Stephen Ross: 'Definitely will be a football season this year'

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross told CNBC the only question when it comes to the 2020 NFL season is whether there will be fans in the stadium

Alain Poupart | May 26, 2020

Jasen Vinlove-USA Today Sports

While the NFL continues its virtual offseason, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is confident the 2020 regular season will go off as scheduled.

“I think definitely there will be a football season this year,” Ross said on CNBC on Tuesday morning. "The real question is, will there be fans in the stadium? Right now, today, we’re planning to have fans in the stadium. But I think the NFL is looking at, and is very flexible, so that we will be able to start on time and bring that entertainment that is so needed for all of us in this country."

The 2020 regular season is scheduled to kick off Sept. 10 with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs playing host to the Houston Texans. The Dolphins are scheduled to open the season Sept. 13 at New England.

"I think there's one thing we all miss is our sports," Ross said. "I don’t think a lot of people realize it until they no longer have it. Certainly the NFL, I think, will be ready to go. I know we’re all looking forward to it. I know I am.

“We’ve done a lot of things down in Miami here. We’re prepared, either way, and hopefully there will be fans in the stadium.”

The NFL currently is in phase one of its re-opening with certain personnel allowed at team facilities, but no coaches or players (other than those undergoing treatment or rehabilititation).

Later Tuesday came a report from Yahoo.com NFL columnist Charles Robinson suggesting that head coaches could be allowed to return to team facilities as early as next week with the possibility of full-squad minicamps in mid-June or late June.

Published May 26, 2020

ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.