Miami-Dade Commission Gives Go-Ahead to Miami Dolphins to Pursue Proposed Stadium Renovation

Mayor Carlos Gimenez will negoiate for the county if the bill is approved by state lawmakers.

The Miami-Dade County Commission gave the go-ahead to the Miami Dolphins to pursue their proposed $400 million renovation to the former Joe Robbie Stadium.

A resolution is now on its way to Tallahassee which endorses a one cent increase in the county bed tax and a rebate from taxes on stadium sales.

The Dolphins will now have to lobby the State Legislature to pass a bill which if successful would fund a number of stadium improvements including a canopy to shield fans from rain and South Florida's intense sunshine.

"Whenever you can use other people's money, that's the kind of deal you want to get," said Commissioner Barbara Jordan.

Commissioners frequently spoke of their disdain for the deal the Miami Marlins engineered to construct Marlins Stadium, but heaped praise on the Dolphin organization as being good corporate citizens and transparent in their dealing.

Mayor Carlos Gimenez will negotiate for the county if the bill is approved by state lawmakers.

"In no way, shape or form is this mayor ever going to bring a deal that is as atrocious as we had with the Marlins organization," said Gimenez.

Voting against the measure were Commissioners Soto, Suarez, Sosa, and Steve Bovo.

"The stench of the Marlins deal is in the pores of everything this conversation is about.Make no mistake, it is the 800 pound gorilla in the room," Bovo said.

Meanwhile, Dolphins CEO Mike Dee said: " I think chairwoman Sosa said it was unfair to characterize another team with something that has happened in the past."
 

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