Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross Forming Sports Marketing Operation

Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross is trying to "transform his holdings into a major sports and entertainment marketing operation," and he has hired former Jets Exec VP/Business Operations Matt Higgins to "run the yet-to-be-named company," according to Matthew Futterman of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. The company's mission will be to "bring together and expand Ross's entertainment assets." Higgins on Monday said that the venture will "focus on acquiring and developing new entertainment content, running events and using technology to enhance the fan experience." By moving into the sports marketing and event businesses, Ross "becomes the latest owner to try to use his franchises as a platform for building a broader business." Ross in '10 "acquired FanVision, a technology that gives fans at sporting events instant replays and data throughout a game." He has "tried to sell it throughout the sports industry" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/1).