Thanks to our owner..Game will be on TV..

Good for Ross, especially if he's giving the tickets to Veterans or active military personnel. (Oh, yeah, I don't mind being able to watch the game either.)

 

I appreciate this type of thing, from ANY owner, ESPECIALLY when its for our TROOPS..........the REAL HERO'S

 

another gator party with grossman in tha house ?

 

Nice gesture...

 

Good move by Ross.

Living in Tampa, the Glazer family never, ever does this. Even in Week 1 -- when the Bucs were honoring the military (CENTCOM is here) and Lee Roy Selmon, their lone Hall of Famer and local icon/community pillar who'd died suddenly that week -- nada.

Bucs fans haven't seen a home game the last two years (save for the Monday nighter last month) and it is a major source of criticism from the fan base and local sports radio.

And for us (Dolphins fans) we almost take it for granted because our ownership never fails to do this for us. When Ross put the Broncos game on TV, he got kudos from the sports radio shows over here. 0-6 and he's still ponying up.

The jury is out on whether Stephen Ross is a capable owner. We'll learn a lot this spring. But I think he's absolutely committed to the fanbase.

 

Agreed completely.

Just like Wayne did Ross is catching way too much venom.
This gesture proves he cares about this team more than just business.
As a fan base we've always had it good in this respect. The organization has always done well urging big corps to buy up remaining tickets to games or buying themselves when the fans haven't bought them all. As Muck said the Glazers in Tampa would NEVER do this.

Secondly, owners are not "football guys".
How many out there does everyone think there are that have a football background?
They have to make educated decisions on who to bring in to run the teams.
I don't think you can blame Ross for trusting Bill Parcells to build a winner. It just didn't work out.
His next challenge is what happens this next offseason.

In addition I'll defend our fanbase here as well since were using Tampa as a comparison.
There is so much bashing of our fan base on these boards and it's absurd.
I've lived in Tampa for 4 years at this point.
The fan base here is crap.
Blackouts for 2 years straight now besides one Monday night game and this is for a team that is in the mix for playoff spots.
Are you kidding me?
I've been to more Bucs games then some Bucs fans I know over here.
I was once at a game where a group was tailgating. They were all complaining about the blackouts. When it came to the time to go into the game I found out that six of the people there tailgating were not going in. They were just going to sit in the parking lot, watch other games with their satellite hookup and grill. LMAO.... unreal is all I could think in my head. I asked them why they weren't going to the game, especially since they were already at the stadium. They said they wouldn't support a team that blacked out games making their fans suffer. LOL.... the mentality is amazing.

Our fan base isn't the best but it's a clear step above what's over here.

 

HAPPY VETERANS DAY to all of our military past and present, and my sincerest thanks for all you have done, are doing, and will do. You guys and gals are THE BEST.

 

How can TB even maintain a fanbase without a televised home game in two years????

 

I'll never blame fans for not going to games. Especially in this economic climate. And Tampa Bay is certainly one of the harder hit areas around.

But so much was made the last decade about how much better fans they were than us. Much was made of their "60,000 season ticket waiting list". And here they are, gearing up for their 17th blackout in 18 games. In a stadium that seats 10,000 less than Joe Robbie.

And not only do the Glazers not step up and put games on television, they don't spend money on the team either. They went cheap on Raheem Morris and got lucky. They went cheap on the roster in 2010 and got lucky. They went even cheaper in 2011 -- their lone FA signing was a punter -- and it's biting them in the ***.

All told, it's really taken a toll on the fans. It all started when the Glazer family purchased Manchester United. The Bucs became the red-headed stepchild and it shows. Ownership isn't committed.

To top it all off, Raymond James Stadium is 100% publicly financed. It is owned by Hillsborough County and operated by Tampa Sports Authority -- not the Bucs. So it eats at the fanbase that they're further subsidizing what has become an increasingly lackluster and disinterested ownership group.

At least Stephen Ross is trying to compete in his marketplace. He's battling a star-studded juggernaut and rock steady organization in the Miami Heat and a Marlins team with Ozzie Guillen and a brand new downtown stadium. Not to mention everything else there is to do in South Florida.

 

Exactly. They've stopped investing.

The new Lightning regime is very aggressive. Ownership just put $40 million into upgrades and renovations. That arena is in the downtown Channelside entertainment district, BTW.

The Glazers are really lucky the Rays play in such a horrible, remote location. If the Rays home was Tampa-side, the Bucs would probably be in even bigger trouble.

 

Well played Mr. Ross.

 

I could not go to this game, and have to thank Ross, FOX, and other sponsers in making it available on TV.

Does anyone think it fair that teams with larger stadiums have to sell out the same as those with smaller stadiums?

Also, your thoughts on a pay per view option locally for games which are blacked out?

 

The entire blackout rule needs to be done with IMO. Silly and antiquated. Considering how many products the NFL offers, I'm not sure how they can blame someone for preferring to stay home and watch their $350 NFL Sunday Ticket package as opposed to going to see one game in person.

 

Great point, and agreed. I would go a step further than the NFL Ticket by offering individual games for let's say $20. In today's economy, there are MANY fans who cannot afford the $350 for the season. They are too busy trying to pay bills, and keep their family afloat. However, scraping together $20 or so to watch their favorite team for a game is a different story. JMO

 

Instead of spending all his money on purchasing tickets, I would prefer that he spends his money on upgrading the GM and HC, along with the talent on the team. I figured the game would be blacked out, so I scheduled a tee time during the game. The truth is that I would rather be on the golf course doing something I love, instead of watching the Dolphins play the Redskins this Sunday. Hopefully this will be the last season I have so little interest in the Dolphins.

 

It's not like he can do that right now. That time will come. But there is nothing in Ross' history of owning the team that suggests he's opposed to doing this.

He guaranteed Parcells entire contract knowing full well that d-bag would still leave early, just to keep him around.

He went after Jim Harbaugh and, rumor had it, threw more money at him than he's making in San Francisco.

He's repeatedly signed big checks for free agents -- good and bad, but giving his football people what they wanted -- and had no problem signing getting Jake Long's mega-contract done (remember they got that deal done 5 days before the draft).

The only thing we've ever gotten wind of, from a monetary standpoint, is him shutting down the Kyle Orton trade-and-sign, which we've pretty much applauded him for.

Buying up tickets has nothing to do with that stuff, other than taking care of fans and demonstrating to prospective employees (e.g. coaches and GMs) that he's willing to invest in the team.

 

Actually I am not nearly as negative about Ross as some are on here. I do believe that he has every intention of doing what is necessary to upgrade the entire franchise. I just wasn't happy that he didn't make these changes after last season. I give him credit for going after Harbaugh, but when he didn't get him and Ross instead signed Sparano to a two year extension, that was when I decided not to renew my season tickets for this season.

Once the season is over and Ross finally gets rid of Sparano and Ireland, I will gladly purchase season tickets for next season. It isn't the Dolphins record which disturbs me as much as the direction this team has been going for the last three years. Two 7-9 seasons followed by a 1-7 record so far this season, clearly shows that Sparano and Ireland are not up to the task of turning this team into a consistent winner. Hopefully Ross is getting a lot of good advise from reliable football experts so he can bring in the right GM, and HC, next time. He should not have stuck with the Parcell group as long as he has. The fact that he did attempt to hire Harbaugh is a positive, as far as I am concerned. It is just too bad Harbaugh wanted to stay on the West Coast.

 

That is the joy of DVR and having smartphones. You can now do both

 

After being a fan of the Dolphins since 1966 and spending over $150,000 on season tickets and traveling to over 30 away games, I am not being bratty, I am merely expressing my displeasure at the direction this team has taken since Ross took over ownership of the Dolphins. If you took the time to read my second post on this thread, you will clearly see that I am not as anti-Ross as you seem to think I am. I just was not happy with his decision to retain Sparano and Ireland after last season. Hopefully he will fix this major error once this season is over.

I have taken a lot of heat on this forum because of my negative comments in the last year. Personally I don't care what others have to say about my comments. Until this season, I had not missed but one game since 1971. I only missed games from 1967 to 1970 because I was in the military and serving in Vietnam and other locations. I did attend all the Dolphin home games in 1966 and I was able to attend 4 Dolphin games during my years in the military.

Some of the individuals upset with my comments don't attend games and they have never invested the time and financial resources I have in supporting the Dolphins. I still love the Dolphins and I look forward to once again attending games at the stadium and traveling to see them on the road. Unfortunately, the only way I had to show Ross that I was not happy with the direction of the organization was to refuse to purchase season tickets this season. I want as much as any other fan on here to see Ross become a successful NFL owner. I look forward to seeing what his decision will be in regards to the new head coach and GM, after this season is complete.

 

Just for clarification, Ross is in his third year as the owner of the Dolphins. Last year was his second year and my expectations were that he would fire Sparano and Ireland after Parcells departed. If it had been his first season as the owner, as you state, I might have been a little more forgiving. Yet he had two seasons to observe the direction of his team and while I give him credit for going after Harbaugh. I feel that his desire to keep Ireland prevented him from attracting the interest of other highly qualified candidates for the job. I only hope that when he goes searching for a HC after this season, he will not include keeping Ireland as GM as one of the requirements of the new head coach.

I feel that Ross is a very smart man who has seen the error of his ways and he will do whatever is necessary to bring the right individuals in to turn this organization around. I certainly look forward to seeing whom he can interest in taking the jobs of HC and GM. I miss going to the games and look forward to once again being at the stadium to enjoy the excitement of the live action. No matter how I might come across on this forum, the fact is that I want nothing more than for the Dolphins and Ross to once again be a successful organization, which all of us can be proud of.

Just like you, I too look forward to seeing what changes Ross makes once this season is complete. I wish him only the best.

 

As far as Ross inheriting a mess, he paid over a billion dollars for the team and stadium. I would hope that someone who pays that amount of money knows exactly what he is purchasing before he agrees to the purchase. I am sure he knew exactly what Parcells contract stated before he decided to become the majority owner of the Dolphins. He also knew that Sparano and Ireland were the head coach and GM. He was a minority owner when the Dolphins were 1-15, so I am sure he understood that this team was a work in progress.

I just feel that Ross had too much faith in Ireland, who I think has done a terrible job as GM. Ross obviously understood after last season that he needed to hire a new HC. The fact that he tried to hire Harbaugh is evidence that he realized Sparano was not the right coach for this team. I just don't understand his desire to keep Ireland as the GM. I think that if he had been willing to get rid of Ireland after last seaaon, the Dolphins would already have a new coach and GM and would already be rebuilding for the future.

As far as comments I make affecting the image of the team. I am a fan of the team. As a fan, I have gone through many emotions following the Dolphins over the last 45 years. Just like most every other fan, I have enjoyed the positives and suffered through the negatives. I don't feel I have said anything which would be detrimental to the image of the Dolphins or to the owner. As a fan I merely have expressed my opinion on what I see are the problems with the organization at this time. Some on here agree with me and others do not. That is what a sports forum is all about. Besides, it is not up to the fans to maintain an image for a football organization. That is up to the players, coaches, and the front office. If you are truly concerned with the image of the organization at this time, it is not me or any other Dolphin fan that is the problem. The image problem for the Dolphins has to do with their 1-7 record this season and two 7-9 records the previous two seasons.

I too look forward to the moves Ross makes once this season is complete. This coming off season may just be the most important off season for the Dolphins since Joe Robbie hired Don Shula.

 

Wait....TB has been continually blacked out the past few years? good god

 

$20 for 16 games is $320...might as well fork over the extra $30 and get all the games right??

 

Having went to over 30 seasons of games, I think some of your comments deserve you getting heat. Especially the one you tossed out of the blue in this thread. You know the one where you say instead of buying tickets by some coaches and gm's. During the middle of a season you fly in with comments about him like this? Wow! Thats a bit of a reach in your quest you riducule him but at least you're consistant.

Wth do you think he is trying to do by letting people see the games? He is trying to show the fanbase he cares. He inherited this team and tried to upgrade things last season. It was a mess when he got here and we all know he does not know the buisiness side of football. You'll say thats too bad for him I'm sure. I wish he would come on here and say, hey jw, you remember the couple of hundreds of thousands of dollars you say you've invested in this team since 71? Well, too bad hombre, come back when you've invested the same amount on the team since I bought it and maybe I'll listen... lol

Just

 

First of all, my comments regarding spending money on a new GM and head coach is not something I just came up with in the middle of the season, as you suggest. It is something I was calling for since the end of last season. So all I did by stating I would rather see Ross spending his money on improving the overall team, including HC, GM, and players, is state what I was have been writing on this forum for well over a year.


As far as Ross taking a position that he will only be concerned with what I think once I spend as much money as he has on the Dolphins. This would be an absurd statement from him. Especially since there are only a few individuals in the entire world who have a billion dollars to spend on a football team. The fact is that the Dolphins sold their fewest season tickets since the mid 1980's this season. It is fans like me that Ross should me interested in. Because I was there supporting the team with my hard earned dollars for over 40 years. It is not those who sit at home and watch the game on television, week after week, for free, who Ross should be interested in placating.

 

No one said you just started saying replace the GM or HC!! I said you, once again said it by fitting it in with instead of spending money on tickets for fans to see, spend it on a GM and a HC. You were just slinging crap against the wall so you could, ONCE AGAIN, bring up how you won't be back at the stadium until he gets what you want.

POINT BEING: One had nothing to do with the other.

No, he should be interested in new fans. The younger blood. Your spending is no more than mine and I'm willing to bet, I've spent more. Ross need not worry about me. What he needs to do at that stadium is get the old farts out. The ones who've been there for years that think their **** don't stink because they're, for the most part, the largest part of the problem. Sitting on their collective asses during games while telling everyone in front of them to sit down so they can see. I damn sure can say this because I've seen it all my life at that stadium. The older crowd (for the most part) are the ones running to the ushers to make people sit. Now, I don't know you so I'm not saying YOU are one of them but it is a fact that no one can deny. I stopped going to games just recently because I scream so loud I started leaving games with a damn headache. The younger fans are the ones he should has a target on. Not me, and not you....

 

Wish I still lived in Florida or was visiting. As a Vet, I still haven't been to a home game. Last and first time was at old Giant Stadium, at least I got to watch Ricky run wild!

 

Good job Ross.
But you're still an idiot.

 

Perhaps you should buy the team with the vast wealth you have acquired in your lifetime.