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Huizenga on the Dolphins and Dolphin Stadium
Had a chance to catch up with Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga. Here are his views on some issues facing his team:
On his optimism for the 2007 season: "I was optimistic about last season, too. You get shell-shocked after all. We’re trying hard and I hope this guy’s the guy. I like what I see so far. We haven’t kicked the ball off in the season. I like his thinking, like his style, like his demeanor with the coaches and the players. So as far as I’m concerned he’s been executing his plan perfectly."
On making predictions: "You’d like to make predictions, but you don’t dare anymore."
On complaints about ticket price increases: "Our prices go up every year and they have to go up every year, because of the labor contract. This year, the new labor agreement ... wasn’t a good agreement. It was good for the players, but it was not good for us. The player costs jumped substantially this year."
On complaints about large club seat price increases: "What’s happened is some of these guys had tickets for 20 years. When they got club seats, they had no price increases for five years, then they had minimal price increases. At the end, they were way behind, we re-upped them again, they again got no price increases for five years. So out of 20 years, they only got price increases for 10 years ... They look at it like it’s a big increase, but look they didn’t have an increase for 10 years, so what ... are they complaining about?"
On Dolphin Stadium, which is undergoing a $213 million renovation eventually being on par with Wembley Stadium, which he visited last week during a visit to promote the Oct. 28 game against the New York Giants in London: "When we finish our construction at the stadium, our remodeling, it definitely will be in that class. Right now, what’s happened, we’re working hard on the club level, that’s disrupted the Marlins a little. We can’t start on the 100 and 400 level during Marlins season because that would really be disruptive. We’re working on the club level now. After the Marlins season, we’ll work on the 100 and 400 before the Marlins begin to play again. We’re even going to work on the 100 and 400 during the football season. You play home one week, then away for 14 days in between. You can get a lot of work done then go away for another week. We don’t want to lose that time. We’ll be working during the football season."
On playing the game in London: "The Dolphins have a lot of fans in the UK ... so the league talked to us about going over there, asked if we would do it. One of the reasons they asked and this is a big picture thing for the NFL as much as it is about the Dolphins, it’s not only the NFL. A couple weeks before our game, the NHL is playing regular season games there, before that the NBA is playing. Everybody’s doing it. The NBA is going to China, trying to build their brand. Soccer in England is going to China. Everybody is kind of looking more global than what they did before. We’re not the first one to start it, we’re the last one to do it. Now it’s a fight for who can keep up their brand image on a not only a nationwide basis, but on a global basis. We’re trying to test the waters. Will our game travel? It’s a big step for the NFL. When the NFL asked us, we felt an obligation to do it. I can understand why fans might be disappointed. They can still see it on TV and a lot are going, by the way."
On season ticket-holders, who are upset the NFL is requiring them to pick up tickets in person in London, the week of the game: "The intent is not to have people buy tickets for the game day price and sell to a broker and make a couple of grand. For a fan to complain he can’t broker tickets, that’s not right."
On coach Cam Cameron and the draft: "Our new coach is a great guy ... He’s got the right approach to what he’s doing. On the draft, some people didn’t like the way he handled the draft. I give him 99 percent. He told me on Wednesday [before the draft] what he was going to do and he got 9 out of 10 out of his guys. And the one guy he missed it, he missed by one, the team just before us took his one guy. He got 9 out of 10 guys. So to me, when a guy lays out his plan, you may not like his plan, but I give he and [GM] Randy [Mueller] all the credit in the world."
On Cameron not drafting Brady Quinn: "I knew on Wednesday [before the draft] he wasn’t going to take Brady Quinn. He told me why he wasn’t going to take him, but he said, 'if you tell me to take him, I will.' I said, 'No I’d never do that. You guys pick the guys.' That was their plan. I've got to give him all the credit in the world. They could have taken the easy way out and made the popular decision. He had the courage and nerve to stand up and do it. I think that was an aggressive thing to do. He knew they were going to get bashed. He did the right thing, rather than the popular thing. It takes a lot of courage, I wish some of our political leaders would do that. … I give him all the credit."
On his patience: "I’m very impatient when it comes to winning, but I’m patient with Randy and coach and their plan."
Comments
The Dolphins made a huge mistake by saying we would not be charged for the game and than jacking up the price of others games to make up the difference.
Posted by: ugg boots | October 23, 2009 11:21 PM
interesting post
Posted by: ugg boots | October 23, 2009 11:19 PM
"On Cameron not drafting Brady Quinn: "I knew on Wednesday [before the draft] he wasn’t going to take Brady Quinn. He told me why he wasn’t going to take him, but he said, 'if you tell me to take him, I will.' I said, 'No I’d never do that. You guys pick the guys.'"
Well at least he admits he wouldn't know one player from another to pick in the draft.
The best thing that could happen to the Miami Dolphins is Wanye selling the team. All he really cares about is the revenue generated by the stadium. The Marlins will have to go not because of the infield. (And why can't the infield be in grass?) but because they cost the stadium more than they bring in.
So enjoy his honesty.
Posted by: Unclechucky | July 5, 2007 4:27 PM
Right on Stan!!
Sarah why don't you take Stan's advice? 97 Marlins? Why yes I remember they were Champs thats right.
Glen and Mark - Capitalist? Bottom line? Why heck yes!! Why do you guys work for? Any bottom line involved every couple of weeks? And Waldo - What about Daunte? He got paid and he didn't get it done - he was part of that process - so he's out let it go and lets move on.
And Crist - I suggest you call 1-800-WHAAAAA and wait for amn answer.
Posted by: Dolphin Fan in S Dakota | July 2, 2007 2:53 PM
I think Wayne, like most owners, is an easy target but that comes with the territory and the private plane -right ?
I know there are fans from other cities who would love to have him as an owner of ANY of their franchises (because he is not cheap and coaches RAVE about working for him).
We are frustrated because we have not had a contender since Marino retired. That's not Wayne's fault -that's coaches and players.
Posted by: Rob | July 2, 2007 2:52 PM
Wayne is a super capitlist. Boy do we miss the Robie family!!!!
So what improvments in the club level?
Posted by: Bill | June 28, 2007 10:01 PM
According to Forbes last year, the average NFL team was worth $898m and has appreciated 211% since 1998. Now I do not condemn the NFL for attempting to enhance its profits, however the reason the NFL season is so great is its limited schedule. Sixteen regular season games are special events versus 162 (approximately 150 too many) virtually meaningless baseball games and 82 NBA games. To ask loyal fans to give a single regular season game up is unacceptable in order to increase team merchandise sales in foreign lands. In the short term it may make an already prosperous league richer. But at what point does it devalue the product?
Interesting that Wayne did not comment on the fact that UK fans were able to buy tickets without restrictions but US fans (loyal season ticket holders) were forced to either attend the game or else. Scalping tickets in Florida is legal I believe, but Wayne and the NFL just could not see a way to get their cut hence the restrictions. Sickening.
Posted by: Mark LaPointe | June 28, 2007 6:21 PM
Ranger31:
Cam didn't have faith in Daunte, his knee, or his leadership/morale towards the team. He knew exactly what he'd be getting with Green. With Green as a feasible option, he and Randy made a tough football decision. Wayne wasn't involved in that decision at all.
And everyone, cut Wayne some slack. He does everything that an owner can and should do to produce a winner in Miami. Having an owner who cares about that and stays out of the way of management to get their jobs done should be applauded. As for ticket increases, what do you expect??? Players are allowed more and more money every year per team...to afford the kind of talent we hope to have for a winner, we need to be willing to handle the price increases. I draw the line at beer sales though, Wayne. J/k- but not really.
Also, the game in London- everyone needs to get over it already. We lose one game for one year, but the Dolphins become a worldwide name. Also, London has a huge Dolphins fan base, so we won't lose much of the home field advantage. Wayne agreed this year, and in the upcoming year(s) we'll probably be allowed to have a game or two in Europe where we're the away team.
Posted by: Krillian | June 28, 2007 5:24 PM
OMG - The owner is pathetic. ALL THE CREDIT, ALL THE CREDIT.... for what! How about, let's see how this pans out over the next 2-3 years. When he makes comments such as 'He's a good guy'...this is the root of the Dolphins' problems. How the owner ever made his billions is a mystery, since he's got no ability to pick the right people for his NFL franchise.
And listening to the national NFL radio shows such as Sirius NFL Replay, the consensus is the Miami Dolphin organization is a joke. And then he gives Mueller an extension! ‘Last place’ - for years to come.
Posted by: Rand | June 28, 2007 2:22 PM
Nothing about possible Hurricanes as a new tenant?
Posted by: Crist | June 28, 2007 11:58 AM
[quote]The intent is not to have people buy tickets for the game day price and sell to a broker and make a couple of grand.[/quote]
Correct. The intent is for the Dolphins to make a couple of grand!
I find it funny that he used $2000 as the amount because that is about the minimum THEY are making with their package scams!!!
$3300 a couple minimium
Their cost = approximately $1200
Profit = $2100
So, who is scalping here???? It's not the season ticket holders, it's the Dolphins doing the scalping. They didn't want the competition from season ticket holders!!!
Posted by: The Phinatic | June 28, 2007 9:55 AM
What about Daunte Culpepper and the way he was treated here in Miami? What about the allegations that he was rushed back in order to get their prized FA acquisition on the field last year? And why not, with all the money invested in him, was he not given a chance to compete for the QB Starters job?
Posted by: RANGER31 | June 28, 2007 7:13 AM
Stop bashing, you have to invest your lots of monies and have the staff get the lion share and worry about paying all the taxes etc and pray that there is some left. How would you deal with the situation? expansion means more people will buy tickets and don,t be too worried, because the the rest of us would like to share in the promotion of the teams of choice. I live in the Cayman Islands and a Dolphin fan since 1970. I listened to the games via AFRTS Radio (shortwave) and WIOD out of Miami before Radio Marti. Kind regards...
Posted by: Waldo Parchment | June 27, 2007 8:53 PM
Yeah, those season-ticket holders sure are whiners...just pay a few grand for travel and accommodations and like it!!
What a piss-poor, imperialistic attitude. If you're going to make it extremely difficult for season ticket-holders to get to this "home" game, the least they could do is not bust the fans' chops for trying to make lemons from lemonade. Let them scalp it...who cares? It's not like you can't do it for other (actual) home games, and this shouldn't be any different.
Posted by: Flush it all away | June 27, 2007 7:08 PM
Al he cares about is the bottom line. He could care less about anyone else except himself. Remember the 97 Marlins ?
Remember what he did to he Panthers ?
I hope he gets a case of slow stomach cancer.
Posted by: Glen Healy | June 27, 2007 4:29 PM
Is that Donald Pleasance?
Posted by: Steve-O | June 27, 2007 4:25 PM
What's funny about all the crying over the london game is that no one will care come Oct. 29th especially if we win. And if you want to see the Giants so bad then MOVE TO NEW JERSEY!!!!!
Posted by: Noah | June 27, 2007 3:07 PM
If you want to play games in foreign countries than you or any other sports teams should not use tax free bonds to finance stadiums. Many local governments have invested money to keep the NFL and other leagues events in their community. Now the leagues are saying screw you were going elsewhere.
Season ticket holders are being ripped off. I want to go to the game but can not afford to lay out all the money right now. If I can't get a passport I will give the tickets to my cousin. Does that sound like a scalper to you?
Myself and family members have waited for many years to see the Giants play here in Miami. Now Roger Goodell decides to take it away to give his favorite team the Giants an unfair competitive advantage.
The Dolphins made a huge mistake by saying we would not be charged for the game and than jacking up the price of others games to make up the difference.
You should look at the big picture. What if we decide to stop buying NFL merchandise, NFL Ticket, and let those who sponsor you that we do not look favorably upon those who support you?
Posted by: Stan | June 27, 2007 12:42 PM
Excellent questions. I did actually ask about that, but he didn't say much other than he thinks the commissioner is doing a great job.
Posted by: Sarah Talalay | June 27, 2007 12:37 PM
Good read. Always interesting to catch up with H. Wayne. Good questions. Would have liked to see his thoughts on the new commissioner and the direction and his zero tolerance policies.
Posted by: Steven Mainor | June 27, 2007 12:33 PM