Highlights
Dolphin Stadium, a state-of-the-art, open-air facility when it opened in 1987, was the first of its kind to be constructed with private funds at a cost of $115 million. Dolphin owner Joseph Robbie, after years of posturing and politics in hopes of obtaining public funds for a new stadium, broke ground in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Dec. 1, 1985. On Dec. 31, he obtained the construction loan and permanent financing. Executive Suites and Club Level seating, with season-ticket holders committed to long-term agreements, helped finance construction. The capacity for football and soccer is 75,540 and 36,331 for baseball. The playing surface is Prescription Athletic Turf. Parking capacity is 24,1...
Dolphin Stadium, a state-of-the-art, open-air facility when it opened in 1987, was the first of its kind to be constructed with private funds at a cost of $115 million. Dolphin owner Joseph Robbie, after years of posturing and politics in hopes of obtaining public funds for a new stadium, broke ground in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Dec. 1, 1985. On Dec. 31, he obtained the construction loan and permanent financing. Executive Suites and Club Level seating, with season-ticket holders committed to long-term agreements, helped finance construction. The capacity for football and soccer is 75,540 and 36,331 for baseball. The playing surface is Prescription Athletic Turf. Parking capacity is 24,137 cars, 171 buses, 90 RVs, 85 limousines and 1 helipad. On April 30, 1987, Tim Robbie announced Dolphin Stadium would be renamed Joe Robbie Stadium. It remained so until Aug. 26, 1996 when a 10-year, $20 million lease led to it becoming Pro Player Stadium. It was renamed Dolphin Stadium on Jan. 10, 2005. In April of 2005, a new logo and the world's largest hi-definition video boards were unveiled. In 1990, H. Wayne Huizenga purchased 50 percent of Robbie Stadium Corporation and 15 percent limited partnership in the Dolphins to provide badly needed capital. Huizenga acquired the existing percentages to become owner of the stadium and the Dolphins in 1994. Huizenga spent $100,000 million on renovations to accommodate baseball. He paid $1 million to install PAT and an upgraded drainage system. The stadium is undergoing the addition of 360,000 square feet at a cost of $250 million to improve the fan experience. Dolphin Stadium is one of three venues, joining McAfee Coliseum in Oakland and the Metrodome in Minneapolis, serving as home to NFL and Major League Baseball franchises. In the fall of 2008, the Miami Hurricanes will join the Dolphins and the Florida Marlins as the third team to make Dolphin Stadium its home. Four Super Bowls, XXIII in 1989 (San Francisco 20, Cincinnati 16), XXIX in 1995 (San Francisco 49, San Diego 26), XXXIII in 1999 (Denver 34, Atlanta 19) and XLI in 2007 (Indianapolis 29, Chicago 17) have been played in what many consider the finest football facility in America. Two World Series, in 1997 (Marlins 4, Indians 3) and 2003 (Marlins 4, New York Yankees 2), have been played there. The Blockbuster Bowl, featuring Florida State and Bobby Bowden against Penn State and Joe Paterno, was the first college game played there on Dec. 29, 1990. The Seminoles won 24-17. It became the Carquest Bowl in 1994 and MicronPC Bowl in 1998 before moving to Orlando following 2000. The FedEx Orange Bowl moved to Dolphin Stadium in 1996 and has hosted national championship games in 1997 (Nebraska 42, Tennessee 17), 2000 (Oklahoma 13, Florida State 2) and 2004 (Southern California 55, Oklahoma 19). In 2005, 2006 and 2007, the Florida High School Activities Association held state championships in four divisions at the stadium. It was Florida Atlantic's home field in 2001 and 2002. On March 4, 1988, the U.S. National Soccer team beat Millonarios (Columbia) 2-1 in the first world-class soccer match. The stadium opened on Aug. 16, 1987 when Chicago beat the Dolphins 10-3 in an exhibition game. In the first regular-season game, the Dolphins beat Kansas City 42-0. They beat the Chiefs 17-16 in the first playoff game on Jan. 5, 1991. Prior to the Marlins, the stadium hosted 13 spring training games and drew 370,000 fans. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat Baltimore 10-8 in the first baseball game on March 11, 1988. Three years later, the Orioles and New York Yankees drew 67,544, the largest crowd to watch a game in a non-Major League city, and two-game total of 125,013. The Marlins won the first regular-season game on April 5, 1993, beating the Dodgers 6-3. The team's lease is scheduled to expire after the 2010 season. In 1997, the largest World Series crowd since 1954, 67,498, watched the Marlins beat Cleveland in Game 6. In 2003, 65,731 fans watched the Yankees beat the Marlins 3-1 in Game 3. Through 2006, the Dolphins' regular-season record at home was 102-57 (.642) and their playoff record was 5-3. Rod Stewart, Hall and Oates and Chicago staged the first concert on July 3, 1988. Elton John/Billy Joel, Gloria Estefan, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Guns & Roses, The Who, New Kids on the Block, the Three Tenors World Tour, U2 and 'N Sync are among the artists who have performed there. The stadium has also hosts numerous trade shows and sales events.
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Marlins' hopes through roof
MIAMI — After years of playing baseball between rain delays and on sticky summer nights, the Marlins started with two non-negotiable features for the design of their new ballpark: a retractable roof and air conditioning. Keeping fans comfortable...Tags: St. Louis Cardinals, Major League Baseball, Houston Texans, David Samson, Indianapolis Colts
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Brock Lesnar may turn WWE into the 'next big thing'
This past weekend I had a chance to soak in the WrestleMania 28 festivities from Miami – the Hall of Fame, Fan Axxess, the event itself at Sun Life Stadium and Raw the next night. Truly, for any WWEfan that came to participate in the crowd chants...
Tags: WrestleMania, Dwayne Johnson, Ultimate Fighting Championship, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., Twitter, Inc.
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Tebow experiment leads intriguing week
Four NFL teams, four distinctly different situations, and one identical, well-worn audible: Old quarterback out, new quarterback in. Rookie Christian Ponder is taking over for Donovan McNabb in Minnesota. John Beck is replacing Rex Grossman in...Tags: Rex Grossman, Jason Campbell, Andrew Luck, Denver Broncos, John Beck
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Is there an age limit for baseball managers?
New senior circuit
Phil Rogers
Chicago Tribune
Jack McKeon didn't get a four-year contract when the Marlins hired him to be their interim manager, so why not do what they're doing?
McKeon is clearly a bridge guy to Ozzie Guillen, Bobby Valentine or...Tags: Casey Stengel, Colleges and Universities, Connie Mack Jr, National League Central, Public Employees
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In the news...
Roch Around the ClockMajor League Baseball celebrated another historic moment last night, this one coming from an esteemed member of the Cincinnati Reds. One of the true greats of the game has joined an exclusive club. Paul Bako had the first multi-homer game of......Tags: Major League Baseball, Walter Payton, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Bears, Brian Roberts
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Game 14: Ravens' misery goes deeper
Sun reporterIn what has been perhaps the most miserable season in their history, the Ravens had lost a handful of starters before and their share of gut-wrenching games. But they always talked about never losing their pride ... until now. Unable to hold a 10-...Tags: Chris McAlister, Greg Camarillo, Derrick Mason, Ray Lewis, National Football League
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Ravens' misery goes deeper
Sun reporterIn what has been perhaps the most miserable season in their history, the Ravens had lost a handful of starters before and their share of gut-wrenching games. But they always talked about never losing their pride ... until now. Unable to hold a 10-...Tags: Bart Scott, Miami Dolphins, Chris McAlister, Jason Brown, Derrick Mason
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Florida Travel Tips & Deals
Special CorrespondentCheck this list often as new tips, events and deals around Florida come in: Coke Zero 400 package -- The Shores Resort & Spa on Daytona Beach Shores is revving up a three-night package for Coke Zero 400, the annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race...Tags: Restaurant and Catering Industry, Getaway Travel, Dolphin Tale (movie), Spring Training, Petroleum Industry
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Marlins Park surprisingly hitter-friendly so far
The most surprising stat of the baseball season so far may be that Marlins Park ranks as one of most hitter-friendly parks in the major leagues. Stunning, considering all the early clamor about the Marlins' new home being a pitcher's dream and a hitter's...Tags: Major League Baseball, ESPN (tv network), Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Baseball
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Números fascinantes --y decepcionantes-- en las Grandes Ligas
Robinson Cano, un pelotero que parece hacerlo todo en cámara lenta, tuvo un mal día la semana pasada ante los Angelinos de Los Angeles.
El segunda base dominicano de los Yankees de Nueva York se fue en blanco en cinco turnos y se ponchó dos veces con las...Tags: American League, Dennis Rodman, Denver Broncos, DeMarcus Cousins, Carlos Arroyo
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Sanchez T-shirt promotion may miss star attraction
The Marlins will feature one of their premier minor league players with a giveaway Wednesday. That wasn't the original vision for the Gaby Sanchez T-shirt promotion at Marlins Park. That was planned before the Miami native was demoted to Triple-A New...Tags: Ryan Dempster, Luis Castillo (baseball), Baseball, Gaby Sanchez, Logan Morrison
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Miami Dolphins to star on HBO's "Hard Knocks"
Sun-SentinelAfter an offseason of negative headlines culminating with a protest outside the team's training facility, the Miami Dolphins hope to reshape their image nationally from the inside out. The Dolphins are the latest subject for the HBO show, "Hard Knocks:...Tags: Movies, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, National Football League, Companies and Corporations
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