In early 1985, Miller received a solicitation that had been sent to a total of 40 business leaders in order to recapitalize the Utah Jazz and keep it in Utah. After being contacted by the management a few weeks later, Miller made an offer of $6.25 million, in response to the team's desire for $8 million, for a 50-percent interest. Miller's offer was rejected but he assisted with the attempts to sell the team. Miller eventually offered the full $8 million to counter an offer that would have moved the team to Miami, Florida. Miller had difficulty obtaining financing since the $8 million was two times his contemporaneous net worth and the team had never made a profit in its entire 11-year lifetime. The Jazz lost $17 million over 11 years and only lost $1 million during its best year. He was able to get a commitment from a consortium of six local banks with just seven minutes before the expiration of the deadline imposed by Jazz owner, Sam Battistone, on April 11, 1985. Battistone had difficulty getting the NBA to approve the purchase, primarily due to Miller's relatively low net worth. Miller became a co-owner of the Utah Jazz when his purchase of a 50% interest in the team was approved by the NBA on May 10, 1985.