Fins Owner Promises No TV Blackouts In 2013
DAVIE (CBSMiami) – Miami Dolphins owner promised South Florida fans there would be no television blackouts this year and that he was preparing a better offer to refurbish Sun Life Stadium.
Ross made the comments during an introductory press conference for the team's new CEO, Tom Garfinkel.
The promise of no television blackouts means that even if the Dolphins don't sell out a particular game, Ross himself will pick up the cost of the unsold tickets to ensure local fans that can't come to Sun Life Stadium will still get to see the Dolphins game.
The NFL allows owners and local sponsors to buy up the remaining unsold tickets for a little more than 30 cents on the dollar to help ensure no local blackouts. Ross has done this several times in the past, but he's hoping the more than $100 million he spent on players in the offseason will negate the need for that.
It's a generous gesture from the owner who has not shied away from spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the team.
If Ross comes back with a better offer for the Sun Life Stadium renovations, it will likely push the issue once again to the Florida Legislature. That could spark a big war with Speaker of the House Will Weatherford who Ross has made no secret that he is not a fan of after killing last year's stadium proposal.