Hard Rock Stadium facts for kids

The user wants me to rewrite the provided MediaWiki text about Hard Rock Stadium for children aged 12-15. I need to adhere to all the strict formatting and content guidelines: - ONLY MediaWiki markup. No Markdown. - Headings: `== ==`, `=== ===`, `==== ====`. - Bold: `bold text`. - Italic: `italic text`. - Lists: `* item` (no space after asterisk). - Links: `internal link`, `external`.

- Images: `

caption

` for separate images, no `thumb` for images in templates.

- Templates: `Template:Template name`. - DO NOT change height/width in gallery tags. - DO NOT extract images from gallery templates. - DO NOT change curly brackets to square brackets for templates. - DO NOT place `

` at the end. (The original text doesn't have `

`, so I don't need to add it, but if I did, it would be at the top).

- DO NOT enclose the answer in markdown. - DO NOT remove or change categories.

- All SEPARATE wiki image tags must include `thumb`. Images inside `

` or `

` do not get `thumb`.

- If sections with images are deleted, move images to a special "Images" section at the bottom using the specified `<gallery>` format. - DO NOT use images not present in the input. - DO NOT change image file names. - Start with a LEAD section (introduction without a heading). - Max 1500 words for the article body (excluding infobox/markup). - Paragraphs <= 5 lines, sentences <= 20 words. Avoid jargon or explain it. - Kid-friendly, educational, age-appropriate (12-15). - Headings: `== Main Topic ==`, `=== Subtopics ===`, `==== Details ====`. Descriptive, keywords, 60-70 char limit for main headings. - Self-check for Markdown.

Let's go through the original text section by section and apply the rules.

1. Infobox:

• Keep `Template:Infobox venue ...` as is. No `thumb` needed for images inside infobox.

2. Lead Section:

• Rewrite the initial paragraph to be simpler and more engaging for kids.
• Condense the list of events.

3. History:

• Conception and construction: Simplify the language. Keep the key facts: private financing, Joe Robbie's vision for baseball, wide field. Remove specific distances (90ft, 55ft) as they might be too detailed. Keep the location change from unincorporated to Miami Gardens.
• Miami Dolphins: Simplify the first game details, strike details, and specific game scores (except the 42-0). Keep the "Miracle in Miami" mention.
• Miami Hurricanes football: Simplify. Keep the contract length and the move from Orange Bowl.
• Florida Marlins: This section is very long and detailed about the stadium's shortcomings for baseball. I need to drastically cut this down.

* Focus on: they played there, won 2 World Series. * Remove detailed complaints about sight lines, heat, specific player quotes (e.g., "couldn't wait to go on the road"). * Condense "Baseball renovations and configurations" into the main Marlins section or a general "Stadium Upgrades" section. The detailed Daktronics board sizes and ribbon board length can be removed. The orange to aqua seat change can be kept briefly.

• 2015 renovation: Merge this with the "Stadium Upgrades" section if possible, or keep it concise. Focus on the canopy, capacity reduction, and private funding. Remove details about PSL, luxury packages, pod types.
• Tennis: Simplify the move from Crandon Park, the reason (lawsuit), and the new setup. Keep the gondola mention.
• Seating capacity: The tables are okay, but the surrounding text about specific seat types (19in, 21in) and exact suite numbers can be simplified or removed. The parking details can be removed as they are not critical for kids.
• Permanent seating: This section is mostly redundant with "Seating capacity" and contains too much detail. I will remove it and integrate any essential info into the "Seating Capacity" summary.

4. Events:

• NFL: Simplify the Super Bowl details. Keep the table. Condense the rain issue and the NFL's demands. Explain the canopy's purpose simply. Keep the heat issue and Stephen Ross's solution.
• College football: Simplify the bowl games and attendance records. Keep the tables. Remove the Shula Bowl details as it's less relevant to the stadium's main history.
• WrestleMania XXVIII: Keep this, it's interesting for kids. Simplify the details and attendance/revenue figures.
• Baseball (Events section): This is largely redundant with the "Florida Marlins" history section. I will remove this entire "Baseball" subsection from the "Events" section. The World Series and other series wins are already covered or can be briefly mentioned in the Marlins history. The detailed complaints about playing conditions are already targeted for removal. The specific player quotes (Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr., Roy Halladay) are interesting facts and can be moved to the Marlins section if space allows, or dropped if not. Given the word limit, I'll drop them.
• Concerts: The table is extremely long. I will remove the full table and instead summarize that many famous artists have performed there, perhaps listing a few examples.
• Soccer: Keep this section. Simplify the match details and attendance. Keep the Copa América and FIFA World Cup sections and their tables as they are future/recent major events.
• Monster Jam: Keep this, simplify. The table can be kept as it's concise.
• Boxing: Keep this, simplify.
• Other events: Keep this, simplify the list. Remove specific VFL details. Keep the COVID-19 usage and Formula 1.
• In film: Keep this, it's interesting.

5. Naming rights:

• Keep this section, it's a unique aspect of the stadium. Simplify the explanations for each name change. Keep the table.

6. Categories:

• Keep all categories as they are.

7. See also:

• Keep as is.

Word Count Check: I need to be mindful of the 1500-word limit. Removing detailed baseball complaints, large concert tables, and overly specific technical details will help.

Image Placement:

• `
  

  Joe Robbie Stadium during its construction in April 1987
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  The stadium before a Miami Dolphins game against the Cincinnati Bengals in December 2007
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  The stadium in February 2012
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  The stadium prior a November 2017 game between the Miami Hurricanes and Notre Dame, won by the Hurricanes 41-8 before 65,303 fans
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  Dolphin Stadium shown prepping for a Miami Dolphins game with Florida Marlins baseball gridlines visible on the field in August 2007
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  The stadium during a Florida Marlins game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in August 2008
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  The interior of Land Shark Stadium in September 2009 when the Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins, and Miami Hurricanes were all playing there simultaneously prior to the Marlins' 2012 move to LoanDepot Park
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  The Miami Dolphins hosting the Buffalo Bills at the stadium in November 2007
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  The Miami Dolphins hosting the New York Jets at the stadium in September 2012
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  Jennifer Lopez and Shakira performing in the Super Bowl LIV halftime show at the stadium in February 2020
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  Interior of updated Hard Rock Stadium during a Miami Dolphins game against the Cleveland Browns in December 2022
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  A U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter flying over the stadium in August 2011
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  A record at the time, 78,363 fans packed Sun Life Stadium for WrestleMania XXVIII in April 2012
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  El Clásico at Hard Rock Stadium in July 2017
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.
• `
  

  Hard Rock Stadium during the national anthem before the Miami Dolphins host the Cleveland Browns in November 2022
  ` - Keep, add `thumb`.

The two images from the infobox (`Hard rock stadium florida logo.svg` and `200127-H-PX819-0092.jpg`) are not separate wiki image tags, so they don't get `thumb`. The instruction says "If they belonged to the section you deleted, move them to the special image section". I am not deleting the infobox, so these images stay there. The instruction also says "Make sure all SEPARATE wiki image tags iclude the `thumb` directive". This applies to all `` tags that are not part of a template like `

` or `

`. I will add `thumb` to all of them.

The `Hard rock stadium florida logo.svg` and `200127-H-PX819-0092.jpg` are in the infobox. The instruction says "NEVER extract images from the gallery templates Template:Gallery ...". It also says "Do NOT add the thumb directive to images inside other templates like Template:Gallery ... or Template:Infobox ...". So, these two images will remain in the infobox without `thumb`.

The special image section at the bottom is for images from *deleted* sections. Since I'm not deleting any sections that contain images *not* already in the infobox or as standalone `[[File:]]` tags, I don't need to create that section. Oh, wait, the prompt says "If they belonged to the section you deleted, move them to the special image section at the bottom of the article with the following format:". The two images `Hard rock stadium florida logo.svg` and `200127-H-PX819-0092.jpg` are in the infobox. The infobox is not a section I'm deleting. So, I will not move them.

However, the prompt also says: "NEVER delete original article images. If they belonged to the section you deleted, move them to the special image section at the bottom of the article with the following format: |"

This implies that if I *don't* delete a section, but an image is *not* a `thumb` image or in a gallery, I should still handle it. The two images in the infobox are not standalone `[[File:]]` tags. They are part of the infobox template. The instruction "Make sure all SEPARATE wiki image tags iclude the `thumb` directive" refers to `` tags that are *not* inside templates. The infobox images are inside a template. So, they stay as they are.

I will add the `==Images for kids== No, wait. The instruction says "If they belonged to the section you deleted, move them to the special image section". I am not deleting the infobox. So, I should not move them. The infobox images are fine where they are. The only images that need `thumb` are the standalone `` tags.

Let's re-read carefully:

"Make sure all SEPARATE wiki image tags iclude the `thumb` directive

. Do NOT add the thumb directive to images inside other templates like Template:Gallery ... or Template:Infobox ..." This means all `` that are *not* inside `

` or `

` must have `|thumb|`.

The images in the infobox are `logo_image` and `image`. These are parameters *within* the infobox template, not separate `[[File:]]` tags. So, they do not get `thumb`.

"NEVER delete original article images. If they belonged to the section you deleted, move them to the special image section at the bottom of the article with the following format:". I am not deleting any sections that contain `[[File:]]` images. All `[[File:]]` images are associated with sections I am keeping (History, Events). So, I will keep them in their respective sections and add `|thumb|` to them. The two images in the infobox are not `[[File:]]` tags themselves, but parameters. So they stay in the infobox. Therefore, I do not need to create the `==Images for kids==

Final check on word count. I'll aim to be concise.

```wikitext

Hard Rock Stadium

Hard Rock Stadium in January 2020
Former names	List Joe Robbie Stadium (1987–1996) Pro Player Park (1996) Pro Player Stadium (1996–2005) Dolphins Stadium (2005–2006) Dolphin Stadium (2006–2009) Land Shark Stadium (2009–2010) Sun Life Stadium (2010–2016) New Miami Stadium (2016) Hard Rock Stadium (2016–present)
Address	347 Don Shula Drive
Location	Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.
Coordinates	25°57′29″N 80°14′20″W / 25.95806°N 80.23889°W / 25.95806; -80.23889
Parking	26,718 cars
Owner	Stephen M. Ross
Capacity	American Football: 64,767 Tennis: 14,000 Original: 75,000
Record attendance	Football: 80,120 (2013 BCS National Championship Game) Baseball: 67,498 (1997 World Series Game 6)
Surface	Tifway 419 Bermuda grass
Construction
Broke ground	December 1, 1985
Opened	August 16, 1987 (1987-08-16)
Construction cost	US $115 million ($313 million in 2022 dollars )
Architect	HOK
Project manager	George A. Fuller Company
Structural engineer	Bliss & Nyitray Inc.
Services engineer	Blum Consulting Engineers
General contractor	Huber, Hunt & Nichols
Tenants
Miami Dolphins (NFL) (1987–present) Russell Athletic Bowl (NCAA) (1990–2000) Florida Marlins (MLB) (1993–2011) Orange Bowl (NCAA) (1996–present) Florida Atlantic Owls (NCAA) (2001–2002) Miami Hurricanes (NCAA) (2008–present) Miami Open (Tennis) (2019–present)

Hard Rock Stadium is a huge sports and entertainment place in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States. It's the home field for the Miami Dolphins, an NFL team, and the Miami Hurricanes, a college football team from the University of Miami.

This stadium has hosted many big events, including six Super Bowl games, two World Series baseball championships, and several college football championship games. It also hosts the yearly Orange Bowl college football game and the Miami Open tennis tournament. Since 2022, the area around the stadium has even hosted the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix car race. The stadium will also be a venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The stadium first opened in 1987 as Joe Robbie Stadium. Over the years, it has had many different names like Pro Player Stadium and Sun Life Stadium. In 2016, it became Hard Rock Stadium after a deal with Hard Rock Cafe Inc.

History of the Stadium

Building the Stadium

Joe Robbie Stadium being built in April 1987

For 21 seasons, the Miami Dolphins played at the Orange Bowl. But in 1976, the city wanted to charge a lot more rent. So, the team's owner, Joe Robbie, decided to build a new stadium. What made this stadium special was that it was the first big sports stadium in the U.S. built entirely with private money, not government funds.

Joe Robbie also thought a Major League Baseball (MLB) team would eventually come to South Florida. Because of this, the stadium was built with a wider field than usual for football. This made it easy to change the stadium for baseball or soccer.

When it opened in 1987, the stadium was in an area of Miami-Dade County that wasn't officially a city. Today, it's part of Miami Gardens, Florida, which became a city in 2003.

Miami Dolphins Home Games

The stadium before a Miami Dolphins game in December 2007

The stadium from above in February 2012

The Dolphins played their first game here on August 16, 1987, against the Chicago Bears. Their first regular season NFL game was on October 11, 1987, a big 42–0 win against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Dolphins have played eight playoff games at the stadium. They won five of these games. A famous game here was the "Miracle in Miami" in 2018, where the Dolphins scored a touchdown on the very last play to beat the New England Patriots.

Miami Hurricanes Football

The stadium prior to a November 2017 game between the Miami Hurricanes and Notre Dame

Since 2008, Hard Rock Stadium has been the home field for the Miami Hurricanes college football team. The Hurricanes are a very successful college team, having won five national championships. The university signed a 25-year deal to play at the stadium until 2033. Before this, the Hurricanes played at the Miami Orange Bowl for many years.

Florida Marlins Baseball

Dolphin Stadium ready for a Miami Dolphins game with Florida Marlins baseball lines still showing in August 2007

The stadium during a Florida Marlins game in August 2008

From 1993 to 2011, the stadium was also the home of the Florida Marlins baseball team. Joe Robbie had designed the stadium to be able to host baseball games easily. In 1990, Wayne Huizenga bought part of the stadium and helped bring a Major League Baseball team to South Florida. The Marlins started playing in 1993 and won two World Series titles in 1997 and 2003.

Even though it was designed for baseball, it was still mainly a football stadium. This meant some seats were very far from the baseball field. Also, because South Florida is very hot and humid in the summer, the stadium could get very uncomfortable for baseball games. The Marlins often played night games to avoid the heat. In 2012, the Marlins moved to their own baseball-only stadium, LoanDepot Park.

Stadium Upgrades

The inside of Land Shark Stadium in September 2009 when the Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins, and Miami Hurricanes were all playing there

After the Marlins left, the stadium went through a big $350 million renovation starting in 2015. This project added new video screens in each corner and a large open-air canopy. The canopy helps protect fans from rain and sun, but it doesn't cover the playing field itself. The renovation also reduced the seating capacity from 75,000 to 65,000 seats. The old orange seats were replaced with aqua-colored ones.

Tennis Tournaments

In 2019, the Miami Open tennis tournament moved to Hard Rock Stadium. To host the tournament, 29 permanent tennis courts were built in the stadium's parking lots. The main stadium itself becomes the center court, with temporary stands built on the football field. This move was popular with players and fans because of the large amount of space available.

In 2020, a SkyView gondola (like a cable car) was opened at the stadium. It gives great views of the stadium area and the Miami skyline.

Seating Capacity

The stadium has 65,326 permanent seats for football and soccer. This includes regular seats, larger club seats, and executive suites. There are also special accessible seating areas for people with disabilities. The stadium has a large parking area that can hold over 24,000 cars.

Major Events Held at the Stadium

NFL Games

The Miami Dolphins playing the Buffalo Bills in November 2007

The Miami Dolphins playing the New York Jets in September 2012

Jennifer Lopez and Shakira performing at the Super Bowl LIV halftime show in February 2020

Inside the updated Hard Rock Stadium during a Miami Dolphins game in December 2022

Hard Rock Stadium has hosted six Super Bowls, which are the championship games of the NFL. It also hosted the Pro Bowl in 2010, which is an all-star game for NFL players.

One Super Bowl in 2007 was affected by heavy rain, causing many lower-level seats to be empty in the second half. To prevent future issues and host more big games, the stadium underwent major renovations, including the addition of the canopy over the seats.

The stadium's field runs east-west, which meant the north stands got a lot of direct sun and heat early in the football season. To make fans more comfortable, the Dolphins' owner asked the NFL to schedule all September home games to start later in the afternoon.

College Football Games

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flying over the stadium in August 2011

Besides being home to the Miami Hurricanes, the stadium has hosted two BCS National Championship Games. The 2013 game between Alabama and Notre Dame set a new attendance record for the stadium with 80,120 fans.

Since 1996, the stadium has also been the site of the famous Orange Bowl college football game. It will also host the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship.

WrestleMania XXVIII

A record 78,363 fans packed Sun Life Stadium for WrestleMania XXVIII in April 2012

On April 1, 2012, the stadium hosted WrestleMania XXVIII, a huge professional wrestling event by WWE. This was the second WrestleMania held outdoors. The main event featured The Rock defeating John Cena. Over 78,000 fans attended, and the event made over $100 million for Miami.

Soccer Matches

El Clásico at Hard Rock Stadium in July 2017

Many international soccer matches have been played at Hard Rock Stadium, especially games featuring teams from Central or South America. This is because many people from those regions live in South Florida.

Some notable matches include:

• FC Barcelona vs. C.D. Guadalajara in 2011 (Guadalajara won 4–1).
• Brazil vs. Honduras in 2013 (Brazil won 5–0), which set a new attendance record for a soccer match at the stadium with 71,124 fans.
• El Clásico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in 2017 (Barcelona won 3–2).

The stadium also hosted several matches for the 2024 Copa América, including the final game. It will also host seven matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. During the World Cup, the stadium will be called "Miami Stadium" because of FIFA's rules about corporate names.

2024 Copa América Matches

Date	Team	Goals	Team	Goals	Fans
June 23, 2024	Uruguay	3	Panama	1	33,425
June 29, 2024	Peru	0	Argentina	2	64,972
July 14, 2024	Argentina	1	Colombia	0	65,300

Concerts and Other Events

Hard Rock Stadium has hosted many famous music artists and bands for concerts, including Paul McCartney, U2, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, and Bad Bunny.

It has also hosted other events like:

• Monster Jam (monster truck shows) until 2015.
• Boxing matches, including fights with Canelo Álvarez and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
• Australian rules football exhibition matches.
• High School State Football Championships.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was used as a drive-in movie theater and a COVID-19 testing site.
• Since 2018, it has hosted the large hip-hop music festival, Rolling Loud.

In Movies

Three movies have been filmed at Hard Rock Stadium:

• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), starring Jim Carrey.
• Any Given Sunday (1999), directed by Oliver Stone.
• Marley and Me (2008), starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston.

Stadium Names Over Time

Hard Rock Stadium during the national anthem before a Miami Dolphins game in November 2022

The stadium has changed its name many times since it opened.

• It was first called Joe Robbie Stadium from 1987 to 1996, named after the Dolphins' owner.
• Then it became Pro Player Park and Pro Player Stadium from 1996 to 2005, after a sports apparel company.
• It was briefly called Dolphins Stadium and Dolphin Stadium from 2005 to 2009.
• For a short time in 2009, it was Land Shark Stadium, named after a beer brand.
• From 2010 to 2016, it was known as Sun Life Stadium, after a financial company.
• During renovations in 2016, it was temporarily called New Miami Stadium.
• Since August 2016, it has been known as Hard Rock Stadium, after Hard Rock Cafe International.

See also

In Spanish: Hard Rock Stadium para niños

• List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums
• List of American football stadiums by capacity
• Lists of stadiums