Dolphins May Have Sweetened Stadium Upgrades Proposal

MIAMI (CBS4) – The Miami Dolphins may have sweetened the deal to get their stadium upgrades proposal approved.

The team has reportedly offered to repay Miami-Dade County a portion of the public costs of the renovations, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald. New terms also call for the Dolphins to pay millions in penalties if they fail to bring major events including four Super Bowls, four college football championship games and 22 soccer matches over the next 22 years.

But that's not all.

Under the original proposal, public money would cover 49 percent of the construction costs. Under the new deal, it would cover 43 percent of the costs. In terms of numbers, $225 million would come from private sources. The county would be responsible for about $120 million, which would be repaid, and the remaining $44 million would come from a state sales-tax subsidy, according to the Herald.

The team is under pressure to close a deal with Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and then launch a campaign to win a countywide vote for approval.

CBS4 contacted a spokesman for the Dolphins Monday night who would not confirm or deny the information in the Herald, but said they are looking forward to reaching a deal with the mayor this week.

CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed to this report.