A new chapter in the history of the University of Miami football program began in 2008 when the Hurricanes moved to Hard Rock Stadium. For seven decades, the Hurricanes played at the Orange Bowl, one of the most historic football stadiums in the country. The Orange Bowl was not only home to the Hurricanes but also hosted five Super Bowls, 11 national championship football games and served as the home of the Miami Dolphins until 1987. In August 2007, the University of Miami announced that the 2007 season would be the Hurricanes’ final season at the Orange Bowl due to the stadium’s deteriorating condition. The University of Miami and the Miami Dolphins then reached an agreement allowing the Hurricanes to play their home games at the Dolphins’ stadium. The Hurricanes played their first game at the stadium on August 28, 2008, against Charleston Southern.
Originally named Joe Robbie Stadium, the facility hosted its first Dolphins game on August 16, 1987. Joe Robbie Stadium was a major upgrade from the Orange Bowl, with 75,000 orange and teal seats enclosing the field. Numerous circular ramps and escalators made it easy for fans to access every section, while two video scoreboards were located above the rim of the upper deck in each end zone. In 1990, in an effort to bring Major League Baseball to South Florida, Wayne Huizenga purchased a 50 percent share of Joe Robbie Stadium. The following year, Major League Baseball awarded Miami a team, the Florida Marlins, who began playing at the stadium in 1993. When the stadium was originally designed for the Dolphins, owner Joe Robbie insisted on a rectangular grandstand layout that was wider than necessary for football because he believed baseball would eventually come to Miami. Seats in the lower level on the north side of the stadium were retractable, allowing the field to be configured for baseball. The Marlins played at the stadium for 21 seasons before moving to their own ballpark, Marlins Park, in 2012.
Although various areas around the facility were remodeled over the years, it became apparent after the Marlins left that the stadium would need a complete overhaul to remain competitive with other NFL venues and have the opportunity to host future Super Bowls. In January 2013, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross unveiled plans that would dramatically change the look and atmosphere of the stadium. The $500 million project, financed by the team, was completed in two phases beginning after the 2014 season. The first phase included restructuring the lower deck, bringing the stands 24 feet closer to the field and removing the seating sections in the four corners of the upper deck. These changes reduced the seating capacity to 65,326. All of the original orange and teal seats were also replaced with new aqua colored seats.
The second phase began after the 2015 season and dramatically transformed the appearance of the stadium. An open air canopy featuring four spires rising from the four corners was constructed above the stands, shielding approximately 90 percent of fans from the elements. Four HD video boards were also installed in the corners of the upper deck to enhance the fan experience. The project was completed before the start of the 2016 NFL season, transforming the facility into one of the premier stadiums in the NFL.
The home of the Dolphins has had several names since opening in 1987, including Joe Robbie Stadium, Pro Player Stadium and Sun Life Stadium. In August 2016, the team sold the naming rights to Hard Rock Cafe for $250 million over 18 years, and the stadium became known as Hard Rock Stadium. The facility has hosted two World Series, in 1997 and 2003, six Super Bowls, in 1989, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2010 and 2020, and the annual Orange Bowl game.
