Opened in 1987, Miami's Sun Life Stadium used to be one of the premier big-event venues in the country. Used to be.
The home of the Miami Dolphins, Joe Robbie Stadium/Pro Player Park/Pro Player Stadium/Dolphins Stadium/Dolphin Stadium/Land Shark Stadium/Sun Life Stadium (seriously, it's had that many names) has hosted five Super Bowls, four BCS national championship games, two World Series, WrestleMania XXVIII and a number of major concerts. But the Super Bowl hasn't been back in five years and doesn't have any current plans to return, and though Sun Life Stadium hosts the Orange Bowl and, thus, will host a College Football Playoff semifinal every three years, Miami isn't considered a primary contender to host a championship game.
It's time to make a change.
On Friday, the Dolphins unveiled plans for a major overhaul for their to-be-sponsored (seriously, it's yet another naming rights sponsor is in the works) stadium, which should be complete by 2016.
Here's how the stadium will look this fall:
You'll notice the trademark orange seats are gone in favor of teal replacements. Good move. For a franchise that struggles to fill its seats, nothing highlights that problem quite like orange seats.
And here's how the finished product will look in 2016.
Capacity will drop from roughly 75,000 to just above 65,000, except for 'Canes games, when upper-deck canopies will push capacity down further to 55,000.
(via CBS Sports, Miami Dolphins)