EBOSS
January 11th, 2005, 04:28 AM
New name, new look for Dolphins' stadium
BY ARMANDO SALGUERO
asalguero@herald.com
Pro Player Stadium is no more.
Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga today will roll out plans that immediately rename the stadium Dolphins Stadium and set the stage for a major refurbishing project that is estimated to cost nearly half a billion dollars.
Huizenga will announce details of the privately funded plan this afternoon at a press conference but in a statement released through the team said, ``The first step was naming Nick Saban as head of our football operations. The Dolphins have always been in the forefront of the sports and entertainment field, and we have developed a series of plans designed to reinforce that position of leadership.''
Huizenga's move sends the stadium in Miami Gardens, on the border of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, both into the past and future.
The stadium was originally named ''Dolphin Stadium'' when it was completed in 1987 at a cost of $115 million. It was later renamed Joe Robbie Stadium and eventually dubbed Pro Player Stadium when naming rights were sold to Pro Player, the defunct sports apparel company that filed for bankruptcy in 1999.
Huizenga retained the rights to re-sell the building's name in 2000, but never reached a deal with a new partner.
It is unclear how the Florida Marlins, who share year-round occupancy of the facility with the Dolphins and other events, will react to the renaming and coming work on the facility. Team officers could not be immediately reached for comment.
But the Marlins, their fans, as well as the Dolphins and their fans will be affected.
''It's our vision to transform the stadium into a year-round destination and a venue that is ready-made for the Super Bowl, Orange Bowl and other major national and international events,'' Huizenga said. 'These changes will not only enhance the fans' enjoyment at our games, but also will attract major events to South Florida more frequently and boost the area's economy while these events use the stadium and its surrounding facilities.''
According to Huizenga, the renovation will be rolled out in three phases because the stadium's existing commitment to the Marlins prevents a more immediate implementation.
Projects currently under consideration for Phase I include a remodeled Club Level and luxury suites, new scoreboards, covered exhibition space that would be event-ready and would serve as an additional parking structure adjacent to the stadium, better traffic egress and ingress, improved pedestrian access and relocation of the Dolphins business offices to the stadium.
These privately funded enhancements are estimated to cost between $100 to $125 million.Phase II, estimated to cost up to $300 million, could not commence until the relocation of the Marlins and that would potentially include expansion of the stadium concourses, a permanent or retractable roof, additional seating capacity, expanded exhibition space and parking structures to augment those built in Phase I, upgraded press capabilities for major events, video studios and fiber optic and satellite communications.
This phase also could include retail shops, restaurants and entertainment areas in a Main Street format.
A Phase III is under consideration.
To manage these operations, Huizenga is creating a new company, Dolphins Enterprises, LLC. This company will serve as an umbrella for all of the Huizenga sports and entertainment operating entities, including sports operations, business operations, stadium operations, stadium development and construction, stadium events and exhibitions, sales and marketing and retail and merchandising.
BY ARMANDO SALGUERO
asalguero@herald.com
Pro Player Stadium is no more.
Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga today will roll out plans that immediately rename the stadium Dolphins Stadium and set the stage for a major refurbishing project that is estimated to cost nearly half a billion dollars.
Huizenga will announce details of the privately funded plan this afternoon at a press conference but in a statement released through the team said, ``The first step was naming Nick Saban as head of our football operations. The Dolphins have always been in the forefront of the sports and entertainment field, and we have developed a series of plans designed to reinforce that position of leadership.''
Huizenga's move sends the stadium in Miami Gardens, on the border of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, both into the past and future.
The stadium was originally named ''Dolphin Stadium'' when it was completed in 1987 at a cost of $115 million. It was later renamed Joe Robbie Stadium and eventually dubbed Pro Player Stadium when naming rights were sold to Pro Player, the defunct sports apparel company that filed for bankruptcy in 1999.
Huizenga retained the rights to re-sell the building's name in 2000, but never reached a deal with a new partner.
It is unclear how the Florida Marlins, who share year-round occupancy of the facility with the Dolphins and other events, will react to the renaming and coming work on the facility. Team officers could not be immediately reached for comment.
But the Marlins, their fans, as well as the Dolphins and their fans will be affected.
''It's our vision to transform the stadium into a year-round destination and a venue that is ready-made for the Super Bowl, Orange Bowl and other major national and international events,'' Huizenga said. 'These changes will not only enhance the fans' enjoyment at our games, but also will attract major events to South Florida more frequently and boost the area's economy while these events use the stadium and its surrounding facilities.''
According to Huizenga, the renovation will be rolled out in three phases because the stadium's existing commitment to the Marlins prevents a more immediate implementation.
Projects currently under consideration for Phase I include a remodeled Club Level and luxury suites, new scoreboards, covered exhibition space that would be event-ready and would serve as an additional parking structure adjacent to the stadium, better traffic egress and ingress, improved pedestrian access and relocation of the Dolphins business offices to the stadium.
These privately funded enhancements are estimated to cost between $100 to $125 million.Phase II, estimated to cost up to $300 million, could not commence until the relocation of the Marlins and that would potentially include expansion of the stadium concourses, a permanent or retractable roof, additional seating capacity, expanded exhibition space and parking structures to augment those built in Phase I, upgraded press capabilities for major events, video studios and fiber optic and satellite communications.
This phase also could include retail shops, restaurants and entertainment areas in a Main Street format.
A Phase III is under consideration.
To manage these operations, Huizenga is creating a new company, Dolphins Enterprises, LLC. This company will serve as an umbrella for all of the Huizenga sports and entertainment operating entities, including sports operations, business operations, stadium operations, stadium development and construction, stadium events and exhibitions, sales and marketing and retail and merchandising.