The NFL’s $850,000+ snub of host city Miami Gardens over Miami stinks | Opinion
The NFL has learned nothing from its black football players taking a knee during the national anthem.
If the NFL had at least acquired some level of basic understanding from their poignant protest, its officials wouldn’t be snubbing the Super Bowl host city, which isn’t Miami but Miami Gardens — the largest predominantly black city in Florida and the fourth-largest in the United States.
Fans from out of state may think they’re coming to a game being played in Miami, but they’re not.
Hard Rock Stadium, where the Super Bowl was held in 2010 and where the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs face off Sunday in Super Bowl 54, is in working-class Miami Gardens.
Both times this city has walked away with no financial benefits, no deals, or, at least, an NFL-sponsored event for its people.
This year, most of the NFL contributions are going to events and projects in Miami, Miami Beach and South Dade.
Thanks to the NFL — and some clueless recommendations from the Super Bowl Host Committee — the money is going to fund “legacy projects” like lighting for the touristy downtown Baywalk pedestrian pathway and a new athletic field at Miami Beach Senior High School.
How wonderful that it’s the alma mater of Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. But he’s a billionaire and can afford to pay that himself, can’t he?
Then, there’s the renovation of turf football fields at Gwen Cherry Park and Goulds Park, both in black neighborhoods in Miami and deep South Dade, respectively, and good projects.
But although the NFL is getting gushing accolades on TV for the renovations, the league is only donating a measly $850,000 to cover both parks.
The actual projected cost: $3 million, according to a county memo.
Taxpayers are the ones really paying for the makeovers.
“We want you to remember us when we are gone and we want you to have a legacy of the Super Bowl that will remind you of the importance of community,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said at the unveiling of the synthetic field, padded bleachers, and a new scoreboard for Gwen Cherry Park in Liberty City.
Nice sentiment, nice words.
Good for the legacy recipients, but a game expected to generate some $500 million in revenue could’ve included something for the host city, too.
Goodell should’ve also said those words 12 miles north, and put some money behind feeling.
Miami Gardens, where the median household income is $41,139, has plenty of needs that could use a cash infusion.
How about a contribution to boost the city’s youth athletics programs or, how about upgrades to Miami Carol City High School, where another team named “Chiefs” also plays with distinction?
It makes no sense to leave them out.
The city’s residents endure the noise and nightmare of traffic coming at them from all ends east, west, north and south to reach the stadium for little in return but some extra business for the area and temporary gigs for some people.
The NFL takes, but leaves behind little of lasting value in Miami Gardens, which is hosting SuperFest, a weekend of concerts featuring A-listers like rapper Cardi B, art exhibits, good food, interactive games, VIP tables that will run you $1,500 for eight, a Miami Hurricanes reunion party, etc.
And, still, it gets no respect.
You won’t see the NFL name as a sponsor.
That’s why residents have had it with the abuse of their goodwill toward Hard Rock Stadium events and are overwhelmingly opposing the coming of yet another traffic boondoggle, international racing by Formula One.
And that’s why they can’t trust — and shouldn’t trust — the mayor of Miami-Dade, Carlos Gimenez, whose son was a lobbyist for Formula One, when he says that the residents will benefit from racing.
Show them the money. Show them the respect.
Maybe the statistics can partly explain the NFL snub.
Seventy percent of NFL players are people of color, and for that, The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports (TIDES) rated the league A+ in its 2019 report. It also gave too favorable a rating, an A-, for the NFL league office staff being 28% people of color and were equally generous, A+, for the hiring of assistant coaches at 33.6%.
Yet, only 12.5% of head coaches are people of color for a D+ grade, barely above failing. And as for team owners, CEOs, or presidents who make all the big decisions like deciding to fine players for taking a knee?
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ owner, Shahid Khan, is Pakistani American and Kim Pegula, co-owner of the Buffalo Bills, is Korean American. But that’s about it for diversity at the top.
Not enough black stakeholders sitting at the decision-making table to make more inclusive calls like funding a project in Miami Gardens.
Whatever the reason — racial divide, ignorance, or cheapskate attitude — leaving Miami Gardens out of the financial windfall of Super Bowl 54 is plain wrong.
This story was originally published January 31, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
