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Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross answers fans' questions
Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross and CEO Mike Dee met with Sun Sentinel editors and reporters this morning. Here are some of their answers to some of your questions:
Q. A number of fans really don’t like the new fight song, they don’t like the T-Pain version. A lot of people don’t like hearing Jimmy Buffett’s Fins when the team scores.
A. Ross: A lot of people do like the Fins song. The thing is you don’t know what people like and you don’t get a feeling for impact until you try something. We’re experimenting. That ‘s what preseason is for. I think Jimmy Buffett will definitely be part of it, he’s not going away. We happen to like the song, we’ve gotten a tremendous amount of favorable comments with regard to that. I think the T-Pain version was controversial. You have to realize, people inherently don’t like change. Same old, same old.
Q. I’ve never heard so many people love that fight song until you changed it.
A. Ross: Isn't it unbelievable? The biggest surprise I’ve ever seen in my life. You have the same feeling I have, you have to look at change. We’re not done looking at ideas to do that, because there was so much negativity about the existing fight song before.
Dee: Basically T-Pain contributed that song, we played it at the first preseason game. Again it was a preseason game, we were experimenting and continue to experiment there are at least two other people I know of, who want to contribute their own version of the fight song, different than T-Pain’s. It wasn’t the old song out and T-Pain’s in. I think it was hey here’s a version that may appeal to a different listener and perhaps there will be two more that have a different flair as well. I think it’s fair to say we recognize the sacred nature of the original version.
Q. Old fight song, it’s not like it’s dead, you’ll still be playing it, but might be interspersing it with others?
A. Dee: It might have a different role. Before it was played exclusively after scores. And we’re still working on how it will be used.
Ross: But we want to start a ritual, we don’t know what song it will be, after the third period, there will be a song we’ll sing on a continual basis. I can’t tell you what that song will be. To inspire people, like the seventh inning stretch, and really inspire the team. You want to start that in football, you want to do after the third period in every game. We’re going to come up with one until we find the right song, that we sing and everybody’s ready for it at the end of the third period, kind of a ritualistic thing that I think will be interesting in football.
Q. Do you have plans to change the team colors and uniforms?
A. Ross: We haven’t even looked at that. I haven’t thought of it.
Dee: Not this year and we just missed the deadline for 2010, so not next year either.
Q. Would you consider selling pieces of the team to retired Dolphins player greats?
A. Ross: No.
Q. Why not sell a one share to the fans or season ticket holders? I don't think you can do that in the NFL.
A. Ross: That isn’t allowed in the NFL, you’re limited to I think 25 owners and it’s not the kind of thing [where] you want a public company. They don’t allow public companies. Someone has to be able to make all the decisions without going to a board or anybody else, which I think is good, because that way you get decisions made. You don’t have fights within different teams which certain sports have, you know divisions. I’m prepared to take all the blame, but still the fans we love them and they’re the most important thing we have. I want to make sure they feel good about the team.
Q. Is there any way you could make ticket prices cheaper? Is there an opportunity to offer a standing room seat? At the Cowboys new stadium, the cheapest seats are $25.
A. Dee: We’re one of the best values in the NFL. Our ticket pricing is in I think the lower third of all teams, we have currently 4,600 seats that cost $31, which is one of the lowest price points in the NFL. That’s per seat, not a standing room seat. We are looking at standing room, kind of irrespective of costs, we think standing room is good and is part of our evaluation of the facility moving forward. We’ll continue to be competitive with the South Florida marketplace and what entertainment experiences are out there and you know overtime we want to make sure we stay competitively priced, given the dynamic of our marketplace.
Q. Is there any ability or talk of moving some seats closer to the field? That’s what people miss about the Orange Bowl.
A. Ross: That’s one of the things we’re looking at. This year with the Sideline Club (passes that allow on-field access throughout the game, new this season) they’re going to be closer to the field. We are studying it. I think when we come up with a total package, I think we can really have a major impact on the stadium.
Q. Is there anything that can be done about the dirt infield, until the Marlins are gone?
A. Ross: We have two more seasons of that. There’s nothing you can do. Contractually we’re obligated.
Dee: We have made the effort over the last couple of years, our grounds crew has sodded the pitcher’s mound area, and we’ve sodded the west endzone corner, which used to be exposed on that terrible rubber warning track, we do that for preseason games, took the turf down. It’s pretty much what it is until they’re gone.
Q. What about a retractable roof at Land Shark Stadium?
A. Ross: We’re studying all that, I don’t think it would be a retractable roof, because I don’t think one, the cost. I don’t think the county, in these economic times has the money and I think the cost of acclimatizing a stadium is so expensive and for the amount of usage it would get it’s probably not feasible. It probably doesn’t need a retractable roof from a football standpoint or soccer. But one thing we’re looking at, is how to do we really improve the stadium and cover some of those issues, not having a roof.
Q. Does that mean some sort of covering over some areas?
A. Ross: Yes.
Comments
crap, sorry for the quad post, didnt think it was accepting it.
Posted by: JP | October 21, 2009 2:46 AM
Wow....
I have watched my lifelong team just get torn apart over the last few years.
From considering a lady that sings "my humps my humps" as an owner, to bringing in the estafans, to changing the fight song to a no talent autotune song....
Its a sad day for true phins fans.
Posted by: JP | October 21, 2009 2:37 AM
Wow....
I have watched my lifelong team just get torn apart over the last few years.
From considering a lady that sings "my humps my humps" as an owner, to bringing in the estafans, to changing the fight song to a no talent autotune song....
Its a sad day for true phins fans.
Posted by: JP | October 21, 2009 2:37 AM
Wow....
I have watched my lifelong team just get torn apart over the last few years.
From considering a lady that sings "my humps my humps" as an owner, to bringing in the estafans, to changing the fight song to a no talent autotune song....
Its a sad day for true phins fans.
Posted by: JP | October 21, 2009 2:37 AM
Wow....
I have watched my lifelong team just get torn apart over the last few years.
From considering a lady that sings "my humps my humps" as an owner, to bringing in the estafans, to changing the fight song to a no talent autotune song....
Its a sad day for true phins fans.
Posted by: JP | October 21, 2009 2:37 AM
When the original fight song is played after the 3rd qtr everyone stand up and claps and sings and gets fire up over it!!! That's because we want it played after every score!!! At the Jets game the fans kept singing the song way after the music stoppped until we got to the end!!! Bring it back and dump the fins up crap!!!!
Posted by: Walt | October 16, 2009 2:33 PM
When the original fight song is played after the 3rd qtr everyone stand up and claps and sings and gets fire up over it!!! That's because we want it played after every score!!! At the Jets game the fans kept singing the song way after the music stoppped until we got to the end!!! Bring it back and dump the fins up crap!!!!
Posted by: Walt | October 16, 2009 2:33 PM
I heard four local marchings bands perform the Dolphins fight song together as one band. They were 400 players strong and it was great!
Posted by: Walter | September 21, 2009 1:55 PM
This is the petition to change the Dolphins fight song back
www.changefinssong.com
Lets get a million people to sign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Support the movement!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: fonz | August 28, 2009 11:18 AM
I am so tired of Mr Ross and his typical comment about not accepting change. People use that phrase when they know they made a mistake. Yes change is good but you don't mess with tradition.
Posted by: Cathy Hoffman | August 28, 2009 6:49 AM
This is the petition to change the Dolphins fight song back
www.changefinssong.com
Lets get a million people to sign!!!!!!!!!!
Support the movement!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: fonz | August 27, 2009 5:22 PM
This is the petition to change the Dolphins fight song back
www.changefinssong.com
Lets get a million people to sign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Support the movement!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: fonz | August 27, 2009 10:18 AM
13 year old fan writes and performs Dolphins 2009 fight song..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y1UXFsIWpU
As good a chance as any ?
Posted by: Myles | August 27, 2009 3:19 AM
yea, black colored uniforms in the South Florida heat makes real good sense... MORON. The jets are always looking for dumb fans.
Posted by: jets suck hard | August 26, 2009 4:26 PM
I knew this guy was an idiot from the get go. But I didn't realize the depth of the idiocy.
"People don't like change". Ahh, yeah we do but change has to be better than before the change. But more importantly, you don't change tradition. Let me dumb this down for you Ross: you don't change the National Anthem just because it's "old". Get it?
Posted by: cocoajoe | August 26, 2009 3:46 PM
Ummmm, Jess - before you start telling ANYBODY to get a life, learn to read! The names are under the comments, not over it. Duhhhhh.
And for the record, I have season tix and will keep renewing them as long as the Dolphins exist. The are my team!
Posted by: just_me | August 26, 2009 9:14 AM
You have to give the owner some credit for making himself available for comment and criticism. The sign of a great owner is whether the excitement and resolve hangs around long enough to keep this up and keep taking punches.
Posted by: GB | August 26, 2009 7:13 AM
@Matt, if you stop going to a game over a song - or stop being a fan, you not a true fan from the start.. NO song will make me stop being a Dolfan (.) Now for the fines up song it dont bring any excitement after a TD, so I dont like it at all.
Posted by: Richard | August 26, 2009 2:07 AM
@CJ
You see CJ you and myself know that people was talking about they are tried of the old song some last few years now, but when a rapper picks it up, OMG here goes the cries.
TIM Bowns was on a interveiw on 560am and he hated the song, who it really matter to is the owner and most of all the players - I wonder if the players want the old song back, man they may have been the ones to tell him to look for change, I'm a Critical thinker, which most people not thinking about every thing over all.
@Matt, if you stop going to a game over a song - or stop being a fan, you not a true fan from the start.. NO song will make me stop being a Dolfan (.) How the fines up song doing bring any excitement after a TD, so I dont like it at all.
Posted by: Richard | August 26, 2009 1:58 AM
I love the Dolphins, and all I want is a SUPER BOWL WIN, all this other stuff doesn't matter. I also think it is time to change the uniforms, put some black in it and look more aggressive. All you whiners chill out!
Posted by: jo | August 26, 2009 12:47 AM
I would love to know the fan reaction Ross is referring to? I saw the fan reaction in both games.. T-Pain's Cher rendition of the song is horrible. It sounds like my 3 yr old playing with my stereo equalizer while my pet chimp is trying to sing the dolphin song?? The Buffet song is ridiculous.. and to put a fin on our head like a shark? Maybe you clowns are on to something?? Should we have worn pro player underwear on our heads to the games when we were named that previously?
Ross, you are a money lovn' sell-out New Yorker.. go back to rooting for the Jets and get out of here with your Black Eyed Peas and Red eyed cheech and chung.. be GONE! and bring back the old fight song!!!
Posted by: jon | August 26, 2009 12:45 AM
I say if we are going to go with something new for the fight song.
Play the old fight song once before the game right before the players come out.
Also at the very end if we win.
Posted by: Dean | August 25, 2009 11:50 PM
I say if we are going to go with something new for the fight song.
Play the old fight song once before the game right before the players come out.
Also at the very end if we win.
Posted by: Dean | August 25, 2009 11:50 PM
Mr. Ross, I beg to differ with it's not about accepting change, it's about respect for the team. Neither the song nor the name does that. I could never understand why all the sports shows never talk about the dolphins. They are now and it's all negative about your so called change. Tradition stands for something bring it back to Miami.
Posted by: Cathy Hoffman | August 25, 2009 10:58 PM
Just_me, you're not going to renew your season tickets because of a stupid song?! I think some of you need to get a life!
Posted by: Jess | August 25, 2009 10:56 PM
The "Fins Up" garbage from lame celebrities after every play is annoying as hell and makes me want to leave the stadium.
Posted by: Claxton Markoni | August 25, 2009 10:39 PM
typo...drop the S
Posted by: Jack | August 25, 2009 10:35 PM
Mr. Ross, You want instant respect and admiration and the acceptance of all the other items your trying to sell....EASY! Name it JOE ROBBIE STADIUMS and keep the original song. Miami Dolphins, Miami Dolphin, Miami Dolphins #1.........
Posted by: Jack | August 25, 2009 10:33 PM
Here's what I have to say about whats been going on. I have been a dolphin fan ever since I was a kid. I am 26 years old and getting a chance to go to a game is always a blessing especially in the times we live in now. I wish that Mr.Ross will do what every dolphin fan has been dreaming of for the longest time. Please change the name of the stadium to Joe Robbie Stadium. That is a huge part of our tradition and to bring that back would make you more then you can imagine. You dont need a product to make you money. No disrespect towards Jimmy Buffet. I am huge fam of his music and I like to drink his beer but why are we only keeping the name for one season....not even one season it expires before the pro bowl and super bowl. What will we be called then? Will Mr. Ross convince someone else to sell their product as our name? When we had Joe Robbie we had pride, tradition, and dedication to having a great football frachise. If I am not mistaken the greenbay packers have never given up their stadium name. That is what we had. That is what we yearn for. I plead for the chance to have that feeling again. Mr Ross I know that you are trying to make money as an owner. You would be a fool not to try and make money. I implore you to think hard and consider to change the name back to Joe Robbie. Doing this will earn you not only the respect of long time dolphin fans but the respect of future generations to come. The ability to raise my future children on what I was raised on would be a dream come true. Please do make changes b/c in the end change is and will always happen but please give us back the foundation we were built on. Dont make this and us into a product you can simply sell and make a dollar on. I am not a product....I AM A MIAMI DOLPHIN FAN!!!
Posted by: Chris | August 25, 2009 10:14 PM
I stand corrected, the writer of the original song, Lee Ofman, made the song interchangeable so every team in the AFL could use it, and the only teams that adopted it were the Oilers and Dolphins. If you ask me, no two teams should have the same fight song. I think the Dolphins should go college style and have a small marching band and create a traditional fight song. Just saying....
Posted by: CJ | August 25, 2009 10:08 PM
I think it's hilarious that almost everyone talked about how "hokie" and "old" the old fight song was, and now that ownership has listened, and responded, no one is giving the t-pain version a chance. The song didn't change, just the voice and beat. And the FUNNIEST thing, is that everyone wants to hold on to a song that wasn't even ours to begin with, it started with the Houston Oilers and even some other teams had adopted it. How about we build tradition of our own?
Posted by: CJ | August 25, 2009 9:56 PM
Check out the Facebook group "Keep The REAL Miami Dolphin's Fight Song"... just log on to Facebook and search for that...
Posted by: Real Dolfan | August 25, 2009 9:49 PM
This guy is a tool!!! I'll bet there will be another song by Gloria for all the julios. Just go ahead and change the name of the team to the Banana Republic Dolphins. Once Parcells leaves we will take the place of the Detroit Lions as the worst franchise in the league.
Posted by: Don Shula | August 25, 2009 9:00 PM
We know the stadium name has been changed numerous times ie Joe Robbie, Dolphins Stadium, etc etc Landshark, but why not keep some remient of history, ie the dolphin fight song. My son in law played the new ghetto rap dolphin song to me as soon as it came out as he is a Buffalo fan. I hope you can see where I am going Mr.Ross. Don't let us be ridiculed by these other TEAM fans that we deal with daily. SAVE OUR FIGHT SONG. By the way I think you should at least peak at who is buying your tickets.
Posted by: kayakingforlife | August 25, 2009 8:39 PM
We know the stadium name has been changed numerous times ie Joe Robbie, Dolphins Stadium, etc etc Landshark, but why not keep some remient of history, ie the dolphin fight song. My son in law played the new ghetto rap dolphin song to me as soon as it came out as he is a Buffalo fan. I hope you can see where I am going Mr.Ross. Don't let us be ridiculed by these other TEAM fans that we deal with daily. SAVE OUR FIGHT SONG. By the way I think you should at least peak at who is buying your tickets.
Posted by: kayakingforlife | August 25, 2009 8:39 PM
This whole organization has turned into a circus show. Completely embarrassing.
Posted by: Ryan | August 25, 2009 8:33 PM
Please Mr. Ross as a longtime Dolphin Fan bring back the original fight song!!! It just belongs with the Dolphins like Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville!!
Posted by: Debbie | August 25, 2009 7:57 PM
Please Mr. Ross as a longtime Dolphin Fan bring back the original fight song!!! It just belongs with the Dolphins like Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville!!
Posted by: Debbie | August 25, 2009 7:57 PM
Please Mr. Ross as a longtime Dolphin Fan bring back the original fight song!!! It just belongs with the Dolphins like Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville!!
Posted by: Debbie | August 25, 2009 7:57 PM
Mr. Ross with all due respect as a football owner now, u shud relize there's 4 quarters in football, periods are in hockey. So please stop saying "after 3rd period" thanks... I won't smash mouth hyper songs, sum likin park "numb" guns and roses, welcome to the jungle...football music.... Not no fins to the left, fins to the right crap...
Posted by: Dave | August 25, 2009 7:16 PM
changefinssong.com
Posted by: Kyle | August 25, 2009 7:01 PM
@ Richard ..
Take a chill pill !!!
Posted by: Steve | August 25, 2009 6:44 PM
T Pain ? Hood rat.
Posted by: JimManwich | August 25, 2009 6:30 PM
What do you expect from a hood rat named T Pain ? A pain in da arse. L O L
Posted by: CMooreButte | August 25, 2009 6:28 PM
I'm a Packer Fan and I have my share of the Packers. Of course it can't be sold or traded and you don't make a profit off of it or get a dividend check but I own a piece (very small piece) of the team.
As every fan should have the right.
Posted by: NoSacredCow | August 25, 2009 6:21 PM
Why would they change the colors and or uniforms?? Us true Fans have been rooting for those colors since we were kids. Has anyone noticed they've already changed their shoe color from white to black? I always want to be able to root for the same colors and logo that Marino wore.
Posted by: LongTimeFan | August 25, 2009 5:38 PM
Reading the response of Mr. Ross and Mr. Dee to the questions in a way is quite humorous. They sound like spoiled children who have decided that their way is the only correct way. Change is always necessary and needed, but change must occur with respect to tradition.
Taking the time to survey their dedicated season ticket holders (many of whom paid large amounts of money to support a team despite the lack of a post-season appearance for 6 of the last 7 years), would have been a more prudent course.
In my humble opinion, the old fight song stays; Jimmy Buffet's "Fins" song should be relegated to a good defensive play now and then; and we should never hear "Fins Up" again. Lastly, the 7th inning stretch belongs in baseball; this is FOOTBALL!
Posted by: NB | August 25, 2009 5:31 PM
A song after the "third period"!? Is that before or after the zamboni machine comes out to clean the ice?
Posted by: John | August 25, 2009 5:10 PM
Stephen Ross....you are a clown. You seriously just need to step aside and let Parcells do his job. I'm getting really tired of you, and you haven't even been here that long. Your welcome is wearing out VERY fast here.
Posted by: Brian | August 25, 2009 5:08 PM
I own a website dedicated to buying the Dolphins called BuytheFins.com. Due to popular demand I will be reworking the site to pursue a 1% stake in the team.
The current "rules" can be changed for my group. The fact is the Packers are owned by sum 110,000 different individuals. Corporations own shares of other teams as well.
It boils down to money. If the NFL owners want to get a billion dollars for a team than they have no choice but to accept publicaly traded groups with the economic power to do so.
Posted by: Stan | August 25, 2009 5:04 PM
Why was the third question about changing the uniform? Why does the uniform or colors need to be changed? Don't piss off the fanbase anymore than you already have Ross.
Posted by: Brian | August 25, 2009 5:04 PM
@Matt: I know Ross does not believe you. I hate the song, but love the Fins. I'll keep coming back until the team is sold. A good team is better any day than no fight song change and a losing team.
Posted by: Mike | August 25, 2009 4:57 PM
To Jon,
I like the buffet song, and I know a lot of other people that like it too...
don't like the t-pain song... prefer the traditional song after ALL scores!
Posted by: Anonymous | August 25, 2009 4:57 PM
The stadium was orginally designed for a retractable roof to be added for about 100 million, small change to a billionaire. I can not believe he said the county doesnt have money to do it? Are you kidding me? 23 years ago the county said take a hike and a great owner went out and did it on his own. This team will struggle money wise for years because 1.1 billion finaced is alot of debt to carry. So either one of or all ticket/food/parking will go thru the roof or expect another 23 owners to offset the monthly debt payments. So how many of you miss Wayne now? You all wanted him gone, he is gone and like the old saying goes be very careful what you wish for, it very well may come true!
Posted by: chris | August 25, 2009 4:50 PM
first Huzienga dismantles marlins after world series and now he sells the team to a broke clown that needs money to improve his own stadium and has to sell team to a whole bunch of celebs... wuts next??? keep the damn old fight song!!!!! stop changing OUR TEAM... leave the change for parcells,sporano, and ireland!!!
Posted by: alain | August 25, 2009 4:42 PM
Pain to the left
Pain the right
it's Not the only fight song in town!
Posted by: Finfan | August 25, 2009 4:16 PM
Amen to both Matt and Jon. I could not say any better. Ross is a clown who thinks he bought a circus.
Posted by: gddolphins1 | August 25, 2009 4:13 PM
I like the old fight song, I'm fine with Fins being played too, but the T-Pain song is just that - pain to listen to. Never play that one again!
Posted by: just_me | August 25, 2009 3:57 PM
Maybe Mr. Ross can understand this message: I will NOT be spending the $6000 to renew my Club Level season tickets next year if the old Dolphins fight song does not return after every score and the idiotic "Fins Up" nonsense does not stop.
Posted by: Matt | August 25, 2009 3:48 PM
I'm so happy Mr.Ross is looking into changing the old fight song, it is time for change - some people /old people dont like change, like Ross said. Moreover, If you really listen to the T-pain song it have a better bet to it and the part where it say " go go go go " sounds so good. Oh well, but keep looking for change Mr.Ross, Not everyone is mad at you, every since the 90's I been looking for change in that song, Yes it is finally here from 1972 to 2009 going into '10 - New ower I love you man, tears :) .. GO Dolphins - GO GOoo GOoo!.
Posted by: Richard | August 25, 2009 3:08 PM
Ross buying the Dolphins is going to be one of the biggest mistakes ever seen in South Florida. You shell out 1 Billion to buy the team, but you basically say without saying that you want the County to pay for improvements to the Stadium? Huzienga dumped $500 million of his OWN money and didn't blink, what makes you so special? Also, just because you love Jimmy Buffett and want him as a minority owner doesn't mean you have to shove his crappy song down everyone's throats. "A lot of people do like the Fins song." Who, Jimmy Buffetts family members? If you wanna try some things to make the game more appeling fine, but don't mess with tradtion. And Finally, you can sell shares of the franchise to the Williams sisters, Gloria Estafone, and Mark Antony but the people that made this franchise what it is, that gave literally they're blood, sweat, and tears to this team and community can't BUY a piece of that team? That is the biggest slap in the face to the tradition of this storied franchise I think I have ever seen. You sir, Mr Ross do not know what the hell you are doing.
Posted by: Jon | August 25, 2009 2:59 PM