MIAMI (AP) - New York real estate billionaire Stephen Ross became majority owner of the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday, completing his purchase of 95 percent of the franchise for $1 billion, with Wayne Huizenga retaining a 5 percent interest. The two businessmen reached an agreement to complete a deal forged last February. At that time Ross bought 50 percent of the franchise, Dolphin Stadium and surrounding land from Huizenga for $550 million, with an agreement that Ross would later become http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9108494/Huizenga-finishes-Dolphins-sale;-will-Parcells-leave?&MSNHPHMA
Ross could be a worry for the following. . It has taken him a long while to put together the deal. He has asked for government bailout money. The deal currently has been been pieced together as owner financing. He is in real estate so he may be looking at this as a real estate deal rather than a sporting venture. Since he is having troubles with financing, he may relocate to a city that will throw money at him to have a team. He could then turn around and develop the property where the stadium is now. Or just be a bad owner in similar to Snyder in Washington, Jones in Dallas or Davis in Oakland. Thoughts. .
I'll take the wait and see approach. I must ask, why would assume hes moving the team or be a bad owner??
I dont assume HE IS moving the team. . but as the majority owner who seems to be in financial trouble then Im speculating it may be possible that he would re locate to a city that would throw money at him. . dont forget there has been talk of the Franchise moving in the past. .
Thanks for everything, Wayne (sincerely). You always loved the Dolphins and did all you could for the organization, regardless of how it worked out. Wish you hadn't sold the team just as we gained stability... but I can only hope Ross' finances don't continue to flounder... or we'll start seeing him nickel and dime around here. Wonder how Parcells feels today?
I won't miss Huizenga from a Marlin standpoint. He has dicked over that franchise for too long. I'm hoping he will extend an extra year for the Marlins lease and maybe make it a little more favorable for the fish.
The dolphins are not moving out of miami and they wont anytime soon. I think this new guy will do just fine if not even help the team a bit.
I never said Miami ARE moving just that IF he (Ross) gets into real trouble he may move the franchise to make big bucks. . you cant rule anything out with the NFL but I dont see them moving either. . but does not make the thought or worry go away. .
Of course anything can happen but why should we look at this move as something BAD? In 30 days we will know, for sure, if Tuna is splitting or not and there is nothing that is looking as if that will happen. Wayne says he loves the Dolphins so why would he sell to a guy that would rock our boat? There is no proof that anything but good will come of this. Sure the guy might be hurting but that only means that he's in the same boat as some of us. Why move a complex that is on the upswing, he saw what we did at the end of this year, a full house, yelling and screaming. IMHO I feel you are buying trouble for no good reason, I mean come on, we just went from 1-15 to 11-5 and 2 weeks later its "Oh woe is me?" Besides we've a new contract with the Canes, does he just walk away from that?
Ross is not sum hick who bought a football team and he is not an old fart. The NFL would not let him relocate the team. Also you think Wayne would have hired him if he was going to be a bad owner and do all that stuff
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ talking of re locating May I draw your attention to the following. .. Oakland/LA Raiders Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts Cleveland/Baltimore Ravens Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans Although I have to say Im just playing Devils Advocate on this. . I really dont think any of that will happen but whose to say it could not. .?? Im just speaking a concern. I have to say his speech on Parcells being the Man in charge and will stay has put me at ease. .
If we're gonna speculate, why not speculate that he'll be a better owner than Huizinga. Last time I checked, we didn't win jack under his ownership. Gimme results, H. Wayne. Maybe Ross will be a great owner.
Why would Wayne sell the team if he thought that Stephen Ross was going to move them. Wayne loves this team to much to do that.
I wouldn't put too much stock into that as he said this recently to reporters re: the money he used to pay for the Fins: "Had I had my money or earmarked my money for hedge funds or other investments, they probably would have gone down 20 to 30 or 40 percent, right? It was a great decision to keep liquid to buy the team and I didn't have to mark the market and I believe the opportunity is there and it was a great investment. More important, something I really love and have the passion for and think that it would be a lot of fun doing it and it even highlights it even more in the business environment we're in from a personal standpoint." http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/other/sfl-rossstarement09,0,2390709.story Also, I highly doubt that he is looking to move the team right now. Dolphins stadium is getting a huge upgrade and they have a resurgent fan base. For him to move, he would have to get a huge offer from another city...and in this economy, I highly doubt it.
Great quote. I don't understand why everyone is scared of this guy. Back in September, his net worth was tagged at $4.5 BILLION. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/54/400list08_Stephen-Ross_YZL6.html He'll be fine.
That whole thing has already been pretty much played out, Carl Peterson has said he is not coming here in any capacity.
Good thing the city of Miami is not Seattle, this is the NFL and not the NBA, and this is the Dolphins and not the SuperSonics.