Dolphin Stadium

Dolphins Stadium is a baseball facility located in Miami, Florida. Built at the cost of $115 million, this state-of-the-art, open-air multi-purpose facility was the first of its kind to be constructed entirely with private funds. Primarily built for football and was later used for baseball. Originally named Dolphins Stadium, the stadium also became known as Joe Robbie Stadium and then Pro Player Stadium before it resumed the moniker Dolphins Stadium. The stadium has been housing the Miami Dolphins since 1987 and to the Florida Marlins since 1993. The site is also playing host to the Orange Bowl college football game since 1996. Local sportscasters address the stadium as "The Pro." Many sports fans call it "Pro Robbie" in reverence to its former name. The stadium has hosted three Super Bowl games, Super Bowl XXIII, Super Bowl XXIX, Super Bowl XXXIII. The stadium is scheduled to host Super Bowl XLI, on February 4th, 2007. Plans for the stadium were first announced on March 5, 1984. Miami Dolphins (NFL) owner Joe Robbie first lobbied for a new stadium in 1984 for the Dolphins. The groundbreaking ceremonies for the new stadium took place on December 1, 1985.

Completed in 1987, Joe Robbie, the original owner of the Miami Dolphins, built and financed a new stadium. He raised the funds by licensing of executive suites and club seats on a 10-year basis. Executive suites range in price from $30,000-$90,000 per year. Club seats cost between $800-$1,800 per year on a 10-year license. On August 16, 1987, the stadium hosted its first football game when the Dolphins played against the Chicago Bears in a preseason contest. The first-ever baseball game played at the stadium was between the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers, held on March 11, 1988. Former Blockbuster Video magnate Wayne Huizenga purchased the Dolphins and 50 percent of their $115-million stadium from Mr. Robbie's successors in 1990. Following this purchase he began his pursuit of a Major League baseball franchise. He invested $10 million for the renovation of the stadium to make it baseball friendly so that his expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins could play there in 1993. On April 5, 1993, the Florida Marlins played their first game at the stadium. On January 24, 1994, Huizenga bought the remaining 50 percent of the stadium to become the sole owner. On August 26, 1996, Pro Player, the sports apparel brand a division of Fruit of the Loom, purchased the naming rights.

They signed a 10-year, $20 million deal and renamed it Pro Player Stadium. However, the name was changed from Pro Player Stadium to Dolphins Stadium on January 09, 2005 after the sports apparel company was bought in 2000. The stadium was renamed as part of a major renewal project that is estimated to cost nearly half a billion dollars. The project possibly includes the addition of a roof remodeling the club level, better traffic access to the stadium, and eventually a dome or retractable roof. The renovation will take place in three phases. The second and third phase of renovation will take place after the Marlins move out of the stadium. The stadium has three tiers levels that intimately enclose the entire stadium. When the stadium was under construction, Joe Robbie insisted on a rectangular grandstand layout in a hope that one-day baseball would possibly come to Miami. Prior of boasting a team, the stadium had already hosted 13 pre season baseball games. As soon the city was awarded a baseball franchise several changes were made at Dolphins Stadium. The lower level in left field was transformed into retractable stands, dugouts were built, and small provisional stands were added in front of the bullpen areas.

The seats in the upper deck seats beyond the outfield are generally covered with canvas during the regular season baseball games due to a large distance. Some sections in right field are covered and used as a picnic area for baseball games as well. A baseball press box in the southwest corner of the facility was constructed, and a hydraulic disappearing pitcher's mound was installed. The stadium has a seating capacity 75,000. The orange and teal seats give the stadium a very vibrant look. An out of town scoreboard makes up the left field fence, and two other JumboTron display screens are located in the upper deck. On Saturday nights, the stadiums host Latin music and Latin cuisine prior to the game. Watching a ballgame at the Dolphins Stadium is a real delight except when it rains. In December 2004, Wayne Huizenga, owner of the Miami Dolphins and the stadium notified the Marlins would not be able to play at the stadium after the 2010 season and that their lease will not be renewed. The Marlins have announced plans to build a new baseball facility with a retractable roof near downtown Miami on the site of the old Orange Bowl.