Dolphins' home changes name for 7th time, now called New Miami Stadium
When it opened in 1987, it was known as Joe Robbie Stadium. After running through other names, including Pro Player, Land Shark and Sun Life, the stadium is calling itself something else yet again.
By
Ryan Wilson
•
1 min read
When it opened in 1987, it was known as Joe Robbie Stadium. Now, 29 years later, and shortly after the most recent naming rights expired, the home of the Miami Dolphins will simply be known as ... New Miami Stadium, according to the Miami New Times.
Feel the non-specificity!
Perhaps New Miami Stadium befits a Dolphins team without an identify; quarterback Ryan Tannehlll is still unproven as the franchise's future, and there are plenty of questions about the front office's strategy for rebuilding the roster.
There was no official announcement about the "new" name (and, really, why would there be), but the aptly named newmiamistadium.com website is now live. The venue is undergoing $400 million in renovations that will include new seating, concession stands and upgraded box seats, all in an effort to get back in the Super Bowl mix. The NFL made it clear that until the stadium was improved, the sport's biggest game wouldn't be coming to South Florida.
As CBS Sports' John Breech wrote two years ago, Miami was a finalist to host Super Bowl 50 and LI, but not under serious consideration once the renovation plans weren't approved in time. San Francisco hosted Super Bowl 50 in February, and Houston will host Super Bowl LI next year. Minnesota was awarded Super Bowl LII in May 2014.
Last August, the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson wrote that the naming rights deal expired in January 2016, "and the Dolphins tell us that Sun Life’s name is coming off the stadium in early February regardless of whether Miami has reached a deal with a new naming rights partner or not."
And that's exactly what happened. But fear not. Jackson adds, "The Dolphins, who are rebranding their facility as a new stadium, expect to have a new stadium name by next August."
In case you're wondering, the stadium is now on its seventh name: Joe Robbie Stadium (1987-1996), Pro Player Park (1996), Pro Player Stadium (1996-2005), Dolphin Stadium (2006-2009), Land Shark Stadium (2009-2010), Sun Life Stadium (2010-2016) and for the time being, New Miami Stadium.
