NFL Approves Singer Fergie As Latest Dolphins Celeb Investor
 |
Ross Says Fergie Will Be Last Of
Dolphins' So-Called Celebrity Investors |
NFL owners approved Fergie, the lead singer of the Black Eyed Peas, yesterday as a minority investor of the Dolphins, though the team still must ink a deal with the singer. The approval allows Fergie to become an investor as soon as she signs a deal. Owner Stephen Ross said he has had discussions with the singer, but because she is currently touring Australia has been unable to sign a deal yet with her. Ross also said presuming he reaches a deal with Fergie, she will be the last of the team’s so-called celebrity investors. He has already inked deals with Venus and Serena Williams, Marc Anthony, and Gloria and Emilio Estefan. They are believed to own very small slices of the team, but have lent their names to the club and appear at games sometimes (Daniel Kaplan, SportsBusiness Journal). In Ft. Lauderdale, Sarah Talalay notes Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas "already have a marketing partnership with the team that includes the band's scoreboard messages during games." Fergie also "donned a pink Dolphins jersey" and recorded a PSA for the NFL for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/14).
STAR APPEAL: USA TODAY's Tom Pedulla in a sports-section cover story notes Ross, in "adding limited partners who bring celebrity and cultural appeal," is not only "reaching out to the Hispanic, African-American and Cuban-American communities but attempting to give the Dolphins the cachet they need to sell tickets in a market filled with sun-splashed diversions." Ross said the new partners all have made "seven-figure investments," though he would not disclose more specifics. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sees Ross' approach "as an example of the league's effort to build its minority fan base." Goodell: "He is bringing an ownership together that reflects the diversity and spirit and determination of the South Florida community." Dolphins DE Jason Taylor said of the team's new efforts, "It's like going to a Lakers game. There's a lot of pomp and circumstance surrounding games, and it increases entertainment value for fans." CEO Mike Dee said that 49,187 season tickets "have been purchased this year with sales continuing through October," and he estimated "fewer than 25,000 seats remain" for the team's remaining five regular-season home games this season. However, Pedulla notes the season-ticket total is up from 46,179 in '08, "their lowest level since 1992." Also, the team has leased just 145 of the 190 available suites (USA TODAY, 10/14).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
Bears Deny Rift With NBC
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Gruden Committed To Improving On "MNF"
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Obama To Appear In PSA With Three NFLers
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NFL Forms New Player Advisory Forum
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NFLPA Urges Agents To Have Clients Sign GLA
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
Bills Owner Prepared To Make Big Changes
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Bears Deny Rift With NBC
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
MSFC Threatens Vikings With Penalties
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Gruden Committed To Improving On "MNF"
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Obama To Appear In PSA With Three NFLers
November 20, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
