Why Ross Defied League Pressure For A Unanimous Vegas Vote - And Why He's Untouchable

[Vaark]

per Deadspin:
http://deadspin.com/why-the-vote-to-move-the-raiders-to-las-vegas-wasnt-una-1793708082
Has somewhat something to do with the fact that there's some resentment that he's one of the - if not only owner, who was rebuffed for public funding, instead having to outlay $500million out of his own pocket for the stadium upgrades/renovation - which he does own lock stock and barrel.

And that compared to Mark Davis, who is the poorest NFL owner and couldn't make the move without the $750 mil incentive, Ross is the 3rd wealthiest owner in the league and fifth wealthiest owner in all American sports.

But there’s where Ross diverged from the typical NFL playbook with these things. To his credit, he never threatened to move the team. Instead he paid for his own stadium upgrades. (It’s wild and it’s telling that we treat it as a pleasant surprise when a billionaire spends his own money to improve his property in order to increase his company’s value. In a just world that would be the norm.)

Ross’s vision of the NFL appears to be part timocracy, part plutocracy—and either would keep him in power. During the negotiations for relocation to Los Angeles, Ross reportedly “joked that the league should hold an auction for the right to relocate, though some owners thought he was serious.”

There are class divisions even among NFL owners. Raiders owner Mark Davis is the least wealthy of the group, and could never have afforded to build his own stadium or even to undertake major renovations, not without serious outside private financing. And even better than private financing is public financing. The $750 million offered by Las Vegas was a gift Davis couldn’t afford to refuse. Ross can afford all of that, and he can afford to have ethics about relocation. And since the average NFL owner is closer, financially to Davis than to Ross, Ross knows he’s untouchable. That’s a sort of power in itself: the power to cast the lone dissenting vote to protest another owner receiving a handout that he himself wanted but couldn’t get.

For anyone who wants to discuss this vote from a league or Raiders standpoint, the original thread can now be linked to in the General NFL Forum

 

[number1fin]

[video=youtube_share;ayrv7FD4ICA]https://youtu.be/ayrv7FD4ICA[/video]

 

[VBCheeseGrater]

Proud that Ross is the owner of this team.

 

[jlfin]

He puts his money where his mouth is.
Being a diehard, passionate fan usually requires long term allegiance to a team with respect for its history.
I support the marlins, heat and panthers. But I only get interested when they are winning and I don't go on fan sites.
For me, the Phins are a different animal. Been following this team since 1970. Former club seat holder during the Marino yrs.
When I used to live in south Florida I would frequently go to the kickoff breakfast and would meet the rookie classes. For several yrs I actually felt like part of the organization.
When a team moves to another city, it takes decades to create that kind of passion in a fan base. The most storied franchises have passionate fans because they are ingrained in the history of their respective cities (Pittsburgh, Green Bay etc)
Relocation destroys that. I think Ross gets it

 

[FSU Truth]

Ross, looking down on peasant owners...

 

[The Ghost]

When he first bought the team I was certainly worried, especially given rumors that he might try and move the team or how he's a business man who only cares about making money.

We've come to find out that those things are the furthest from the truth.

If there was no salary cap, the Lombardi trophy would permanently reside in South Florida.

This guy is all about helping the Miami Dolphins. With the right coach now in place, presumably, sky's the limit moving forward for this once proud and dominant franchise.

For all his wealth and achievements and even his love for the University of Michigan, the Miami Dolphins are his crown jewel. I wish anyone the best of luck who gets in his way.

 

[jlfin]

Ross, looking down on peasant owners...

The only true freedom in this world is economic freedom. Financial independence gives you the freedom to thumb your nose at the government, allows you to be a free thinker and not have to go along with the crowd.
Has absolutely nothing to do with class struggle, as your reference to peasant owners suggest. Has nothing to do with "looking down" at anybody. It's simply the right to self determination.

 

[The Bopkin]

It wasn't long ago everyone on this board despised him.

 

[Regulus]

It wasn't long ago everyone on this board despised him.

People are fickle. If someone says something positive about him he's the greatest thing to happen to the dolphins. If we miss the playoffs next year and our draft picks don't pan out everyone will be calling for him to sell the team.

 

[SkapePhin]

Proud that Ross is the owner of this team.

I wouldn't exactly call this a principled stand. As the article pointed out, even being the 3rd wealthiest owner in the league he still wanted a public handout for the stadium. Only when it failed did he foot the bill, which we should give him kudos for considering many other rich owners would simply fight more for public money and threaten to leave. But still, he did try to go the public money route himself. Mark Davis can't afford to do what Ross could.

 

[SkapePhin]

People are fickle. If someone says something positive about him he's the greatest thing to happen to the dolphins. If we miss the playoffs next year and our draft picks don't pan out everyone will be calling for him to sell the team.

My problem with Ross has always been that he relied too much on the input on his corporate suits over the football people. I think he finally learned from his mistakes when he hired Gase. Maybe he fell ass backward into it, but either way that move saved him. If he had continued to support the suits like Tannenbaum over football people this team would still be in the gutter.

 

[TannDaMan17]

 

[Daytona Fin]

It wasn't long ago everyone on this board despised him.

He is a big reason this franchise was low and mediocre for a long time so the despise was warranted. He seems to be turning the corner, as Dolfans that's all we can hope for because there isn't an alternative.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

I appreciate the sentiment behind Ross's vote, and on the subject of the Rams and Chargers I agree with it 100%.

In the case of the Raiders, Mark Davis was in a pickle and actually did try to work things out with Oakland for a number of years.

 

[lurking]

My only problem with Ross was he didn't realize Parcells was ripping him off, and set the franchise up for failure with the other two stooges.