The Dolphins and Miami-area tourism officials yesterday in N.Y. presented the NFL with the "most expensive Super Bowl bid in South Florida’s history," but team CEO Mike Dee said that "amped-up entertainment options won’t be enough if voters don’t approve a subsidized renovation of Sun Life Stadium," according to Douglas Hanks of the MIAMI HERALD. Dee said an upgraded stadium “is the only impediment between us and success." The South Florida Super Bowl Host Committee "expects to spend" about $21M in private and public funds "putting on the kind of Super Bowl outlined in the thick binder" presented to NFL execs. The "confidential proposal includes creating a Super Bowl theme park in downtown Miami, including closing down Biscayne Boulevard, constructing a 'Hail Mary Zip Line' along the waterfront and possibly mooring barges to accommodate some of the action." The NFL this week met with officials from South Florida, S.F. and Houston, all areas which are "pursuing Super Bowls 50 and 51," and the final bids "are due May 7." South Florida has "previously declined to pursue a Super Bowl scheduled the same weekend as the Miami International Boat Show," but now has "agreed to hold both events at the same time" should the NFL opt to schedule the Super Bowl "two weeks later than usual" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/24). In Miami, Patricia Mazzei noted the Dolphins yesterday sent out their "first campaign flier" for stadium renovations. The mailer highlights the team's estimate that the $350M "stadium face-lift will create 4,000 jobs and promises the upgrades would attract more Super Bowls, college football championships and international soccer games." But the flier "does not break down how much public money the stadium would receive" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 4/23).
