page_title: Hard Rock Stadium
section_title: NFL
hierarchical_section_title: Hard Rock Stadium / Notable events / NFL
caption_attribution_description: English: Overall view of the Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, during a National Football League regular season game between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins , celebrated 23 September 2012. As seen from the upper deck.
context_page_description: Hard Rock Stadium is a 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. Hard Rock Stadium also plays host to the Miami Hurricanes football team during their regular season. In addition, the facility hosts the Orange Bowl, an annual college football bowl game. It was the home to the Florida Marlins of Major League Baseball from 1993 to 2011. From 2019, the stadium is home to the Miami Open tennis tournament, played in March.
  The stadium has hosted six Super Bowls, the 2010 Pro Bowl, two World Series, four BCS National Championship Games, the second round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and WrestleMania XXVIII. The stadium will host the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2021, as well as has "agreed in principle" to host the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix in 2021.
  The facility opened in 1987 as "Joe Robbie Stadium" and has been known by a number of names since: "Pro Player Park", "Pro Player Stadium", "Dolphins Stadium", "Dolphin Stadium", "Land Shark Stadium", and "Sun Life Stadium".
context_section_description: The stadium has played host to six Super Bowls (1989, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2010, and 2020). 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 Indianapolis defeated Chicago 29–17—was marred by heavy rains. An estimated 30% of the lower-level seating was empty during the second half.
  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 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.
  For Super Bowl LIV, the stadium opened a gondola that runs at the south side of the stadium complex. It cost 3 million dollars and became a permanent fixture for fans to ride on events such as NFL games and the Miami Open tournament.
  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.
caption: Sun Life Stadium in 2012
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