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Miami Dolphins Owner Closing in on Purchase for Stake in Major Tennis Tournament

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nelson Hubbell | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 8:00 PM ET

Stephen Ross, the billionaire owner of the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, is closing in on a deal to acquire a massive stake in a major tennis tournament.

According to Gillian Tan of Front Office Sports, it is a roughly 45% stake in the Miami Open. Tan reported that the move is part of a bigger deal led by entertainment mogul Ari Emanuel and his group of investors, which is purchasing both the Miami and Madrid Opens from Endeavor.

Ross bought the 95% ownership stake in the Dolphins back in 2009 for $1 billion when he was 69 years old. The other five percent is owned by the family of Wayne Huizenga, who passed away in 2018. Ross, who just turned 85 in May, is now making another massive deal.

"Ross, the founder and non-executive chairman of real estate firm Related Companies, last year sold 13% in the Dolphins and South Florida-based sports and entertainment assets—including the Hard Rock Stadium," Tan said.

Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the Dolphins, has also hosted the Miami Open since 2019. Additionally, it has hosted the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix since it began in 2022. According to Tan's sources, the tennis tournament has been extremely popular and setting records in this year's event.

"The 2025 Miami Open, held in March, drew more than 405,000 attendees, a tournament record, and revenue from ticketing, sponsorships, and hospitality also set records, a person with knowledge of the matter told FOS," Tan said.

It is safe to say that Ross, who also has a massive footprint at his alma mater (the University of Michigan), is making his mark on the city of Miami and its surrounding areas.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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