Comments on: Ex-Eagles owner: Dolphins stadium “welfare for a multi-billionaire”

By: oldbyrd

oldbyrd — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:22:12 +0000

Lets let Obama figure this out. He’s fantastic at spending other peoples money.

By: phillyphan72

phillyphan72 — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:25:25 +0000

Hahaha…Braman was a cheapskate and a terrible owner but he is right…Ross wants taxpayer money and is worth 4.4Billion? Then to too it off when the Fins don’t sell out those same taxpayers can’t watch their Fins on local TV

By: gatorfinsatty

gatorfinsatty — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:38:09 +0000

The problem is that South Florida still feels the burn that the Marlins put on us so recently.

The big difference is that a football stadium is more of a sound investment in the community and keeping the NFL team tethered to that venue for 25 years – as promised by ownership – ain’t bad either. The studium upgrades will keep the area competitve for college football semifinals and championships along with staying in the 5-7 year rotation for Super Bowl bids. Those events attract tourism and replenish government coffers with general tax revenue for other public functions that are non-sports related. That directly benefits the area and people working in service industries (read – not Steve Ross or the Dolphins).

This isn’t just about the Miami Dolphins having a sexy renovated home. That IS what the Marlins deal was about. That park isn’t used for anything but a typically bad sports franchise and other events for which people don’t travel to the area to attend. This stadium is a good deal for South Florida. You have to spend money to make money.

By: dowhatifeellike

dowhatifeellike — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:02:33 +0000

Do what any other business would do and take out a loan.

If the renovation won’t increase revenue enough to offset the loan payments, it’s not a good idea.

By: garrygates

garrygates — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:56:30 +0000

The hearts of those dissenting here are great, but their frustration is slightly misplaced. It’d be one thing if taxpayer money goes into Mr. Ross’ stadium fund, with no returns… but the Dolphins are bidding on an important Super Bowl coming up, and the money generated from that if/when they win will pay dividends to South Florida well beyond the tune of ~$200 mil.

By: q1ller

q1ller — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:31:10 +0000

Sure, public funding sucks, but look at it this way…

We have a free market system in this country and if the “demand” to have a team in a community weren’t strong enough, public funding wouldn’t exist. It is, in a sense, just another avenue (like ticket purchases) through which the demand is reflected.

That said, do I think celebrities and sports stars/franchises make way too much money? You darn right I do!

By: ttccompanion

ttccompanion — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:22:27 +0000

Does it matter? They can dump truck loads of money into that stadium – until the team starts sucking less, they won’t be able to fill the stands. Braman’s comments are the least of Ross’ concerns… and frankly, there should be more concentration on the team rather than the building they’re losing in… (speaking as a Floridian and a Dolphins fan)

By: commonsensedude

commonsensedude — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:04:56 +0000

I could see a better case being made for taxpayer money going to the stadium if Florida schools didn’t stink so badly. They had to lower the statewide standards a couple of years ago just so a larger percentage of kids could pass. And there is that issue that Florida seems to have with, you know, counting and stuff.

By: granadafan

granadafan — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:44:35 +0000

Here’s the NFL’s philosophy. Give us brand new stadiums every 5-10 years costing a billion or we’ll move. Oh, and we’ll black out the games on TV if you don’t buy enough tickets and prevent the taxpayers from watching our product. PS, Thank you TV networks for the 10 billion dollar TV rights checks!

Nah, there’s nothing wrong with the NFL making taxpayers pay for their stadiums!

By: granadafan

granadafan — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:40:52 +0000

No more corporate welfare for multi billionaires!

Regardless of what you feel about Braman, he is 100% correct. It’s time that taxpayers, cities, states, Tea Baggers, Liberals, Conservatives, Progressives, Democrats, and Republicans came together and put a stop to this ridiculous welfare for billionaires. The NFL is the most profitable sports organization in the world.

Why is the public in a terrible recession forced to pay for the lavish palaces of multibillionaire owners of billion dollar teams in a league worth tens of billions of dollars. Google or Apple don’t demand that the cities pay for their headquarters.

By: dtr3e

dtr3e — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:40:09 +0000

I think no sports team should receive a cent of tax payers money. They charge an arm and a leg for tickets, food, and beverages at the games. You also got these stupid PSL that charge fans even more. Enough is enough, these greedy owners have plenty of money they don’t need tax payers money. The taxes need to go to the schools, whats more important kids education or a new jumbo screen for the local stadium? Not a hard question to answer.

By: rdrs68

rdrs68 — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:33:33 +0000

Ross another one per center-bet he voted for Mittens and gives lots of money for conservative causes and yet wants all he can take.

By: dachozen1

dachozen1 — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:32:10 +0000

That’s the whole problem with big businesses and their lobbyist. It is only welfare when middle class families pay into Social Security and then want their benefits as they get older. It is welfare to get Medicare but not when big businesses use the public’s taxpayer money. Meanwhile, middle class families fight each other.

By: thestatsishere

thestatsishere — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:13:51 +0000

Miami is beyond corrupt. They allowed Loria to use the Marlins to screw over the city and now Ross is about to do the same thing?

Someone tell me how the politicians aren’t in the owners’ pockets. Disgusting.

By: tamor78

tamor78 — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:05:17 +0000

Well then surely they will cut ticket prices in half, right?

By: bigperm33

bigperm33 — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:47:35 +0000

Few things in sports bother me more than these stadium deals – these owners make millions from their team. Why should any tax money go for the stadium? Infrastructure around it= maybe. But build the stadium yourself.

By: thelastpieceofcheese

thelastpieceofcheese — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:45:33 +0000

Greedy rich guys using the government to compel the people to pay for their financial adventures is crony capitalism in which corrupt government is an accomplice.

Get rid of these crooked politicians and bring in new ones to confiscate the accumulated of these billionaires that they stole from the people!

By: jlinatl

jlinatl — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:31:27 +0000

Braman’s opinions are strongly colored by the fact that his inability to run a franchise properly has cost him roughly $1 Billion.

He sold the team for $185 million. Check it’s value now. He was a terrible owner and is not much a car dealer.

Quite frankly, his opinion means nothing. Whereas I don’t like public funding, it is the way the game is played right now. Would certainly be better for everyone if it was not.

By: phinfan

phinfan — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:25:10 +0000

If the public pays for half of the stadium cost. Does the public receive half of the ticket sales???

By: bkh405

bkh405 — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:21:50 +0000

You heard he put up a large amount of his 4.4 billion for stadium renovations? That poor soul, I just hope he has enough left over to take a vacation into outer space with Richard Branson.

By: nyyjetsknicks

nyyjetsknicks — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:09:01 +0000

Middle class helping to pay for billionaire stadium is capitalism. When the rich pays taxes on said stadium that socialism.

By: eaglesw00t

eaglesw00t — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:06:28 +0000

Braman needs to keep his mouth shut and worry about himself.

He is the scumbag that let Reggie White walk and go to Green Bay without even giving him an offer.

As far as I am concerned, Jeffrey Lurie bailed us Eagles fans out. Braman is a loser. He blew his money and has no idea how to run a sports franchise. Im surprised he isnt on welfare himself, because he doesnt know how to run anything other than cocaine and gambling losses.

By: mrlaloosh

mrlaloosh — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:04:16 +0000

I saw the Jaguars owners yacht park in the Mississippi River for the Super Bowl in New Orleans. I was flying a foreign flag with the Union Jack in one corner. I suppose that was also Cayman islands . They all do this. Every ship coming into American ports fly foreign flags, mostly Panama. That’s how they avoid the ridiculous taxes put on them by Congress. It’s how maritime business is conducted.

By: hehateme2

hehateme2 — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:04:15 +0000

Remember that this would come from a bed tax paid mostly by tourists. That has already been put into the system for use.

Braman is a tool and should keep his mouth shut. Dolphins stadium will do more good in bringing in large events and money than that stupid baseball wreck will.

By: dlem7

dlem7 — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:00:16 +0000

After the debacle with the Marlins, I’m sure the city will have a tough time passing this legislation.

Regardless of what was said, it has been shown that new stadiums or renovations create few net positives for the city in terms of revenue and jobs.

The city should agree to pay some of the costs on a loan basis with interest to be repaid by the Dolphins.

By: mustbechris

mustbechris — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:55:03 +0000

Norman Braman was an AWFUL owner. I can’t stress that enough. He’s right, but he’s not the best person to be a figurehead for this cause.

By: annes22

annes22 — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:53:03 +0000

Norman Braman needs to mind his own business.
He has already caused chaos in Miami over the Marlins. Get on with his own business, and mind
everyone elses. I understand how much Mr Ross is worth, and I also undestand that Mr Ross is putting a large amount of his own money into the renovations of Dolphin Stadium.

By: broncosaddict

broncosaddict — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:52:00 +0000

NFL teams need to fund their own buildings. They can rent it out when they arent using it.
It will definitely be an incentive to stay with their cities/fan base as opposed to threatening to leave whenever the stadium isnt in the top X%.

By: zappaisgod

zappaisgod — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:49:40 +0000

Bramen was a cheap bastard that led to those god awful super boxes in the Vet. But he did save the team from being sold off to Phoenix in the night by a degenerate gambler. Buddy always referred to him as “that guy in France” classic, he only showed up in philly when he wanted to trash the city for the condition of the Vet.

By: packmangamble

packmangamble — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:49:20 +0000

Tell Braman to keep his mouth shut. It isn’t any of his business!