Miami Dolphins: A decade of controversy may finally come to an end

Stadium renovations become political – 2013

Stephen Ross unveiled his plans for a major undertaking for Sun Life Stadium. It would include a canopy, field upgrades, seating upgrades, parking lot changes, and a lot more. Ross was seeking state funding but a local politician who didn’t see eye to eye with Ross’ own political views thwarted Ross at every opportunity.

Ross would lose state funding and then watch as the local funding would get blocked as well.

Initially Ross got the funding he needed from the local government in the form of tax increases and hotel taxes but it had to go the state government first and that is where his chief opponent, politician Steve Weatherford would win his victory. Weatherford made it so that the vote for the funding wouldn’t go to the state legislature.

Ross paid for a special voting referendum locally that was also thwarted by Weatherford leading to a cancellation of the vote and Ross’ money was not returned. The two would take their arguments to a public forum where Ross called out Weatherford and vice versa.

Eventually, Ross gave a proverbial middle-finger to Weatherford and funded the renovations himself. In his deal, the city would pay Ross for everything that the now Hard Rock Stadium would bring to the community. Super Bowls, concert series, soccer, etc..

It was a loss for Ross at the time but eventually, it became a win. The Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium will host this year’s Super Bowl.