Miami Dolphins owner wants more late games
by: Omar Kelly
March 22nd, 2010 | 6:24 PM

Last year Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross campaigned to have most of his team’s early home games start at 4 p.m., or later.

Even though most teams - and fans – think playing games at 1 p.m. under South Florida’s heat and humidity gives the Dolphins an advantage, Ross plans to continue advocating for the fans who actually attend the game.

That’s why he’s pushing the NFL for a season with more late starts, and hopes to “duplicate the schedule we had last year,” Ross said on Monday during the NFL owner’s meetings.

“Our goal is to have as few games at 1 p.m. in the early part of the season as possible,” Ross said. “We’ve let the league know that. Last year was a great schedule. If I can duplicate that schedule we’ve done a great job.”

Ross knows how the coaches feel about playing at 1 p.m. (they favor it), but he points out “it’s the fans who come.”

“The fact is when you see you’re winning but still see empty orange seats, and they [the fans] really want to be there, which would you choose?” Ross asked. “I like night games, four o’clock games, that kind of stuff earlier in the year….We’ve let the league know we’d prefer not to have one o’clock games early in September…. It makes for better football fans when you’re there and watching the game.”

Ross is all about enhancing the fan experience.