Hard Rock Stadium

Hard Rock Stadium is a multipurpose football stadium located in Miami Gardens, Florida, a city north of Miami. It is the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). Hard Rock Stadium also plays host to the Miami Hurricanes football team during their regular season. The facility also hosts the Orange Bowl, an annual college football bowl game. It was the home to the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1993 to 2011.

General information

Official website: https://hardrockstadium.com/

Arena capacity: 64,767 spectators

Address: 347 Don Shula Dr, Miami Gardens, FL 33056, USA

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 25°57′29″N 80°14′20″W

Year of construction: August 16, 1987

Construction cost: $254 million

Field: Tifway 419 Bermuda Grass lawn

Seating plan of the Hard Rock Stadium

North Sideline Club

Between the 30 yard lines and behind the visiting team bench, the North Sideline Club (also known as the Hyundai Club) treats ticketholders to comfortable padded seats, and excellent views near midfield.

Fans will also have access to the climate controlled North Sideline Club Lounge, featuring upscale lounge style furniture, plenty of television monitors, premium food and beverage available for purchase, and multiple fully stocked bars.

Club Level

The Club Level at Hard Rock stadium field offers double cushioned seating and access to the air-conditioned Bank United Club lounges featuring premium restaurants and bars. There are fewer rows of seating in these sections, making it far easier to move in and out of the seats.

Field Club Boxes

Field Club Boxes provide fans with the closest seating of any option at Hard Rock Stadium. Premium amenities include a private entrance, access to a private lounge with TV monitors, private restrooms, and all-inclusive food and beverage (beer and wine included).

Each 4 person Field Club Box consists of some of the most comfortable chairs in all of football, with living room recliner style seats.

72 Club and Golden Cane Club

Known as the 72 Club during Dolphins games, and the Golden Cane Club during Hurricanes games, these seats offer one of the most unique, but also most expensive experiences at Hard Rock Stadium.

Located right at midfield behind the home sideline, fans are treated to double padded seats which are 8 inches wider than traditional stadium seats, 11 inches of additional legroom, in-seat wait service, and all-inclusive food and beverage (includes beer, wine, and spirits).

Fans sitting in Sections 145 or 147 will find themselves in the ultra premium Living Room Boxes, offering the biggest and most comfortable seats in the entire stadium. Each private box consists of 4 seats, with a private table ledge, cabinets, and a TV monitor for each box.

To top it all off, fans sitting in any of the 72/Golden Cane Club seating sections will have the ability to walk down all the way on to the field as you make your way to the premium club lounge.

Club Level Endzone

The 200 level seats behind the endzones provide fans with double cushioned seating. For Dolphins games, fans will also have access to the air-conditioned Bank United Club lounges featuring premium restaurants and bars. There are fewer rows of seating in these sections, making it far easier to move in and out of the seats.

Club LIV

Fans in the Club LIV seats will have exclusive access to the trendy Club LIV lounge, a multi-level area with a night club atmosphere. The climate controlled lounge features multiple dance floors, personal cabanas, and a full bar.

Recommended Seats for Kids and Family

Sections 331 and 332:

• Alcohol prohibited seating;
• More affordable ticket prices.

Sections 310, 311, 325 and 326:

• Easy access with just 2 rows of seating;
• Tickets generally more affordable in the upper corners.

Recommended Seats for Impressing a Guest

Sections 216, 217, 218 and 219:

• Amazing views from near midfield and at an ideal seating height;
• Exclusive club level amenities including upscale dining and access to lounges;
• Comfortable padded seats.

Recommended Seats for Great Views of the Field

Sections 118 and 72/GC Club:

• Impressive 50 yard line views from the lower seating tier;
• Access to premium club amenities;
• Close to the team benches on the sidelines.

Where to buy tickets?

Tickets can be purchased the day of the game at the southeast and southwest box offices.

Will Call: Will Call windows are located at the southwest box office on game days. Media/Press Will Call is also located at the southwest box office.

Ticket Refund and Exchange Policy: The Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami have a no-refund/ no-exchange policy.

Internet: Tickets may be purchased online at the following websites:

• dolphins.com;
• ticketmaster.com;
• hurricanesports.com.

How to get there?

Directions

From the south: I-95 North, to North on the Florida Turnpike, to Exit #2X (Dolphin Toll Plaza), to Hard Rock Stadium.

From the east: I-75 East to I-595 East, to South on Florida Turnpike, to exit #2X (Sun Life Stadium Toll Plaza), to the east side of Hard Rock Stadium

From the north: Florida Turnpike South to Exit #2X, proceed through the Hard Rock Stadium Toll Plaza, to the east side of Hard Rock Stadium

Parking

Automobile Assistance: Hard Rock Stadium provides a free emergency road service to any guest experiencing car trouble up to one hour after most events. Services include lockouts, jump starts, and changing a flat tire. Guests should seek assistance from police officers or stadium employee.

Parking Times:

• Miami Dolphins games – Parking gates open four (4) hours prior to kick off;
• University of Miami games – Parking gates open five (5) hours prior to kick off (Green Lot).

Accessible Parking: As in prior years, accessible parking spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those with a valid disabled parking placard and matching photo ID. There are accessible spots located in both the inner and outer parking lots. You must have an inner lot parking pass in order to park in an inner lot accessible parking spot. If you have a disabled placard and an outer lot parking pass (e.g., yellow pass or cash stub), you must park in an accessible spot in the outer lot, or, subject to availability, you may purchase inner lot access by paying the difference in price between your outer lot pass and an inner lot pass.

Taxi: Taxis are available by the Gate 4 entrance. Taxis are available on a first-come, first serve basis.

Ride Share (drop-off and pick-up): The designated Ride Share drop-off and pick-up lots are located at Norwood School and Lester Brown Park.

Tailgating Guidelines

For the safety and enjoyment of all, hard rock stadium asks that you please follow the written and verbal instructions of stadium personnel, posted signs, and these tailgating guidelines.

1. During the first hour of Miami Dolphins games, fans with blue or orange parking passes are allowed to park where they desire in the parking areas for which they have a valid parking pass. After the first hour, directive parking will begin to ensure efficiency and a smooth traffic flow. If you are parking in the yellow lots, directive parking will be in effect from the time lots open. For Miami Hurricanes games and other stadium events, directive parking will be in effect for all lots from the time lots open.
2. Please follow the directives of parking staff.
3. Occupy only ONE parking space per vehicle. Spaces may not be saved, obstructed or reserved by guests.
4. Tailgate directly behind your vehicle using the designated 8′x10′ space outlined on the ground.
5. Drink Responsibly. Guests deemed to be unreasonably intoxicated may be ejected from the stadium grounds. Activities that encourage the excessive consumption of alcohol (e.g. funnels, drinking games) will not be permitted and are subject to confiscations.
6. Kegs of beer are not allowed on the property.
7. Underage drinking is illegal. Violators will be subject to ejection and/or arrest.
8. Do not block the fire lane, which is needed for emergency response vehicles.
9. Box trucks are prohibited and vehicles may not enter the stadium with anything in-tow (e.g., grills, trailers, etc.).
10. Commercial catering services are prohibited from operation on stadium grounds.
11. Commercials signs and banners and other commercial activities are prohibited.
12. Any vehicle baring obscene graphics or messages may be denied admission and/or subject to ejection.
13. Music must be played at reasonable volume and shall not contain explicit lyrics. Violators may be ejec. No professional DJ setups are permitted in parking lots.
14. Gas and charcoal barbeque grills are permitted; however, open fires (e.g., bonfires, pit fires) are prohibited. You are solely responsible for any damage caused by any use of grills or other tailgate activities.
15. Hot coals and flames must be extinguished promptly after use. Do not dispose of charcoal briquettes on the ground. Once briquettes have cooled, place them in a plastic bag and deposit them in a trash bin. You are solely responsible for any damage caused by any use of grills or other tailgate activities.
16. Vending and solicitation activities are prohibited.
17. Clean up your area before entering the stadium so it’s safe for you and others.
18. All rules and regulations will be strictly enforced for the safety and convenience of our guests.

Where to eat?

While Hard Rock Stadium has concession stands which offer the typical stadium fare, it also features a number of options with a decidedly Latin or South Florida flavor. Amongst these are Sloppy Joe’s (conch fritters and po’ boys from the Florida Keys), Café Versailles (Cuban sandwiches and empanadas), Fuku (spicy chicken), Coyo Taco (tacos and burritos) and Los Ranchos (churrasco’s and rice with beans). For those who enter the stadium early, there is the Breakfast House, which offers brunch items and mimosas.

On the beverage front, Hard Rock scores high for its broad selection of craft brews. They offer over 30 national brews, plus 16 from the South Florida area alone. Local brews include Funky Buddha, Due South, Saltwater, Concrete Beach, 26 Degrees and Wynnwood. Bottled beers are $8, and drafts go for $11.

Club Level & Suite Areas

1. The Club. Located on the 200 level, these seats are wider and weather protected. They also provide access to air-conditioned lounge areas. In order to access the 200 level, guests must have a ticket to The Club, a Premium Suite, or Executive Suite. A Club Level re-entry pass is issued to each guest as they exit. The guest must present their re-entry pass upon returning to The Club.
2. Bokampers MVP. This oversized luxury suite is located on the mezzanine level. This area allows ample space for guests to enjoy and “mingle”. The suite comfortably has occupancy of 144 guests and has access to a private elevator via East Gate. Tickets may be purchased annually or on an individual game basis. Amenities include a delicious varied buffet and an open bar.
3. Fantasy Lounge. Located on the 200 level at the North Gate. This is the ultimate destination for fantasy football fans. Enjoy football games from around the NFL in the comfort of this air-conditioned area on The Club (open to Club Members, The Nines, 72 Club and suites as well as Field Club guests only), with a large freestanding bar. Access the latest fantasy stats and follow Miami Dolphins, NFL news, and other exclusive contents on NFL Mobil.
4. Located at the west side of the stadium. This is a ticketed venue encompassing spaces on the 200 and mezzanine levels. Guests in each area have full access to a unique set of entertainment and hospitality amenities including: special entry into the stadium, preferred valet parking, waitressed food service at your seat, game by game entertainment programming, live DJ, and of course – the risk of running in to a who’s who of celebrities, athletes and musicians. LIV can also be rented for special events.
5. Hard Rock Stadium has executive suites on the 200 and mezzanine levels. Suite sizes range from 10 to 42 seats. Premium suites may seat up to 60 guests. Suites offer televisions, refrigerators, ice makers, private telephone service, private safes for personal property, and a suite attendant for service.

Luxury Areas

1. 72 Club. Located on the 100 Level – South side 40-40 yard line. These seats are luxurious and double padded. Guests will have access to an air-conditioned lounge area with a premium buffet, and in-seat service. These guests do not have access to the Nines & Field Club.
2. Field Club Boxes. Located on the Field – east and west end zones. These recliner seats have access to an air conditioned lounge area that offers a delicious buffet, beer and wine. These boxes allow access to Field Club lounges only.
3. Living Room Boxes. Located on the 100 Level south side 35 yard lines. There are 32 boxes (set of 4 recliners) which include upscale dining, and in-seat service. All members have access to air conditioned lounge areas and access to all clubs except The Nines & Field Club.
4. The Nine. Located at the 100 Level south side 50 yard line. These seats offer a unique suite experience. The Nine members will receive upscale dining and in-seat service. All members have access to air-conditioned lounge areas, and access to any Club.
5. North Sideline Club. Located on the 100 north side 30-30 yard line. These seats are double padded and provide access to air-conditioned lounge areas with ala carte concessions. No Club access.

Atmosphere

The home of the Dolphins is strikingly contemporary for a thirty-year old stadium. Its use of the teal and orange colors of the Dolphins team bring an energy to the stadium. Its 147 suites cater to the well-heeled business community of Miami and there is not a bad seat in the house.

Hard Rock Stadium has undergone a series of massive renovation projects in phases since 2015. All of these are aimed at improving the fan experience. These improvements have included the replacement of every seat in the stadium, rebuilding of several concourses, moving sideline seats 25 feet closer to the field and the addition of four HD video boards in each corner of the stadium. The most obvious improvement to the stadium is the installation of a canopy roof that covers 92% of the seating areas. This protects fans from the harsh South Florida sun, as well as the heavy downpours that are a frequent occurrence in Florida.

Another recent addition that has been very popular with the fans is the LIV at Hard Rock Club. This is a sister club to the LIV at South Beach. It provides a nightclub-like experience with two bars, a dance floor, private cabanas and a great view of the field from its location above the west end zone.

Neighborhood

The Dolphins chose the site of Hard Rock Stadium more than 30 years ago based on its quick access to the Florida Turnpike and I-95. They also chose the location based on its being halfway between the population centers of downtown Miami and Fort Lauderdale. At that time the area was undeveloped, and land was cheap.

Unfortunately, 30 years later the immediate area around Hard Rock Stadium is mainly populated with fast food locations, a few discount hotels and the single attraction is on the same property as the stadium. The Calder Casino is the lone attraction in the immediate area of the stadium.

However, travel five miles east towards the Atlantic beaches and you will find an excellent inventory of lodging, a broad selection of restaurants and the sports, entertainment, and shopping mecca of Gulfstream Park. Two restaurants that come highly recommended are ROK: BRGR in Hallandale Beach and The Tuck Room in North Miami. The AC Hotel by Marriott in Aventura offers excellent accommodations just seven miles from the stadium.

The game day advice is to sample one of the many unique food items at Hard Rock for lunch then investigate the coastal options following the game.

Fans

Miami and South Florida cannot be defined as a homogeneous area. It is a virtual melting pot of cultures, age groups and frankly, different reasons for living there. The same can be said of the Dolphins Fin-base. Older Dol-fans moved here to escape the harsh winters and remember the glory days of the franchise (Miami last won the Super Bowl in the 1970’s and have not won a playoff game in nearly 20 years). They have held out hope that the glory days will return and are probably the most loyal ticket holders for the team.

The younger generations never have experienced a glory day or year. They tend to come to games for a good time. Win or lose they are there to meet up with friends, hang out at the LIV at Hard Rock, or just watch the game from the parking lot… where tailgating is just competitive as the games.

The final component of the Dol-fan Fin-base are the transplants. Typically, these fans have season tickets through their companies, which have relocated to the area. They come and cheer loyally for the home team… until their former hometown favorites (think New England, New York and Philadelphia) come to town. Suddenly they are sporting their “old” team colors. There are many games where the visiting team has more fans in the stadium than the Dol-fans. (If you live in Buffalo in December… wouldn’t a divisional game in Miami sound inviting?)

One thing all of the fan groups agree on… they simply adore T.D., the team’s lovable Dolphin mascot.

Conception and construction

For their first 21 seasons, the Miami Dolphins played at the Orange Bowl. Joe Robbie, the team’s founder, led the financing campaign to build a new home for the team. He 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 so only minimal renovations would be necessary to ready it for a baseball team. Most notably, the field was made somewhat wider than is normally the case for an NFL stadium. 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, the stadium was located in an unincorporated area within Miami-Dade County, and had a Miami address. Miami Gardens then was incorporated.

Baseball renovations and configurations

Aside from baseball renovations, the stadium underwent some permanent renovations. The stadium unveiled two Daktronics large video boards, the largest in professional sports at the time. A new 2,118-foot (646 m)-long LED ribbon board.

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.

A roof was added 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.

Then stadium upgraded included video boards in each corner of the stadium, additional suites, and an open-air canopy over the main seating areas. 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 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. The pods feature a living room arrangement, including premium furniture and television screens that show the NFL RedZone channel and NFL programming.