Dec 15, 2007 12:44 pm US/Eastern
Miami Herald: Huizenga Might Sell The Dolphins
Huizenga Had No Comment On Friday For CBS4
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Ross and Perez are reported to be in talks with Wayne Huizenga over the sale of the team.
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The owner of the Miami Dolphins has entered talks with two real estate developers about selling team, according to an exclusive report by CBS4's news partner The Miami Herald. Billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga, frustrated with the team's losses on the field, is in talks with Stephen Ross and Jorge Perez to sell the franchise for just over $1 billion.
Huizenga would not confirm the report for the Herald, but Perez did confirm that he and Ross are in talks to buy the team.
''We are looking at it very, very seriously,'' said Perez, chairman and CEO of The Related Group told The Herald.
While Huizenga is not talking on the record about the potential sale, The Herald article said he has spoken to confidents and people outside the team about his growing frustration, reportedly mentioning Ross as a potential buyer.
|| Comment on the potential Dolphins sale. ||
Huizenga, who purchased first the stadium, then the team from the family of Dolphins founder Joe Robbie in 1994 for $138 million has in the past said the Dolphins are not for sale, but always added that he would consider any serious offer.
Huizenga, who made his billions in the waste business, has invested hundreds millions of dollars in an effort to make the Dolphins competitive, has brought in 4 coaches since the retirement of legendary coach Don Shula, and has paid big bucks for big-name players without making the team a serious contender.
By his own admission Huizenga is no football man. He has spent money on the team and stadium, only to see his hired help run the franchise into the ground.
"For a guy who has the magic touch in business, it seems like he's cursed at the Miami Dolphins," said Jim Mandich, of the Dolphins Radio Network.
Ironically on Friday night the 1972 Dolphins, who have the NFL's only perfect season, were celebrating dinner in their honor inside a building owned by the Related Group.
"He's never restricted the general managers or the coaches in getting the players that they needed," said former Dolphin Nick Buoniconti. "I think it's a bad day for sports in Miami, I don't think it's a great day."
Forbes Magazine recently estimated the Dolphins to be worth $942 million.
The Dolphins are currently the only NFL team without a victory, with three more chances to win a game and avoid becoming the first NFL team ever to lose every game in a 16-game season. If they fail to win next week against the Ravens, they would tie for the most losses ever in an NFL season.
Ross is not a stranger to the South Florida sports scene. The Herald reports he was part of a group of investors in 1990 that was interested in bringing baseball to Miami. That effort failed, but Huizenga got the job done and was the first owner of the Florida Marlins.
More recently, Ross was part of a group that wanted to own the Oakland A's when Reggie Jackson unsuccessfully attempted to buy the team.
To read more on this story log onto the
Miami Herald Online.
(© MMIX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)
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