The Dolphins on Thursday gave reporters a tour of their stadium construction site, a venue that is missing 80% or so of its 14-acre roof, but team officials "insist what’s left is the easy part -- or at least easier than the parts that came before it," according to Adam Beasley of the MIAMI HERALD. Dolphins Senior VP/Stadium Renovations Bill Senn said, “We have every confidence that we will be ready to play the fourth game here.” Beasley notes even though the Dolphins "didn’t ask for it, the NFL gave the organization an extra week to finish construction" by moving their Aug. 25 exhibition home opener to Orlando. Senn said, "We need a little help from Mother Nature." As for the stadium’s "eye-popping new features, the highlights include the video boards -- which at 22,400 square feet will be the biggest in the AFC East -- and the 357-foot spires, which will glow in LED lights on game nights" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/3). In Ft. Lauderdale, Chris Perkins notes the LED lighting "will illuminate the spires from roof level." The outer edge of the shade canopy "will also have lighting." In-stadium lights "will be used during day games to even out lighting for TV purposes." Two of the four HD video boards that will occupy each corner of the stadium "are in place." Univ. of Miami AD Blake James said that the school is "evaluating Orlando as an option if the Dolphins' stadium isn't ready in time" for the season opener against Florida A&M on Sept. 3. But Dolphins President & CEO Tom Garfinkel said that moving the game "won't be the case" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/3).
MUSICAL CHAIRS: In West Palm Beach, Andrew Abramson notes the Dolphins "think they’ve created the fairest system possible while also creating new high-end seats that didn’t previously exist" for season-ticket holders. Beginning in two weeks, season-ticket holders "will be coming in by appointment to select their new seats." The majority of the seats "aren’t going up in price," as 70% of seats "will be the same price or lower than the current configuration." Of roughly 65,000 seats, 17,000 "will sell for less than $50 per ticket." But there is also the 30% "that are going up in price." Around 13% "will go up by less than $50," while the best seats "are going up significantly." The seats on the home side that stretch in both directions from the 50 to 30-yard lines "will be aimed at the luxury market and branded as the '72 Club.'" The team "isn’t releasing price info until next week, but the seats will be expensive." The seats at the 50-yard line "will be 'special seats' that are bigger than the regular ones and will cost a lot more." While some fans could be negatively "impacted by the changes, many others will benefit." Friends who have season tickets "can now choose seats together." If one person became a season-ticket holder in '70 and another in '90, the team "will average it" and give them '80 priority. The Dolphins also are allowing season-ticket holders to "purchase up to four new tickets which will help long-time fans who have wanted to add seats but would’ve had to move to a less desirable spot." The Dolphins "believe they’re doing the right thing by starting from scratch and giving the longest-tenured members priority" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 6/3).
