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A proposed hike in the Miami-Dade County hotel tax to fund a retractable roof and more luxury seats in Sun Life Stadium was withdrawn from legislative consideration.

The Miami Dolphins are seeking $200 million in public funds for the stadium improvements, which were virtually mandated by the NFL if the stadium and the team are to ever host a future Super Bowl. 

But the proposed hike was met by opposition by tourism leaders, who say any hikes should go back into tourism. And given there was little support in the Florida Legislature for a tax hike, the measure was withdrawn.

Which leaves the Dolphins pretty much at square one in finding a public revenue source for renovations. The Dolphins are in a tough spot: the stadium is actually privately owned (Joe Robbie built it on his own dime), so using public money to benefit a private facility is a sensitive public issue.

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