The Miami Dolphins will not be renovating Sun Life Stadium following the failure to secure public financing for a portion of the repair costs. Now the team appears to be considering other stadium options, including a potential move to Palm Beach County.
Team CEO Mike Dee spoke to reporters Thursday, when he was asked if the team would move to Palm Beach if a stadium was built in the county.
"We're open minded to all long-term solutions," he replied, according to the Miami Herald.
The Dolphins have played in Miami-Dade county since its inaugural season in 1966; first at the Orange Bowl in Little Havana, then at Sun Life Stadium (originally Joe Robbie Stadium) for the last 26 seasons.
Dee continued, "You can't close the door on anything. I wouldn't say it's a priority to evaluate that and march down that road at this time, by any means, but the simple fact is we have to address a long-term issue with the venue. All ideas – good, bad, indifferent – should be considered."
Later Thursday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell weighed in on the topic. "We do want to see the Dolphins stay in Miami," Goodell told NFL.com. "We want to see them stay in a facility that will allow them to compete, and to bring in other big events, including Super Bowls."
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross owns a home in Palm Beach, and earlier this year pledged to keep the team in South Florida even if his Sun Life renovation proposal was not executed.
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But the thought of a Palm Beach stadium is still just that. Dee said the team does not currently have any concrete plans to move out of Sun Life Stadium.
"At this point, there's no Plan B that includes another venue," he said. "But down the road, who knows?"
What is clear is that Ross does not appear willing to finance Sun Life repairs or the construction of a new stadium on his own, despite his multi-billion dollar net worth.
