Negotiations go late into morning for Sun Life Stadium deal

City leaders, Miami Dolphins' officials confident they reaching deal

MIAMI – Negotiations continue between Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and officials from the Miami Dolphins on how to pay for upgrades to Sun Life Stadium.

Gimenez met with Dolphins chief executive officer Mike Dee Thursday night. Their meeting went into Friday morning.

The Dolphins have offered to pay the county and the state back for the money it receives from a sales tax rebate. The team has also offered to pay for a local referendum.

The state legislature is considering a bill that would authorize the rebate and also raise the hotel bed tax in mainland Miami-Dade by one per cent.

"In no way shape or form would this mayor ever bring to you a deal with financing as atrocious as we've had for the Marlins stadium," said Gimenez.

"This is a process that is advancing," said Dee. "Time is short, as it has been documented, but we're confident that we can get a deal done in time for referendum in May."

The Dolphins say that their 25-year-old stadium needs nearly $400 million in improvements to remain competitive with newer stadiums around the NFL.

The Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers, who will move into a new stadium next year, are vying for Super Bowl L in 2016.  The loser will compete against the Houston Texans to host Super Bowl LI in 2017.

NFL team owners will announce the locations of Super Bowl L and LI on May 22 in Boston.

Dolphins officials plan on scheduling a meeting with the Miami-Dade Commission Tuesday. The local referendum could take place May 14.