Sun Life Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, will get a $350 million facelift. The Miami-Dade County Commission approved a deal by a vote of 7-4 to renovate the stadium. The deal pays incentives to the Dolphins for hosting major events like Super Bowl in exchange for a $350 million renovation fund to be injected by Dolphins owner Steve Ross.
The deal requires Miami-Dade to pay the Dolphins $4 million for each Super Bowl and $3 million for each national championship game for a college football hosted at the stadium. In addition, the county will pay $2 million for a college playoff game which Sun Life is scheduled to host every three years. However, the total amount to be paid to the Dolphins is capped at $5 million per year. The agreement also keeps the Dolphins in Miami-Dade County for the next 30 years. While the money will primarily come from Ross, he may get a state subsidy and apply for NFL funding.
“I want to thank the Board of County Commissioners and Mayor Gimenez for approving this unique and creative plan to bring Super Bowls and other marquee events to Miami-Dade County,” said Ross gratefully. He continued, “This will not only secure the future of the Dolphins, but will ensure that Miami has one of the world’s best venues to host events of this magnitude going forward.”
Although South Florida has been one of the most popular locations for a Super Bowl, it has not hosted one since 2010. With renovations focusing on stadium’s lights, sound systems, seats, a canopy over the seats, both the team and the county expect to bid for the next Super Bowl available which is in 2019. Rodney Barreto, chairman of the South Florida Super Bowl Committee said, “We’re back in the business, and we’re going to work hard to bring home 2019.” The renovation project will start in July.
Dolphins stadium deal approved by Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade Co. approves renovations deal for Dolphins’ Sun Life Stadium