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Checking in with new Dolphins CEO Mike Dee
Had a chance to catch up a little bit with new Dolphins CEO Mike Dee this week.
The veteran sports team executive, who joined the Dolphins in May after five years as Chief Operating Officer at the Boston Red Sox, is as enthusiastic about enhancing the business side of the Dolphins, as his new boss, team owner Stephen M. Ross.
Dee shares Ross’ philosophy that owning and running a franchise is akin to being the steward of a community asset. The two want to be as inclusive as possible with all fans, Dee said: “We have a new saying that: no fan gets left behind.”
That partly explains the new partnerships with Jimmy Buffett and Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Dee reiterated that while Ross’ priority is winning, he wants to ensure an entertaining fan experience, too.
“We want to make sure everything we do is fun, looking through the lens of the fan,” Dee said. “Steve’s career and his success has been built on being avant garde. He’s a bold aggressive entrepreneur. That’s what attracted me to him. He lives outside the box. That’s what makes him successful and also what makes it fun.”
The changes being made are Ross putting his “own stamp” on the team,” Dee said.
And it’s the success of the business side, Dee says, that can help the football side make upgrades and sign new players.
Among Dee’s challenges is boosting season ticket sales. Season ticket sales dropped to 47,000 in 2008, from 54,465 in 2007 and 61,121 in 2006. Dee said he expects the team to sell about 50,000 in 2009, but he’s aiming for more than 60,000 in the next few years.
“Season ticket holders are the lifeblood of your franchise,” Dee said. “We have some work to do.”
The Land Shark Stadium concession stands are being upgraded. The 100 and 400 level concession stands are being equipped with 180 flat-screen digital menu boards – just like the 110 that were installed on the club level in 2007 during the stadium’s $300 million renovation.
He said the team is also evaluating the ticket pricing in the 100 and 400 levels.
Expect more announcements of enhancements in the coming weeks. Stay tuned...
Putting his money where his mouth is: Dee says he’s making a contribution to the Dolphins Foundation each time he references the Red Sox.
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Comments
i live in orlando and the biggest complaint i have when i come to a game not having enough time in between quarters to go do the things i need like everybody else has been saying like get beers and food without missing some of the game ... just because u pay less then the rich people in the nice seats doesn't mean u should get less lol the life of the team is in season ticket holders and im not going to buy season tickets in the 100 and 400 sections to get treated like a opposing teams fan and have to get beer poured down my back by a new england fan because no real dolphins fan will purchase the seats cause of bad service F THAT u WANT ME TO GET SEASON TICKETS treat me like a dolphin fan not like some opposing teams fan I WANT THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE ..... LOL ... NOT MUCH TO ASK AND ILL BUY SEASON TICKETS after all it is a team sport right?
Posted by: jeffrow | July 13, 2009 4:44 AM
My main complaint is the fact that if you get up at half time to go to the bathroom or get something to eat/drink you may miss half of the third quarter. If you want to do both forget about it unless you want to miss the ENTIRE third quarter. Thats all they really need to fix to make me happy.
Posted by: Pound | July 8, 2009 1:40 PM
"Evaluating the the ticket prices in the 100 and 400"....there's a recession, drop the the ticket prices, beer prices and get better food.
Posted by: cocoajoe | July 7, 2009 7:00 PM
http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/aquavision/aquavision.asp?category=1&mediaid=43219
Posted by: 13kvFINS | July 5, 2009 9:35 PM
The last thing I want to see at a game are commercials, and there is no lack of them. I can see commercials at home without the 2 hour drive down parking pass, and $50.00 tickets. I understand the price of a live game, but please lose the commercials, it distracts from the game.
Posted by: Fang | July 5, 2009 8:54 PM
Right. It stinks when the second half starts and the stands are half empty. Home field advantage means having fans in their seats making noise when it's needed, not waiting at concession stands or watching the game inside.
Posted by: fishface | July 4, 2009 4:18 PM
I just hope that all the extra curricular activities SHUT-DOWN during crunch-time,when the seats need to be stood in front of by Miami Dolphin Football fans!!
GO FOOTBALL staff,players,and fans!!
Posted by: 13kvFINS | July 4, 2009 2:44 PM