Hard Rock Stadium

County officials check out the interior of the stadium, April 24, 1987

For their first 21 seasons, the Miami Dolphins played at the Orange Bowl. Joe Robbie, the team founder, explained what led to the decision to build a new stadium. "In 1976, the city of Miami wanted to quadruple our rent. That did it. I began thinking in earnest about building a stadium."[13] What made the construction of the stadium truly unique was that it was the first multipurpose stadium ever built in the United States that was entirely privately financed.[13]

Robbie also believed it was only a matter of time before a Major League Baseball team came to South Florida. At his request, the stadium was built in a rectangular configuration with a field that was somewhat wider than was normally the case for an NFL stadium.[14] The wide field also made it fairly easy to convert the stadium for soccer.

Because of this design decision, the first row of seats was 90 ft (27 m) from the sideline in a football configuration, considerably more distant than the first row of seats in most football stadiums (the closest seats at the new Soldier Field, for instance, are 55 ft (17 m) from the sideline at the 50-yard line). This resulted in a less intimate venue for football compared to other football facilities built around this time, as well as to the Orange Bowl.

At the time it opened in 1987, the stadium was located in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, and had a Miami address. Specifically it was in the Scott Lake census-designated place.[15][16] Today it is located in the city of Miami Gardens, which was incorporated on May 13, 2003.[17]

The stadium before a Miami Dolphins game, 2007

The first preseason game for the Dolphins was played on August 16, 1987 against the Chicago Bears. The first regular season game was scheduled for September 27, a week 3 game against the New York Giants; this game was canceled and not made up due to the 1987 players strike. The first regular season NFL game played there was a 42–0 Dolphins victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on October 11, 1987. The game was in the middle of the 1987 NFL strike, and was played with replacement players. The first game with union players was on October 25 of that year, a 34–31 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills. The stadium hosted its first Monday Night Football game on December 7 of that year, a 37–28 Dolphins victory over the New York Jets.

The Dolphins have played eight playoff games in the stadium, including the 1992 AFC Championship Game, which the team lost to the Buffalo Bills, 29–10. The Dolphins are 5–3 in playoff games held here, losing the most recent one in January 2009, against the Baltimore Ravens. Most recently, the stadium was host of the Miracle in Miami 2018 game against the Patriots where the Dolphins scored on the last play of the game.

The team is unbeaten here against the Minnesota Vikings (3–0) and Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (4–0); they are winless here against the Dallas Cowboys (0–3) and New York Giants (0–3).

A Florida Marlins baseball game, 2008

While Joe Robbie Stadium was built primarily for football, its design also accommodated baseball and soccer. Dolphins founder Joe Robbie believed it was a foregone conclusion that MLB would come to South Florida, so he wanted the stadium designed to make any necessary renovations for baseball as seamless as possible. In 1990, Wayne Huizenga purchased 50% of then-Joe Robbie Stadium and became the point man in the drive to bring Major League Baseball (MLB) to South Florida. That effort was rewarded in July 1991, when the Miami area was awarded an MLB expansion franchise. The new team was named the Florida Marlins, and placed in the National League to begin competing in 1993. This move cost the stadium matches for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, as this June–July tournament conflicted directly with Marlins home games; Orlando's Citrus Bowl was given World Cup matches Miami would have had to have a presence in Florida's lucrative market.

The first Marlins game played at then-Joe Robbie Stadium was on April 5, 1993, a 6–3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Marlins drew more than 3 million people in their inaugural season. They went on to win two World Series titles, in 1997 and 2003.

Despite such preparation and pockets of success, the stadium was less than adequate as a baseball venue. Although its design was meant to accommodate baseball, it was not a true multipurpose stadium. Rather, it was a football stadium that could convert into a baseball stadium. There were plenty of reminders of this at Marlins games. The stadium's color scheme matched that of the Dolphins. When the football season overlapped, cleat marks, as well as silhouettes of hashmarks and logos of the Dolphins or Hurricanes, were visible on the baseball diamond and vice versa for the baseball season with the infield dirt visible on the gridiron. The Marlins reduced capacity to 47,662 (later to 35,521), mainly to create a more intimate atmosphere for baseball. However, capacity would have likely been reduced in any event, since many of the seats in the upper deck were too far from the field to be of any use during the regular season. Even with the reduced capacity, the sight lines were less than optimal for baseball. Most seats were pointed toward the 50-yard line—where center field was located in the baseball configuration. Lights were not angled for optimum baseball visibility. Players had to walk through football tunnels to get to dugouts that were designed with low ceiling joists. Some of these issues were showcased on national television during the two World Series held there, when capacity was expanded to over 67,000. Most notably, some areas of left and center field were not part of the football playing field, and fans sitting in the left-field upper deck couldn't see any game action in those areas except on the replay boards.[18] These issues became even more pronounced over the years, as, by 2004,[19] a wave of baseball-only parks left what had by then been renamed Pro Player Stadium as the only National League park that played host to both an MLB and an NFL team.

Additionally, the stadium was built for games held during the fall/winter football season, not for games in the tropical summers of South Florida, which feature oppressive heat, humidity, frequent rain, and occasional tropical storms. For most of the stadium's run as a baseball venue, it was the hottest stadium in the majors, with temperatures for day games frequently reaching well above 95 °F (35 °C). The Marlins played most of their summer home games at night as a result. The lack of refuge from the uncomfortable climate and disruptive rain delays were considered a cause of chronically low attendance after that inaugural season. When the Marlins were not contending, they struggled to attract crowds larger than 5,000—a figure that looked even smaller than that due to the cavernous environment. Some Marlins players later admitted that they "couldn't wait to go on the road" because Sun Life Stadium (as their home had been renamed in 2010) had the "worst [playing] conditions" and least fan energy in the majors during years when the team was not a contender.[20][21][22]

The Marlins' former home at what was then Dolphin Stadium was primarily a football stadium, shown prepping for a Dolphins game with gridlines over the diamond in August 2007.

After Huizenga bought part of the stadium, it was extensively renovated to accommodate a baseball team at the cost of several million dollars, as part of his successful bid to bring baseball to South Florida. Purists initially feared the result would be similar to Exhibition Stadium in Toronto; when the Toronto Blue Jays played there from 1977 to 1989, they were burdened with seats that were so far from the field (over 800 feet in some cases) that they weren't even sold during the regular season. However, Robbie had foreseen Miami would be a likely location for a new or relocated MLB team, and the stadium was designed to make any necessary renovations for baseball as seamless as possible. On January 24, 1994, Huizenga acquired the remaining 50% of the stadium to give him 100% ownership.

Interior of Hard Rock Stadium in 2009, then named Land Shark Stadium. When the Marlins played there, the field was juggled among the Miami Dolphins, Miami Hurricanes, and Florida Marlins, making it an extremely used turf.

Aside from baseball renovations, the stadium underwent some permanent renovations. In April 2006, the stadium unveiled two Daktronics large video boards, the largest in professional sports at the time.[23] The east display measured 50 ft (15 m) high by 140 ft (43 m) wide, and the west end zone display measured 50 ft (15 m) high by 100 ft (30 m) wide. A new 2,118-foot (646 m)-long LED ribbon board, again the largest in the world at the time, was also installed. These have since been surpassed in size.[23]

In addition, the upgrades included vastly widened 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m²) concourses on the stadium's north and south sides. Bars, lounges and other amenities were also added. The renovation had three phases, with the second and third phases of renovation taking place after the Marlins left the stadium. These remaining phases included adding a roof to shield fans from the rain, which caused the relocation of the video boards to the top corners of the upper deck, as well as remodeling the sidelines of the lower bowl to narrow the field and bring seats closer, ending its convertibility to baseball. The orange colored seats were also replaced with teal colored ones.[24]

The Marlins left for their own stadium, Marlins Park, which was completed for the 2012 MLB season.

A privately funded $350 million stadium renovation project began in January 2015, right after the 2014 Orange Bowl (December). The project plan allowed the stadium to be used for football games during the 2015 season and was completed for the 2016 football season.[25] Stadium upgrades included video boards in each corner of the stadium, additional suites, and an open-air canopy over the main seating areas.[26] As part of the renovation, the stadium's seating capacity was reduced from 75,000 to 65,000 seats. Personal seat licenses were not used, and a preview center opened at the stadium in February 2015 to help current and prospective season ticket holders select their ticket packages. Luxury packages were used in place of PSL revenue to help finance the stadium. Thirty-two four-seat pods were installed located in the lower bowl at the south 30-yard lines, with an additional 16 pods at the south end zone.[27] The pods feature a living room arrangement, including premium furniture and television screens that show the NFL RedZone channel and NFL programming.[28]

In November 2017, the Miami Open tennis tournament announced that it would move from Crandon Park in Key Biscayne to Hard Rock Stadium in 2019. Its organizers had pursued a $50 million refurbishment of the aging facility, including the addition of three permanent stadium courts. However, the family who originally owned the land filed a lawsuit that blocked their construction, as their agreement to donate the site to Miami-Dade County in 1992 contained a stipulation that only one stadium may be built on the site.[29][30][31][32]

To host the tournament, 29 permanent courts (including 11 tournament courts, with one being a 4,993-seat grandstand court) were built on Hard Rock Stadium's south parking lots. The stadium proper serves as center court, using a modified, 13,800-seat configuration with temporary grandstands constructed on the playing surface, placing the court roughly between the two 30-yard lines.[33][34][35] The move to Hard Rock Stadium was praised by players and fans because of the ample space the next complex provides.[36]

The 65,326 permanent seats for football and soccer configurations break down as follows: For the general 19-inch (48 cm) seats with chair back and armrests, there are 27,397 in the lower deck and 34,736 in the upper deck. There are 10,209 of the bigger club 21-inch (53 cm) seats with chair back and armrests. In the 193 executive suites with 10, 12, 16, 20, and 24 seats, there are a total of 3,198. There are also 300 seating locations for disabled persons, 150 seats for working press, and 10 radio/TV booths.[37]

The stadium contains 10,209 club seats and 216 suites. When the Marlins played at the stadium, 2,400 of the club seats and 216 suites were available.

The parking around the stadium takes up 140 acres (57 ha), featuring parking for 24,137 cars, 171 buses, 90 RVs, 85 limousines, and one helipad on site.[37] The parking fee was $30 per car/truck/SUV for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. $40 per car/truck/suv for 2017 yellow section.

An NFL game at then-named Dolphin Stadium in 2007

The stadium has played host to six Super Bowls (XXIII, XXIX, XXXIII, XLI, XLIV, and LIV). There has been a kickoff return for a touchdown in each Super Bowl played at the stadium, except for the two most recent games. The stadium also hosted the 2010 Pro Bowl.

Super Bowl XLI in 2007 at Dolphin Stadium, when the Indianapolis Colts defeated Chicago Bears 29–17, was marred by heavy rains. An estimated 30% of the lower-level seating was empty during the second half.[38]

Sun Life Stadium in 2012

In 2010, the NFL threatened to take the stadium out of further consideration for a Super Bowl or Pro Bowl unless significant renovations were made. One of the upgrades desired was a roof to protect fans from the elements. In 2012, the Dolphins scrapped plans for pitching a $200-million hotel tax proposal that would have included a partial stadium roof.

In 2016, an open-air canopy was constructed that protects the seating bowl from the elements. The canopy, however, does have a football-field-sized hole in the middle, and thus does not protect the playing field itself from rain. The renovations were completed by the first Miami Dolphins pre-season home game in September 2016.

Previously, since the field runs east–west (rather than north–south as is the case in most other stadiums), the north stands were exposed to the full force of South Florida's oppressive heat early in the season. The issue became so problematic that Stephen Ross, who owns the Dolphins and the stadium, successfully petitioned the NFL to have all September home games start at or after 4 pm. Ross knew that for much of September, the Dolphins had a substantial home-field advantage against opponents unaccustomed to the sweltering heat. However, he was willing to give that up in order to ensure a more comfortable environment for fans, as well as allow the stadium to host another Super Bowl.[39]

For Super Bowl LIV, the stadium opened a gondola that runs at the south side of the stadium complex. It cost $3 million and became a permanent fixture for fans to ride on events such as NFL games and the Miami Open tournament.[40]

In 2021, the team is expected to open the Baptist Health Training Complex at the west side of the Stadium complex. The Dolphins will permanently move to the state-of-the art facilities that will host the team headquarters but also, be a World Cup practice facility site.[41]

The stadium has hosted both the 2009 BCS National Championship Game and the 2013 BCS National Championship Game.[42] The 2013 game between Alabama and Notre Dame set a new attendance record for the facility, with 80,120 on hand to witness Alabama's third BCS Championship in four seasons.[43]

Hard Rock Stadium prior to the November 11, 2017 Miami Hurricanes vs. Notre Dame football game.

The stadium has hosted the Miami Hurricanes beginning in 2008. The stadium was the home field for the Florida Atlantic Owls (2001–2002).

Between 1990 and 2000, the stadium hosted a bowl game variously known as the Blockbuster Bowl, CarQuest Bowl, and MicronPC Bowl. After 2000, that bowl was moved to Orlando, where it eventually became known as the Russell Athletic Bowl.

The stadium has been the site of the Orange Bowl game since 1996, except for the January 1999 contest between Florida and Syracuse, which had to be moved due to a conflict with a Dolphins playoff game.

Until 2008, the stadium was host (in even numbered years) to the annual Shula Bowl, a game played between the Florida Atlantic University Owls and the Florida International University Panthers, when the game was hosted by FAU as the home team (FIU hosts the game at its own stadium, Riccardo Silva Stadium, every other year). In 2010, the game was moved to Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium, and in 2011 the Owls opened FAU Stadium on its Boca Raton campus, and started hosting the Shula Bowl there biennially in 2012.

Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter flies over then-named Sun Life Stadium

In 2017 it was announced that the stadium would host the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship. In 2020, the stadium hosted the undefeated Miami Hurricanes against the Seminoles on a Saturday Night game. It was the first time ever the stadium had hosted College GameDay.[44]

A then-record attendance of 78,363 fans packed Sun Life Stadium for WrestleMania XXVIII

On April 1, 2012, the stadium hosted WrestleMania XXVIII—WWE's flagship professional wrestling event. It marked the second edition of WrestleMania to be held in Florida, and the third to be held entirely outdoors.[45][46]

With an attendance of 78,363, the event grossed $67 million, and was estimated to have generated $103 million in revenue for Miami.[47][48]

Two National League Division Series have been played at the stadium:

• 1997 against the San Francisco Giants: Marlins win 3 games to 0
• 2003 against the San Francisco Giants: Marlins win 3 games to 1

Two National League Championship Series have been played at Hard Rock Stadium:

• 1997 against the Atlanta Braves: Marlins win 4 games to 2
• 2003 against the Chicago Cubs: Marlins win 4 games to 3

Two World Series have been played at Hard Rock Stadium:

• 1997 against the Cleveland Indians: Marlins win 4 games to 3
• 2003 against the New York Yankees: Marlins win 4 games to 2

When the Marlins began play in 1993, baseball capacity was initially reduced to 47,662, with most of the upper level covered with a tarp. In addition to Huizenga's desire to create a more intimate atmosphere for baseball, most of the seats in the upper level would have been too far from the field to be of any use during the regular season. The stadium's baseball capacity was further reduced over the years, and finally settled at 38,560 seats. However, the Marlins would usually open the entire upper level for the postseason. In the 1997 World Series, the Marlins played before crowds of over 67,000 fans, some of the highest postseason attendance figures in MLB history, only exceeded by Cleveland Stadium, home of the Cleveland Indians during the 1948 and 1954 World Series, old Yankee Stadium prior to its mid-1970s renovation, and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the temporary home of the Los Angeles Dodgers (before Dodger Stadium was opened) in the 1959 World Series.

Although it was designed from the ground up to accommodate baseball, it was never a true multipurpose stadium. Rather, it was built as a football stadium that could convert into a baseball stadium. Most of the seats in the baseball configuration were pointed toward center field – where the 50-yard line would have been in the football configuration. As a result, even with the reduced capacity, the sight lines for baseball left much to be desired. This was particularly evident during the Marlins' World Series appearances in 1997 and 2003. Some portions of left and center field were not part of the football playing field, and fans sitting in the left field upper-deck seats were unable to see these areas except on the replay boards. Even with the reduced capacity, during years the Marlins were not contending, they often drew crowds of 5,000 or fewer — a total that looked even smaller due to the spacious environment.

The stadium was notorious for its poor playing conditions. The lights were not located in optimal positions for baseball visibility. During August and September, when the Dolphins (and later, the Hurricanes) shared the stadium, the field conditions were, according to both Marlins players and visiting players, among the worst in the majors. Indeed, several Marlins players said that at times, they "couldn't wait to go on the road." Visiting teams hated coming to the stadium as well. For instance, when the Atlanta Braves came to the stadium for the last time in 2011, Dan Uggla, who played for the Marlins from 2006 to 2010, said that he was probably the only Braves player who was going to miss it.[49][50][51] The stadium's problems as a baseball venue became even more stark as time wore on, as the Marlins' tenure in the stadium coincided with a wave of new, baseball-only parks. When the Marlins began play in 1993, the stadium was one of 14 that hosted both a Major League Baseball team and a professional football team. But by the time the Marlins left the stadium, it was one of only three in the majors (and the only National League stadium) that played host to both a baseball team and an NFL or CFL team. The others were the Oakland Coliseum and Toronto's Rogers Centre.

For most of the Marlins' tenure at the stadium, it was the hottest stadium in the major leagues. The Marlins played nearly all of their home games from late May through mid-September at night due to South Florida's often oppressive heat and humidity. They also got waivers from MLB and ESPN to play on Sunday nights.

The stadium was the venue where Mark McGwire hit his NL-record 57th home run to best Hack Wilson's 68-year-old record of 56 in 1998. Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th career home run off Mark Hendrickson of the Marlins on June 9, 2008; and where Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched the 20th perfect game in Major League Baseball history on May 29, 2010, against the Marlins.

El Clásico at the Hard Rock Stadium in 2017.

A number of soccer matches have been held in the stadium, including a number of international friendlies featuring Central or South American sides. (This is due to South Florida being home to one of the largest populations of Central and South Americans in the United States.)

The stadium hosted a match between FC Barcelona and C.D. Guadalajara on August 3, 2011, as part of the 2011 World Football Challenge. Guadalajara won the match, 4–1, in front of 70,080 attendees.[59]

Colombia beat Mexico, 2–0, in a friendly international in front of 51,615 spectators at the stadium on February 29, 2012. A year later they beat Guatemala, 4–1.

A.C. Milan and Chelsea faced each other at the stadium on July 28, 2012. A.C. Milan won the match, 1–0, in front of 57,748 fans.[60]

Brazil beat Honduras, 5–0, in a friendly match in front of 71,124 spectators on November 16, 2013. The attendance was the highest for a soccer match at the stadium.[61]

England played Ecuador and Honduras at the New Miami Stadium on June 4 and 7, 2014, respectively.[62]

South Korea played against Ghana on June 9, 2014.

On September 5, 2014, two months after a heavy defeat to Germany in the World Cup, Brazil beat Colombia, 1–0, in front of an announced attendance of 73,429 fans, a new attendance record for a soccer match at the stadium.

The 2014 International Champions Cup preseason final was held at New Miami Stadium with Manchester United defeating Liverpool 3–1 on August 4, 2014 to claim the tournament's second title.

Two 2017 International Champions Cup preseason matches were played at the Hard Rock, one of them the El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Barcelona won 3–2 in the second El Clásico to take place outside of Spain. 66,014 people, above current capacity, attended the match.[63]

On March 23, 2018 the international friendly Peru–Croatia was played at the stadium, which Peru won 2–0.[64] Hard Rock Stadium is also a candidate to be one of the host stadiums for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Date	Team (Visitor)	Goals	Team (Home)	Goals	Spectators
August 3, 2011	FC Barcelona	1	Guadalajara	4	70,080
October 8, 2011	Honduras	0	United States	1	21,900
February 29, 2012	Colombia	2	Mexico	0	51,615
July 28, 2012	A.C. Milan	1	Chelsea	0	57,748
February 6, 2013	Guatemala	1	Colombia	4	25,000
June 8, 2013	Haiti	1	Spain	2	36,535
August 6, 2013	Juventus	1	Inter Milan	1	38,513
November 16, 2013	Brazil	5	Honduras	0	71,124
June 4, 2014	England	2	Ecuador	2	21,534
June 7, 2014	Honduras	0	England	0	45,379
June 9, 2014	Ghana	4	South Korea	0	7,000
August 4, 2014	Manchester United	3	Liverpool	1	51,014
September 5, 2014	Brazil	1	Colombia	0	73,429
July 26, 2017	Paris Saint-Germain	2	Juventus	3	44,444
July 29, 2017	FC Barcelona	3	Real Madrid	2	66,014
March 23, 2018	Croatia	0	Peru	2	60,000
July 28, 2018	Bayern Munich	2	Manchester City	3	29,195
July 31, 2018	Manchester United	2	Real Madrid	1	64,141
September 7, 2018	Colombia	2	Venezuela	1	34,048
October 12, 2018	Chile	0	Peru	3	34,016
August 7, 2019	FC Barcelona	2	S.S.C. Napoli	1	57,062
September 6, 2019	Colombia	2	Brazil	2	65,232
November 15, 2019	Peru	0	Colombia	1	36,063

The monster truck touring series Monster Jam used to go to the stadium every year. The last show performed there was in 2015, and in 2018 the shows moved to Marlins Park. In 2012, the show was filmed and shown on SPEED Channel.

Movies have also been shot there, most notably Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, which starred Jim Carrey and featured Dolphins great Dan Marino as himself; Marley and Me, starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston; and the Oliver Stone-directed Any Given Sunday, starring Al Pacino.

Other events held at the stadium have included international soccer games, Hoop-It-Up Basketball, RV and boat shows, the UniverSoul Circus, and numerous trade shows. It has also hosted religious gatherings.

The stadium has also hosted Australian rules football exhibition matches (including two Victorian Football League (VFL) post-season exhibitions). For the 1988 exhibition between Collingwood and Geelong, the game was played on the diagonal to compensate for the stadium not being an oval.[65]

In 2006, it hosted the High School State Football Championships, sanctioned by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).

In 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, it started temporarily hosting an outdoor movie theatre at the tennis campus and a drive-in movie theatre at the inside of the venue. The venue was critically appraised for starting the innovative concept which was copied nationwide.[66] Additionally, the East Lot of the venue has been used as a COVID-19 testing site, drawing hundreds of cars every day at the peak of the pandemic.[67]