Goodell: Dolphins' stadium needs upgrades

[madinmaryland]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/07/AR2009120703033.html

MIAMI -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says the Miami Dolphins' stadium needs more upgrades if South Florida is to remain competitive in bidding for future Super Bowls.

The 22-year-old stadium underwent $250 million in improvements in 2007 but is still falling behind the competition with new stadiums opening in Dallas, Phoenix, Indianapolis and New York, Goodell said Monday.

Miami will host the Super Bowl for an NFL-record 10th time Feb. 7. Goodell spoke at a kickoff luncheon for the game.

"They've done a great job hosting Super Bowls here in the past," Goodell said. "The key thing is to make sure the stadium is state of the art and that it can compete with the stadiums in some of these other communities. They are moving to another level in some of these stadiums."

Deficiencies with the Dolphins' home include lighting and the location of lower-level seats, which are not close to the playing field. The league doesn't seek a retractable roof, Goodell said.

..snip

Come on tru! You guys need a world class stadium like the one that Jerry Jones built!

:D

[trumad]

1. Uh let's see...

A Superbowl in errrr Indianapolis, New York, Dallas, or Phoenix in late January---- or a Superbowl in Miami/South Beach.

Dumbasses like Goodell think it's all about Game time when in truth, it's about the City it's played in. Yeah---let them party in Indy in January...

Goodell can go fuck himself.... The Stadium is awesome.

[madinmaryland]

2. It's a DISGRACE that Miami is even allowed the Super Bowl with that dump of

a stadium!

Oops -- "inner cboy4" coming out!

[trumad]

4. Ever been there...

of course you haven't...

Again---Dallas in January or South Beach?

I've lived in Dallas and about the only thing to do is visit the X where Kennedy got shot or the Mesquite Rodeo... Most boring fucking town I've ever lived in.

[madinmaryland]

6. Lighten up, Francis.

I'll be on the west coast of Florida in a couple of weeks! Let's see how much trouble I can get into there!

[Captain Hilts]

11. Like FedEx, Joe Robbie paid for it himself. nt

[JonLP24]

3. Nothing wrong with Glendale though I hardly been there

I think Miami is a fine place and did a good job hosting the Super Bowl. I never been to those other cities so I can't say anything about them but it is warm in Glendale in January and there is plenty to do.

Though I wish they would spread the SB around much more then warm cities and indoor stadiums up north.

[trumad]

5. Glendale weather in Jan aint to bad..

but what is there to do... Golf in 45 degree weather? A Spa treatment... what?

[JonLP24]

8. I can think of several things

Many great clubs especially in the Scottsdale/Tempe area, many performing arts venues such as the Phoenix Symphony Hall, Heard Museum(don't knock it until you see it, well worth it), downtown Phoenix they have a fine art scene, Phoenix Zoo, Castles n' Coasters Amusement Park, hike the many mountains in the area, and real Mexican food. Just stay away from Mesa. It's boring here. :(

[trumad]

12. It's a fine city for sure...but it ain't South Florida.

Remember ---it's the damn high rollers who come for Super Bowls...and you won't catch them at the Zoo.

They're on Yachts, Golf Courses, and South Beach, Ft. Lauderdale until 5am.

Don't get me wrong--- I think a Super Bowl should be played there....but I get a kick out of Goodell threatening Miami with places like Indy.

[JonLP24]

14. I agree

but I want to say we have plenty of golf courses too and I didn't point that out because I felt you pointed it out in a way that was a boring activity or something. Rich people like Scottsdale(http://travel.nytimes.com/2005/09/23/travel/escapes/23scott.html) and I say we have plenty of high rollers that live here especially those that can afford to live here in the winter and somewhere else in the summer. I'll point out just south of Scottsdale is Paradise Valley(very upscale) where Muhammed Ali, Alice Cooper, Stevie Nicks, Leslie Nielsen live just to name a few.

However I never been to Miami so I'm sure you're right in your opinion that it's better. :)

[trumad]

17. Like I said--- It's a great town...

But Indy?

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Let me guess . . .

"If the Miami taxpayers don't pick up my tab, then I'm moving the team to either Los Angeles or Podunk, Idaho."

[trumad]

10. Probably ...

I wouldn't put it past them.

[RockaFowler]

9. Didn't they upgrade the stadium already

The last time I went to a Marlins game (sorry I moved a little further away CBoy-Upton and I couldn't go to the games anymore) was 3 years ago and they were renovating the stadium then. That was for the last Super Bowl.

Oh yeah and the stadium is paid for in full. Joe Robbie built it with his own money in the 80's. That's why you will never hear of anyone moving the Miami Dolphins. There is no need to move them. Plus I like the stadium just fine. It's the parking that is a bitch.

[trumad]

13. The parking is not horrible.

I've been to a couple of games this year ---Hurricanes and the Phins... the upgrades are awesome.

With the Marlins moving to their new stadium, they can move the seats a bit closer to the field.

Goodell is full of shit in mho.

[LisaM]

15. Why do fans want so many bells and whistles, anyway?

I've been to Qwest Field a few times and there is too much going on. The game is almost peripheral. Too many Sea Gals (they are boring to me), too much video, too many fireworks. They don't even have scoreboards in the end zones - they are at the side, as if the score is something secondary.

They've ruined Michigan Stadium too. It used to have a very plain Jane scoreboard (score, who has the ball, time, timeouts left, and down and yardage). Now it has big screens and they've built luxury boxes that tower over the sides.

I also regret that I'll never get to see Ohio State's horseshoe the way it was.

I have sat in luxury boxes many times, and I don't like them. You are far too removed from the action.

[JonLP24]

16. I've been to Qwest Field too

for a Sunday Night Game against the Saints two years ago and I have to say the views are great. I sat directly across the V-shape to see the skyline at night was breathtaking. People who see the game don't get to see what fans see when they're on a top level concourse where their food/drinks are and you get a great view of a body of water that I forget the name. I really liked it because of the location and I hate the Seahawks. I also enjoyed the game in which the Saints won. :D If you ever happen to stumble on this trivia question, "Who is the first team to win a regular season game at Qwest Field." The answer is the Cardinals. ;)

[LisaM]

18. That's Puget Sound!

I have sat both higher up and lower, and it's definitely better high up and on the sidelines. But there is still too much gimmickry for my tastes.

[JonLP24]

19. I wanted to say that but I thought the Puget sound was right next to Tacoma/Lakewood

I would've typed that in but I wasn't sure. Puget Sound is probably from Tacoma to Seattle. I haven't made many trips to Seattle when I was living in Lakewood so I wasn't sure. Anyways Sun Devil Stadium is my favorite more so because of sentimental value but even a day game in early October makes the bleachers extremely hot! :)

[LisaM]

20. Yes, Puget Sound runs the whole length

Seattle is on Elliott Bay, Tacoma is on Commencement Bay.