Miami-Dade Commissioners Approve Sun Life Stadium Deal
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The Miami Dolphins have scored big and it's not even football season yet.
Sun Life Stadium will be upgraded to try and attract Superbowls and other major events. The county commission passed 7-4 vote.
After two hours of discussion, the County commission approved a plan where the county pays the Dolphins for attracting big events and the local economy is stimulated.
When a big event comes to Sun Life Stadium the county pays a dolphin and stadium owner Stephen Ross millions essentially for bringing business to town. In return Ross pays for his own $350 million upgrade.
On hand for support were Dolphins legend Dan Marino and former Dolphin Jason Taylor.
"As a Dolphin going to be great happy to be here," said Marino.
"We will renovate....see if we can get some Super Bowl's here," Jason Taylor said.
The Dolphins, under the new deal, would get $4 million for bringing a Super Bowl, $3 million for a college championship game, $2 million for college playoff game and $750,000 for international soccer matches.
The county pays a maximum of $5 million a year and doesn't pay if there is no money.
Miami Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said, "We would pay in 10 years from funds that are available if there aren't funds we don't pay."
Nothing is paid until 2025 this also keeps the Dolphins here for the next 30 years.
Renovations start in two weeks the partial roof new seats are in the plans.
The stadium will have 65,000 seats instead of the current 75,000 and the Dolphin CEO says he couldn't be more thrilled.
Dolphin CEO Tom Gatfinkel said, "A world-class community deserves a world class facility."
Click Here for Cyntia Demos' report
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