A disgusting display of where Ross is taking this franchise

[defiant]

http://www.page2live.com/2010/01/05/fans-don-shulas-80th-birthday-party-was-no-better-than-a-sack/

It’s segregation, Miami Dolphins-style!
VIPs and celebs are in.
Season ticket holders?
That’s another story.
With the team on a L.A. Lakers-style celebrity kick, it hasn’t been rare to see security stop paying fans from walking by while the likes of minority owner Marc Anthony are escorted into their limos. Or clear the club level bathroom for JLo.
But team officials may have taken it too far over the weekend, some ticked-off season ticket holders say.
Many of the 80 season ticket holders randomly “invited” to pay $80-per to attend former coach Don Shula’s 80th birthday party Saturday night at Land Shark Stadium are complaining bitterly about the way they were treated at the banquet.
What happened? For more and the poll, check below, or click

The view from the cheap seats: VIPs at Don Shula's birthday party last Saturday night at Land Shark Stadium.

“We were treated like second-class citizens,” said Fred Sorentrue, who’s had lower level seats for 12 years. “I’m sure coach Shula would hit the roof if he knew.” (Page2Live is trying to reach the Great One to find out.)
Shula, dozens of his former players, rapper Fergie, new Fins owner Stephen Ross, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other VIPs got the silver spoon treatment.
And the 80 “invited” fans, meanwhile, got partly-cooked hot dogs, dried chicken and soda, all served on plastic plates with plastic forks, Sorentrue said.
They also were bestowed the honor of watching the VIPs munch on their fine foods from a balcony — this, after waiting outside in the cold for all VIPs to get in.
“I’m actually considering cancelling my ($1,700-a-year) season tickets,” Sorentrue said. “The team is offering to give us an $80 credit for next year’s season passes, but I haven’t decided what I’m going to do.”

Those who actually paid to be there



Sorentrue said the night started with season ticket holders waiting alongside the “orange carpet” on a windy, cold night while non-paying guests hurriedly walked by.
“My guest was in a ****tail dress,” said Sorentrue, a retired hospital worker who lives in west Broward County. “It was cold.
“I still can’t tell for what purpose we were asked to be there.”
Dolphins Director of Marketing George Torres said most invited fans were thrilled.
“It was communicated to everyone that they’d be at the balcony,” Torres said. “The registration provided access to watch the party. There was no mention of food. That was added later. We felt we’d found a nice way to incorporate season ticket holders into a good event.”
Torres said corporations bought the tables for VIP for $10,000 a pop, but VIPs weren’t charged individually.

I have a season ticket holder for 16 seasons and was “invited” to attend the party. I totally concur with what Fred says, and if he was there I was the onw who let Fernando Nunez have a piece of my mind. George Torres is a liar and if he wants to challage me he can. At no time was it conveyed that we would be segrergated from the main party, and I am sure if the “invited” season ticket were informed of the true nature of the offer not one of them would atten. This event was an insult to the season ticket holders that were invited and an embarashment to Coach Shula.

I was there as one of 80 for 80. I was basically shocked at what happened. We never were given anything about the party till 3 days before via e-mail nothing was said about a balcony at all. I was charged $160 for two people. We wore nice suits with dolphin lapel pins and were told to stay by the orange carpet ropes. Not too bad to start, but at 6 we were escorted to a place I was not pleased with, served cold hot dogs and chicken fingers. Beer was OK. But we watched like lepers as our heroes had a ball. I could not beleive anyone was not noticing our treatment. I have dined with much more famous people then anyone there, know my manners and should have been at a table with the crowd. But we stayed enjoyed the show and I did meet Earl Morall before we were told to leave the carpet and go to the balcony to our hightop.

I “won” the ability to buy tickets to the event. I did not receive tickets in the mail as promised. I had to contact my rep. right up until Saturday afternoon.
Once I arrived at the event in my ****tal dress, I was told to stand outside in the cold to watch the actual guests arrive. We were then herded like cattle through the back so as not to have any contact the others. Our accomodations included balcony seats at high top bar tables overlookin the grand ballroom display. Our advertised “dinner buffet and dessrt” included hot dogs,potato chips, cole slaw, potato salad and a chocolate chip cookie.
This was the most demeaning and humiliating experience of my life. I have been a real guest and event coordinator for many exclusive events for celebrites, sports figures and politians. My wait staff was always treated with more dignity than the “80 for the 80th” were that evening.
My disappoint in the Dolphins organization is beyond words. I look forward to hearing an apology. I won’t however be holding my breath.

 

[GoonBoss]

Do you realize that the minority owners of this franchise have paid more money into this franchise in one fell swoop than most of these people have in their lives? There are certain people that have certain perks. If you give 3 or 4 mil to the team, you get consideration....

These people aren't "Paying fans"?

Get over it. Ross is doing what he should do. The Dolphins are going to become an event, much like the LA Lakers. It's a part of the process of brand building.

All of the people that suggested BP would be gone after the season because of the celeb owners were wrong. Anyone that thought the franchise would be adversely affected were wrong.

Get this through your head; People that are rich know more about making money than you do. I know you may make 8 bucks an hour, and, that's above minimum, but Ross knows what he's doing.

 

[DNADD]

It's 2010 dude. Get over it. This is the NFL, not just the Dolphins. Hang up the 13 jersey, realize it's not 1990 anymore, drink your 19 dollar beer and relax.

 

[jlfin]

Do you realize that the minority owners of this franchise have paid more money into this franchise in one fell swoop than most of these people have in their lives? There are certain people that have certain perks. If you give 3 or 4 mil to the team, you get consideration....

These people aren't "Paying fans"?

Get over it. Ross is doing what he should do. The Dolphins are going to become an event, much like the LA Lakers. It's a part of the process of brand building.

All of the people that suggested BP would be gone after the season because of the celeb owners were wrong. Anyone that thought the franchise would be adversely affected were wrong.

Get this through your head; People that are rich know more about making money than you do. I know you may make 8 bucks an hour, and, that's above minimum, but Ross knows what he's doing.

Understand this. There is NO excuse for classless behavior. Is that what this organization had degraded itself to?
Did you read the comments from the actual season ticket holders, with respect to what they were told they were purchasing compared to what they actually received?
This isn't an indictment of "rich people" and it is irrelevant what they paid for their minority ownership. I have nothing against "rich" people. According to this corrupt presidential administration I am considered "rich" and my income should be redistributed. I am a conservative and believe in the free market as much as the next guy.
The team wouldn't be valuated the way it is without the sale of season tickets and club seats.
I am a former club seat holder for 10 yrs prior to moving to Orlando. I would be incensed had I been treated the manner in which some of these season ticket holders.
BOTTOM line: You don't advertise one thing and deliver another.

 

[MP-Omnis]

Wow, that's a raw deal.

 

[BigJP]

I hear ya bud but because 1 event may have not gone off the way it should of doesn't mean the franchise is heading in the wrong direction as you say. Ross I'm pretty damn sure didnt wanna screw anybody out of 80$. Look at it this way they let fans come into shula's birthday party how many teams give you a chance to go to hall of fame coach's birthday parties

 

[McGaniel]

Where have you been, America has been selling out to the highest bidder for the past ten years, why not the Miami Dolphins. Get use to it, bill Clinton swore that free trade would help us in the so called "New Global Economy" but so far it has been a huge failure..

 

[TurkishFin99]

Think of it this way: If our current organization hadn't thought about throwing a birthday party for Shula, then NO ONE would've been there and none of this would've happened. Those people got to witness a HOF coach's 80th birthday party. I would pay $200 to see that without any food or drinks. It's not Ross's fault that some chick was unprepared for the weather.

Also, all those celebs that you are talking about are going to pitch in the money to land some FAs this offseason with the uncapped year on the horizon. Ross is a genius IMO. He's collecting all these celebs so we will have some major firepower to compete with the likes of Snyder for FAs.

 

[FinaticalOne]

Think of it this way: If our current organization hadn't thought about throwing a birthday party for Shula, then NO ONE would've been there and none of this would've happened. Those people got to witness a HOF coach's 80th birthday party. I would pay $200 to see that without any food or drinks. It's not Ross's fault that some chick was unprepared for the weather.

Also, all those celebs that you are talking about are going to pitch in the money to land some FAs this offseason with the uncapped year on the horizon. Ross is a genius IMO. He's collecting all these celebs so we will have some major firepower to compete with the likes of Snyder for FAs.

That is a very good point. A lot of people don't realize what Ross is doing, this man has been planning ahead for this uncapped season(s) as soon as he became owner. The Dolphins will be one of the better prepared teams when that season comes.

It is unfortunate for the VIPs that they were served cold hot dogs and chicken fingers, but I can assure you Ross was not in the kitchen cooking the food, or supervising the cooks either, so your blame is being misplaced. What Ross should've done was not invite any of the VIPs at all, than this would be a non-topic, and the guy who is threatening to not re-new his season tix would not even be thinking it.

Stop whining and MAN UP, blame the event coordinator who did a bad job of planning the event. That is all!!!

 

[rent this space]

the disgusting display here isn't from the team. having never lived in Florida, I have never met any dolphins players (former or current), and never seen someone like Don Shula in person. to me, the opportunity to be present for his 80th birthday party is the chance of a lifetime and an inredible bargain at $80. these people are complaining about the food and being cold??? oh my, did it drop all the way into the 60's?
get a clue. dress for the weather, be grateful for what is given to you and understand how many would be ecstatic to be in your position.

 

[Ed Norton]

I'd like to see what they mean by windy and cold

I thought you had to be rich to afford the season tickets:crazy:

 

[DuderinoN703]

What a bunch of ****ing babies. I'd give my nuts to be a Florida resident and season ticket holder but that just isn't something I can be a part of right now. Awww the view wasn't good enough? At least you're there!

 

[FinaticalOne]

I'd like to see what they mean by windy and cold
I thought you had to be rich to afford the season tickets:crazy:

Yeah, I though that statement was hilarious while my state is in the middle of an Arctic Blast...so do they really wanna talk about windy and cold, they don't know what windy and cold is!

 

[ArmyFin7]

WHINEY *******...that's about all I can say.....you payed $80....WTF did you expect to be able to be there to grab J-lo's *** and eat some filet mignon seated next to Ross?....you payed to be there not for the food. Hell wouldnt be the first time I sat and ate a cold hot dog, some chicken nuggets and had some beer.....come to think of it a trip to the bar to watch the fins on Sunday damn near costs that much anyway....STFU!

 

[GeauxFinns3705]

I think the product on the field is much more troublesome than the product off the field. In the large scheme of thing, you 80 people are the lunch box "ham-n-eggers" that will always pay the band while rich people dance. Don't like it? Make yourself rich...this is America.

Someone brought up how times have changed. Not really. Prices have gone up, but just like most years since 1985 (when Shula should have been fired), this team stumbles, bumbles, and fumbles its way around the season, barely making the playoffs (when they even do) and not winning playoff games. What do we have, like 3 playoff victories since 85? Not many, thats for certain.

And I have seen nothing that is going to change that. Not the coaching staff, not a great player, not anything. We are destined to many more years of mediocrity. That is far more disconcerting than treating second class citizens as second class citizens.