Gloria, Emilio Estefan expected to become Miami Dolphins minority owners

 

Miami entertainment figures Gloria and Emilio Estefan will be announced as Miami Dolphins minority owners Thursday, according to a person familiar with the negotiations between the Estefans and the Dolphins.

 

The source said Monday night the National Football League and the Dolphins are looking to expand their reach to South Florida's growing Hispanic community and are turning to the Estefans as their ambassadors. Like many sports fans in South Florida his age, Emilio Estefan is a longtime Dolphins fan whose favorite player is Hall of Fame Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino.

 

A Monday Dolphins press release said there would be a Thursday morning ''major announcement on behalf of the Dolphins'' hosted by the Estefans and new majority owner Stephen Ross at LandShark Stadium. This is similar to the way the Dolphins announced their association with singer Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville business, which includes Land Shark Lager. The general expectation is that Buffett also will be a minority owner eventually.

 

Ross likes show-business personalities and likes to make announcements with a show-business flair and timing. He began speaking with the Estefans three months ago about getting a small piece of the Dolphins.

 

Now, he has linked the Dolphins to two of South Florida's most famous entertainers -- Buffett, whose music symbolizes the relaxed Florida Keys lifestyle, and Gloria Estefan, whose music could symbolize South Florida's ethnic metamorphosis over the past 25 years.

 

Emilio Estefan didn't want to comment Monday night, and Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said the Dolphins ``won't have a comment on anything until the announcement Thursday.''

 

The NFL has been making increased efforts over the past few years to tap into the national Hispanic market as Hispanics have become the fastest growing minority. Players with Hispanic backgrounds such as Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez and Hall of Fame offensive tackle Anthony Munoz have been featured in NFL marketing campaigns aimed at Hispanics, particularly Hispanic youth.

 

In fact, on Monday, Gloria Estefan was in Nashville recording with this year's Monday Night Football introduction song with Hank Williams Jr. Williams' Are You Ready for Some Football? has become Monday Night Football's signature song since the show began using it in 1989.

 

Linking the Dolphins to the Estefans, who made a significant mark on popular music during the 1980s and 1990s, continues Ross' trend of trying to light the Dolphins with a show-business tint.

 

Since taking over majority ownership of the Dolphins and the formerly named Dolphin Stadium from H. Wayne Huizenga, Ross has reached out to Buffett and changed the name of the stadium, which was also formerly known as Joe Robbie Stadium and Pro Player Stadium.

 

Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine had several hits in the mid-1980s as South Florida, Miami in particular, tried to rebuild its image after the early 1980s riots and cocaine cowboy shootouts. As a solo act she continued to crank out hit music, in English and Spanish, into this decade while Emilio gained stature as a music producer.

 

Miami Herald staff writer Lydia Martin contributed to this report.

First Buffet now the Estefans? What's next Dolphins, Team President KC and Vice Presidents Sunshine Band?

First Buffet now the Estefans? What's next Dolphins, Team President KC and Vice Presidents Sunshine Band?

 

 

That would be amazingly funny.

Thank god for Parcells,Ireland and Sparano.They give the Dolphins some credibility that the ownership side lacks. I'm sure Stephen Ross knows business but he is kind of dopey and too much of a giddy fan (sorry just my opinion). And now the Estefans? That's embarassing.