A refurbished Sun Life Stadium is "already beautiful after only one phase of a two- or three-phase reconstruction," according to Armando Salguero of the MIAMI HERALD. What might just "make this new iteration of Sun Life finally feel like a worthy home for the Dolphins is going to be the noise generated" by a crowd that will be "closer to the action than ever." Prior to the renovations, "the closest fans used to sit was 80 feet from the field." Now fans are "56 feet from the actual playing surface." There are "nine new rows of seats that span both sidelines that never existed before." Dolphins President & CEO Tom Garfinkel said, "This is actually a pretty loud stadium to begin with. We made sure as we designed the changes, we wanted to make it louder not less so. When the roof canopy and the video boards come on it will tend to keep even more noise in.” Salguero notes in some previous years, "as many as 9,000 seats the Dolphins sold on a season-ticket basis went to brokers." The Dolphins "did a brilliant thing in relocating season-ticket holders into seats that in the past were bought by brokers." And in so doing, the team is "primed to offer the least number of tickets on the secondary market" in the NFL in '15, as season-ticket holders are "much less likely to resell" (MIAMI HERALD, 8/28).
CHANGE IS GOOD: In West Palm Beach, Hal Habib notes the media on Thursday got an "extensive sneak preview of Sun Life Stadium." New aqua seats are in, giving the stadium a "cooler, more 'Miami' feel." The renovations include wider concourses, "nearly limitless concession options" and "elbow and leg room that would make airline passengers jealous." The remodel is full of "luxury," especially "if you’re a high roller." What fans will experience in '15 "represents Phase I." By the start of the '16 season, Phase II "will be complete with what arguably will be an even more striking change: a canopy to protect most fans from the elements, new, giant HD video boards in each corner of the stadium and a new audio system." The renovation "was supposed to cost" Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross $400M. But Garfinkel said that they are "already looking" at a $425M price tag "that could go higher." Garfinkel confirmed that all 47,000 season tickets "have been sold." Habib notes all the exclusive boxes, some costing $600,000 per season, "were quickly snapped up" (PALM BEACH POST, 8/28).
DEEP BLUE SEATS: In Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Davis writes though the venue is "still a work in progress," it "looks and feels like a new stadium." Six South Florida-based restaurants "have been added to the food options." Some of the returning concessionaires "will be available at more locations." Two new tap rooms on the 100 level "feature 16 Florida craft beers on draft." Garfinkel said that season tickets now include "luxury midfield suites that go for $400,000 to $600,000 per year." Davis notes "well-heeled fans in that area not only have access to exclusive 72 Club but can stand behind the Dolphins' bench if they desire" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 8/28).
