Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel said that season-ticket sales have "made a dramatic jump this offseason compared with the same time last year," with renewals up 12% and new season-ticket sales up 14%, according to Armando Salguero of the MIAMI HERALD. The "best sales day of all the good ones the Dolphins have enjoyed since they began pitching 2014 season tickets was Feb. 15 -- one day after the Wells Report was released." The Dolphins "had a ticket sales event at Sun Life Stadium that Saturday." Garfinkel said, "We had record new sales in one day. We sold over 1,500 new season tickets for a lot of dollars in one day because of the event we had.” Garfinkel said that the Dolphins are "doing business a different way, doing their selling by inviting fans to come to Sun Life Stadium and experience the atmosphere of what a game day can be like rather than simply making a pitch on the phone." The team also has "tripled its service staff." Garfinkel: “We've changed the service model quite a bit. We're communicating with fans as much as we can" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/25).
CHARACTER COUNTS: Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross yesterday said character will be a "major" part of player evaluation this year. Ross at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando said, "I always believed in that, but I think people are now more in tune. You've got to be aware of everything." In Ft. Lauderdale, Chris Perkins notes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday talked to the owners in a 30-minute closed-door meeting that "focused on values and respect." Goodell said, "With more success, comes more responsibility for all of us to step up and lead. That means staying true to the values that have sustained our success over the years -- integrity, quality, tradition, teamwork, diversity, innovation. Let me leave you with one thought to guide us through the future. Respect" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 3/25).
