The Dolphins on Thursday played their first game at the refurbished Hard Rock Stadium, and it "had the look and feel of a magnificent makeover done right," according to Greg Cote of the MIAMI HERALD. Two "major facets of this makeover -- the 'shade canopy' that will protect a vast majority of fans from sun or rain and the gigantic video screens positioned at the four corners of the field -- register as enormous upgrades." Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross "was the winner" on Thursday "far more than" the Dolphins or their preseason opponent Titans were. Cote: "Best of all about this new(ish) stadium? [Taxpayers] didn't pay a dime." Hard Rock Stadium is a "righteous building," and the new HD video screens are "so stunningly clear that fans will be tempted to never look at the actual field" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/2). In West Palm Beach, Joe Schad wrote Hard Rock Stadium "looks amazing" and is "world-class" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 9/1). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde notes the $500M spent on renovations is "good news for South Florida," but the "better news remains how this money came from Ross's wallet, not public coffers." Ross is "showing fellow owners there's another, riskier way than being a billionaire suckling at the public wallet." Ross "put his fingerprints all over this stadium." Ross said, "Whatever I do, I want to be best in class. That's what this (stadium) is about" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 9/2).
WORK TO BE DONE: In Miami, Adam Beasley notes a "bit of work remains" on the stadium's renovations. Dolphins President & CEO Tom Garfinkel said that workers "still need to install heat-resistant translucent panels on the west and north ends of the shade canopy," and the remaining construction "will be finished by the Sept. 25 regular-season opener" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/2). Garfinkel before Thursday's game said, "It's not completely done. We'll have some pardon-our-dust signs on the video boards" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 9/2). In Miami, Lance Dixon details five of the "most impressive features from Hard Rock Stadium's debut" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/2).
