With a strong push from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, the Florida Senate on Monday signed off on a proposal to let pro sports teams such as the Dolphins compete for tax dollars to fund stadium projects. For Ross, it's a longstanding effort to get the state to pony up for a major overhaul of Sun Life Stadium, something team officials say will help bring in more Super Bowls in the future. "When you're making an application, the stadium's a big component of that," Goodell said. "That's a very important element of that and this is going to clearly improve that application, which improves the chances dramatically. " Goodell, though, acknowledged he couldn't promise the Super Bowl. Team owners decide where to have the championship game. "I don't make the votes, so I can't guarantee," he said. The 35-4 vote ends weeks of gridlock between the House and Senate over whether to give tax rebates to teams, particularly the Dolphins, who have pushed hard for years for state help to renovate Sun Life Stadium. Source: Sun-Sentinel
