Ross to unveil new era for attracting Dolfans

Here's the most important quote from the article:

"Ross will not touch the football operations side of the Dolphins. He understands football czar Bill Parcells does not need nor want the way the football side does business to be changed in any way."

I don't care if Sigfried & Roy become minority owners. As long a Parcells is controlling the football operations, Ross can do whatever he thinks will be in the best interest of the team (and his profit-margins).

Tickets keep going up, and now we are bringing in the celebs. How is this going to be fan friendly again? By turning Dolphins games into Knicks games?

"jason8er wrote:

Tickets keep going up, and now we are bringing in the celebs. How is this going to be fan friendly again? By turning Dolphins games into Knicks games?

Tix keep going up everywhere. And they always have. I don't care about glitz or celebs. So long as he keeps Parcells happy, he can do whatever he likes. H. Wayne gave up on the team. At least Ross wants to own the Dolphins.

"jason8er wrote:

Tickets keep going up, and now we are bringing in the celebs. How is this going to be fan friendly again? By turning Dolphins games into Knicks games?

Quote from the article:
.."Ross said in his last media availability that he is not raising ticket prices this coming season."....
So for now they aren't .
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2009/04/dolphins-owner-stephen-ross-has-called-a-4-pminformal-meetingwith-the-media-at-which-he-is-expected-to-announce-subtle-but.html

Jimmy Buffet? as if I couldnt move fast enough to take a piss break at halftime.

"Frumundah Finnatic wrote:

Jimmy Buffet? as if I couldnt move fast enough to take a piss break at halftime.

Its your age. He is a good ol pot smoking beach bum turned rich. He represents south FLA worldwide. I'd party with him.

"huck1974 wrote:

Its your age. He is a good ol pot smoking beach bum turned rich. He represents south FLA worldwide. I'd party with him.

:lol:

"GARDENHEAD wrote:

Tix keep going up everywhere. And they always have. I don't care about glitz or celebs. So long as he keeps Parcells happy, he can do whatever he likes. H. Wayne gave up on the team. At least Ross wants to own the Dolphins.

Flatly incorrect my good sir. ;)

As a season ticket holder, I can tell you that prices did not go up. They are the same as last year. In fact, only 9 teams are raising prices this year.

"We have raised our ticket prices nearly every year so we can keep up with the rise in player costs as the salary cap goes up," Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said. "This year, we normally would have increased ticket prices as a way to keep up, but given the economy and the situation it has put many fans in, we're not raising them. Obviously, we're sensitive to our fans in making these changes."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30030980/

Finally, Huizenga got out out for personal economic reasons (potential estate taxes should he die). All he ever did was whatever his football people wanted. He got Jimmy. He got Saban. He went for Marino. He got Parcells. He went after the media when they attacked the team. Spending money was never a problem. I wish we'd have gotten him a championship.

I should note that I'm also one who despises those who boo Wayne for any reason. Namely the Marlins situation. Basically, I'm a staunch defender of HWH.

As for the celebrity factor, I love it! Bring them all down here. Make Dolphin games an event!

OT: I split the thread up, since there were two separate topics.

"Muck wrote:

Flatly incorrect my good sir. ;)

As a season ticket holder, I can tell you that prices did not go up. They are the same as last year. In fact, only 9 teams are raising prices this year.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30030980/

Finally, Huizenga got out out for personal economic reasons (potential estate taxes should he die). All he ever did was whatever his football people wanted. He got Jimmy. He got Saban. He went for Marino. He got Parcells. He went after the media when they attacked the team. Spending money was never a problem. I wish we'd have gotten him a championship.

I should note that I'm also one who despises those who boo Wayne for any reason. Namely the Marlins situation. Basically, I'm a staunch defender of HWH.

As for the celebrity factor, I love it! Bring them all down here. Make Dolphin games an event!

For example, Dan Marino calls him "Mr." Huizenga, not Wayne like some people do.:wink2:

New Dolphins owner won't be draft meddler
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afceast/0-7-78/New-Dolphins-owner-won-t-be-draft-meddler.html

Apparently that's not the case for new Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, who rather than dial a four-digit extension on his office phone to ask football operations vice president Bill Parcells or general manager Jeff Ireland what the latest word is, reads the latest draft rumors.

"I'm like every fan. You can't read enough," Ross said during an informal gathering with local reporters in the Dolphins board room. "Who's the draft choice going to be? What are they doing?

Kantarian, who serves on the board of directors at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, is said to be advising Ross on how to reach out to a broader range of fans on game days. Kantarian has been advising Ross to reach out to the "new media" and to turn the game day experience into one that entices more than hardcore Dolphins fans.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2009/04/dolphins-owner-stephen-ross-has-called-a-4-pminformal-meetingwith-the-media-at-which-he-is-expected-to-announce-subtle-but.html

I have no problem with Ross and him wanting to improve his product on and off the field.
He’s stated he’s leaving football operations alone. That should make everyone happy enough in itself.

Having said that, lets realize what this really is.
This is an attempt to sell box and club level seating. It’s not a plan to “improve fans gameday experience like it was packaged before. I mean it’s in black and white above.

”enticing more than hardcore Dolphins fans”. I don't believe any of this is a plan "to increase the avg. fans experience" at all. It’s a plan to attract big money. To bring in Celebs for buzz and Corp. ticket holders to buy up those club seats that are always empty because they are so expensive now. It’s a movement to bring in more people who could really care less about what’s going on down on the field. A movement that will lessen the gameday atmosphere and home field advantage even more IMO.

Give me back the Orange Bowl. All the uncomfortable seats and crappy bathrooms were worth a stadium filled with “hardcore Dolphins fans"

I don’t know how many times on these boards while discussing how out of control player salaries have been getting and the ridiculous levels of greed involved that I’ve been slammed for suggesting those pay levels end up on the fans. That this issue is one of the major factors outpricing football fans from the game. Then Wayne H. comes out with an interview stating the same thing and a horde of people slam him for stating the obvious.

Well here it is again and the Dolphins organization itself on the record just publicly verified that this is the case.

"We have raised our ticket prices nearly every year so we can keep up with the rise in player costs as the salary cap goes up," Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said. "This year, we normally would have increased ticket prices as a way to keep up, but given the economy and the situation it has put many fans in, we're not raising them. Obviously, we're sensitive to our fans in making these changes."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30030980/

So much for the “No the millions in salary increases are already accounted for from increases in revenue every year”. LMFAO……..

The situation IS out of control and it IS ridiculous. Compare it to the housing industry, these salaries can only go up so far before they are at a level that cannot be sustained. What happenes then? What happens when you tell one of these guys they can’t have 10 million more per year with their new contract negotiations?

The real way to get fans back is to get a handle on this issue.

"Coral Reefer wrote:

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2009/04/dolphins-owner-stephen-ross-has-called-a-4-pminformal-meetingwith-the-media-at-which-he-is-expected-to-announce-subtle-but.html

I have no problem with Ross and him wanting to improve his product on and off the field.
He’s stated he’s leaving football operations alone. That should make everyone happy enough in itself.

Having said that, lets realize what this really is.
This is an attempt to sell box and club level seating. It’s not a plan to “improve fans gameday experience like it was packaged before. I mean it’s in black and white above.

”enticing more than hardcore Dolphins fans”. I don't believe any of this is a plan "to increase the avg. fans experience" at all. It’s a plan to attract big money. To bring in Celebs for buzz and Corp. ticket holders to buy up those club seats that are always empty because they are so expensive now. It’s a movement to bring in more people who could really care less about what’s going on down on the field. A movement that will lessen the gameday atmosphere and home field advantage even more IMO.

Give me back the Orange Bowl. All the uncomfortable seats and crappy bathrooms were worth a stadium filled with “hardcore Dolphins fans"

Hopefully they won't buy up all the empty seats. Just the ones with access to the restaurants. ;)

To that end, we'd better hope the league finds a way to keep the salary cap in place. Again, the quote from my previous post:

"We have raised our ticket prices nearly every year so we can keep up with the rise in player costs as the salary cap goes up,"

What happens to player costs when the salary ceiling disappears?

The salary cap is directly tied to the TV contracts. But these are businesses. And business owners pass increased costs off to the consumer. They're not going to just start making less money.

And in a sport where there are only 10 home games for each team, as opposed to 41 or 81, ticket prices should jump considerably. Especially on higher revenue teams that wish to stay competitive.

That's when the league really starts heading into dangerous waters because that's when things could change considerably. By that, I mean the domino effect that would likely follow would price out and potentially alienate the fans that currently can still afford to go to games. I question whether the union will employ common sense and restraint the next 11 months. The players don't care, they're the ones who stand to benefit. The agents DEFINITELY don't want a cap.

Again, this is really a huge issue that could have it's own thread. Or column. Stuff like revenue sharing, competitive balance, all hang in the balance. But starting here, if you want ticket prices to retain a shred of sanity, pray for a salary cap.

One other note......

The best thing Ross could do to increase the gameday experience for the avg. fan is to IMMEDIATELY fire the company that runs their Food and Beverage operations.

I've been to many stadiums and never seen an operation run as badly as Dolphins Stadium's. It's why when you see a game on TV that no one is back in their seats till halfway through the 3rd quarter. You know going out there to get a beer or a dog that you WILL miss a chunk of the game. It makes fans have to make a choice to sacrifice one part of the experience of being at a game. I either get my treats and am comfortable but miss part of the game or I see the game but get nothing to help me enjoy my gameday experience.

Not a good choice to force fans to make at all.

You stand in line at these concessions stands and you can see half the staff working while half the staff stands in the back talking and BS'ing with each other. It's a joke. I've been in lines at other stadiums just as big as you get at halftime in Dolphins stadium and they get you in and out in half the time. How this company has held onto the contract is mindboggling.

"Coral Reefer wrote:

One other note......

The best thing Ross could do to increase the gameday experience for the avg. fan is to IMMEDIATELY fire the company that runs their Food and Beverage operations.

I've been to many stadiums and never seen an operation run as badly as Dolphins Stadium's. It's why when you see a game on TV that no one is back in their seats till halfway through the 3rd quarter. You know going out there to get a beer or a dog that you WILL miss a chunk of the game. It makes fans have to make a choice to sacrifice one part of the experience of being at a game. I either get my treats and am comfortable but miss part of the game or I see the game but get nothing to help me enjoy my gameday experience.

Not a good choice to force fans to make at all.

You stand in line at these concessions stands and you can see half the staff working while half the staff stands in the back talking and BS'ing with each other. It's a joke. I've been in lines just as big as you get at halftime in Dolphins stadium and they get you in and out in half the time. How this company has held onto the contract is mindboggling.

You're right. It's the very reason why I never get up during a game.

You know what else would be great?

Keeping the concession stands open AFTER THE GAME. You know, when EVERYBODY is walking by them. Not everybody tailgates. And even less have leftovers from them.

Every single time I leave the stadium, I look over in the hopes that the lord above came down and blessed someone in charge with this nugget of wisdom so I can get a hamburger rather than wait another hour until I'm thru traffic and can pick something up.

You don't have to sell beer (in fact, you can't). Just sell everything else! You'd make a killing.

I actually just submitted my suggestion to the Dolphins.

I'd be a happy man if that were to come true. Especially after a loss. :lol:

"huck1974 wrote:

Its your age. He is a good ol pot smoking beach bum turned rich. He represents south FLA worldwide. I'd party with him.

World wide? Who is Jimmy Buffet? Never heard of him..:cry:

"overseas wrote:

World wide? Who is Jimmy Buffet? Never heard of him..:cry:

You don't know who Jimmy Buffett is? You're a lucky, lucky man!

Wht cant these suits ever speak our language...tell us you wanna find a way to make it louder in the stadium and you will pinpoint what the real fan truly wants and put money in your pocket at the same time by creating the atmosphere that we all long for.

"huck1974 wrote:

Its your age. He is a good ol pot smoking beach bum turned rich. He represents south FLA worldwide. I'd party with him.

Absolutely.

I don't get the Buffet hate here.
The guy basically became a millionaire singing about and living the "beach bum" lifestyle. He's right up there with Hugh Heffner in terms of lives I'd love to have.

His music is not my cup of tea, I can tolerate maybe one song if I'm on the beach or out fishing but thats about it.