In Miami, Rosenberg & Beasley reported Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez on Friday met with Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross and CEO Mike Dee to "discuss the proposed stadium rehabilitation” of Sun Life Stadium. Dolphins spokesperson Ric Katz said that the team is “hopeful" the Miami-Dade County Commission will approve a May 14 date for a referendum on the proposed $400M in renovations, "time enough to get South Florida in play for Super Bowl 50." NFL owners are “slated to meet on May 22 to pick the site of the 2016 Super Bowl" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/24).
CHARLOTTE'S WEB: A CHARLOTTE OBSERVER editorial stated NFL Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson “feels his name is being tainted” in his request for $125M from the city of Charlotte to help pay for renovations to Bank of America Stadium. The Charlotte City Council’s “dash for cash is making him look bad.” The council's proposed tax increase would bring in close to $1B, about $875M "more than the Panthers requested.” Sources said that Richardson is “annoyed that the city is using his request as a springboard for raising taxes more than necessary" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/25).
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS: In DC, Ben Sumner noted the Verizon Center’s decibel meters "are back." The decibel meters were “popular fixtures at the old Capital Centre, and fans have been asking for years to bring them back.” But it “wasn’t as easy as simply buying one and plugging it in.” Nearly two years “of research and implementation went into the project.” Fine tuning “delayed the unveiling, which was originally scheduled for the season opener.” The meter currently is “only used at Capitals games, but the Wizards have expressed interest" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/22).
