Miami Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga says he is not actively seeking a buyer for the floundering Miami Dolphins franchise but he has recently listened to offers put forth by potential buyers since April.
Huizenga recently discussed a sale with Miami real estate developers, Jorge Perez and his partner Stephen Ross. Perez is chairman and CEO of The Related Group, one of the biggest condominium builders in the country. Ross was part of a group interested in bringing baseball to Miami before Huizenga became founding owner of the Florida Marlins.
Huizenga who also at times owned the MLB’s Florida Marlins and the NHL’s Florida Panthers before selling those franchises in years past says he has been disappointed as an owner and as a fan in the how the team has performed and he is frustrated that they haven’t made the playoffs in several years.
The Dolphins, who won Super Bowls VII and VIII, are currently 0-13 this season and on the verge of becoming the first NFL franchise to lose all 16 games in one season. Only the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers were winless over an entire season when they finished 0-14 in the inaugural season.
Huizenga in his statement said:
“Over the years I have fielded a number of inquiries from individuals interested in investing in the team,” said Huizenga, who become sole owner of the Dolphins in 1994. “Most recently, we have had conversations dating back to April, with several similarly interested parties.
“My viewpoint, however, has always been the same. I am not actively looking to sell the Miami Dolphins, but I know there will always be individuals who are interested in becoming involved in some capacity in the team’s ownership.”
“Like every other fan, I am disappointed in the way the season has unfolded,” Huizenga said. “But I am confident we will turn things around.”
A sale of the Dolphins could potentially be for around $1 Billion, Huizenga bought the team for $138 Million. Huizenga also owns Blockbuster Video.
