Meanwhile, someone needs to go out and kidnap Mr. Weatherford and hold him in a dingy basement until he agrees to support it.

Or just convince him that it would be in his best interests (meaning being re-elected) for him to get on board.

[Dave Gray]

I am a fan of simple, straight-forward design.  It never goes out of style.

- Seats close to the field, with a pitch that allows for good viewing wherever you are.
- Weather protection that requires minimal maintenance, keeping fans out of direct elements, but not entirely elimination South Florida's atmosphere from the environment.
- Large scoreboards in the endzones or corners
- Large restrooms that ease traffic flow
- Straightforward food kiosks
- Wide walkways
- Good traffic management

Also, this is just a preference I have, but I prefer when the food kitchen lines (and restrooms) face away from the stadium.  It means that you can have more open-air and it doesn't clog the walkways of people coming to and from their seats with lines of people waiting for food or the bathroom.  Also, there is always more room building OUT than IN. 

[Brian Fein]

Or just convince him that it would be in his best interests (meaning being re-elected) for him to get on board.

But its not in his best interest to support it.  He's from Tampa, he represents the Tampa area.  Who's in direct competition with Miami for Super Bowl bids?  Tampa.  Its in his best interest to make sure Miami never gets another Super Bowl again.

I can tell you, though, that if I ever get a chance to vote against him, I intend to.

[MikeO]

I don't think that the stadium deal is completely dead.   It had a lot of support.  I think they need to try again and it will go through.  Meanwhile, someone needs to go out and kidnap Mr. Weatherford and hold him in a dingy basement until he agrees to support it.

It's dead. They badmouthed the Speaker on every radio and TV show possible in Florida and the guy who is next in line to be Speaker in a couple years they were attacking too in some places. That deal can't be any more dead!

This deal where Ross put up a bunch of money and asked for little in the form of a hotel bed tax and wanted only improvements is 100% dead. Next step will take place in a few years when Ross goes for a NEW STADIUM and asks for the moon.  Ross offered them a good deal and they wouldn't let it go to a public vote. I think he is done playing nice.

[MikeO]

This team exist without Super Bowls, many teams do. First step, don't panic. This thing was a rush job and that is why it didn't get to go through. Try again, this time don't rush to get a SB that you had all but already been told you were on the outside looking in of. Second step, win games. That will put people into the existing stadium which will help for an argument of public funding. The Marlins crapped on South Florida already. The Dolphins need to be winners and need to build support if they want a case for either a new or improved stadium.

This has nothing to do with winning or losing. The Cleveland Browns were a great team in the 90's who sold out every game. They still moved!!!! This notion that winning more games cures all is laughable. These are 2 separate issues all together.

And being a "rush job" had nothing to do with it. It didn't go to a vote because a few powerful people blocked it in the house. If it was such a rush why did it pass in the Senate!

[Sunstroke]

I don't think that the stadium deal is completely dead.   It had a lot of support.  I think they need to try again and it will go through. 

I agree completely...it will eventually get done.  The Dolphins will be in Miami long after I become worm chow.

[Phishfan]

This has nothing to do with winning or losing. The Cleveland Browns were a great team in the 90's who sold out every game. They still moved!!!! This notion that winning more games cures all is laughable. These are 2 separate issues all together.

And being a "rush job" had nothing to do with it. It didn't go to a vote because a few powerful people blocked it in the house. If it was such a rush why did it pass in the Senate!

You are such a revisionist. #1 Cleveland had one winning season in the 90's. I know they had a rabid fanbase (at least in the Dog Pound) but something was causing revenue issues for Modell. If you want to look up the attendance figures go ahead. I'm not going to try to find them to try to refute this argument. As an interesting aside, Modell was going to get the funding he needed for renovations but made a deal to move his team before there was a vote. #2 I never said winning cures everything. It sure doesn't hurt though. You have to keep the climate in South Florida in context. There is huge backlash at the Marlins right now. Miami Dolphins need to provde to be an on the field success if they want public funding. The South Florida delegation were the biggest voices rallying against the bill when it was coming about. You have to recognize the failure of the Marlins and the money spent on their stadium has to have some relation.