Dolphins Cancel Stadium: Public Financing Blocked By State Legislature

The Florida state legislature ended session without passing a plan which would have secured public financing for the Miami Dolphins' renovation of Sun Life Stadium. In consequence, the Dolphins have canceled their renovation plans, according to CBS Sports. The House did not bring up a proposal for vote which would have allowed all five Florida professional sports teams to compete for shares of state tax dollars. Speaker Will Weatherford told the Christian Science Monitor that the number of teams bidding for public funds was an issue, adding, "You're talking about hundreds of millions of dollars and I think the House just never got comfortable there when the session ended."

CBS reported that the Dolphins had asked the state to approve $90 million in sales tax rebates for the franchise over a 30-year period as well as public funds for half the cost of a $400 million renovation of Sun Life Stadium. Renovation plans would have included an open air canopy to shield fans from the elements, more comfortable seats and additional seating positioned closer to the field.

The legislation would have created a process where Florida's five professional sports franchises - and possibly a sixth, as Orlando was hoping to land a Major League Soccer franchise - would have competed for $13 million a year in state monies.

The co-chairs of the Dolphins' campaign to get public funding, Jorge Arrizurieta and H.T. Smith, issued a statement criticizing the House and accusing it of playing politics.

"While the Tallahassee politicians found time to raise the contribution limits for their fundraising, they said they couldn't find time to let the people of Miami-Dade make their voices heard," the statement read. "While they pushed their political agenda, the House leaders refused to support the effort that would create over 4,000 jobs and provide a much-needed boost to our local economy. The House put at risk the future of Super Bowls and other major events in Miami, which are so critical to our tourism economy."

The Dolphins' owner, Stephen Ross, also showed displeasure with the decision, saying that Speaker Weatherford had promised to let the legislation come up for a vote on House floor.

"He put politics before the people and the 4,000 jobs this project would have created for Miami Dade, and that is just wrong," Ross said.

Weatherford later denied Ross' claim that he had made any promises on letting the proposal come to a vote.