Some of Hard Rock Stadium's South parking lot has already been transformed for the tennis eventHARD ROCK STADIUM
The ATP/WTA Miami Open is moving to Hard Rock Stadium next year, and ticket sales are 22% "ahead of mid-December last year; and the number of tournament-long passes sold thus far has already exceeded last year’s total three months before the opening match," according to Michelle Kaufman of the MIAMI HERALD. Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium Senior VP & CMO Jeremy Walls said, "We’re well ahead of pace, and the market has responded really well to the move." Kaufman noted with the help of an "aggressive ticket sales effort, the Miami Open has tapped into" the Dolphins’ fan base, and also "reached many new fans north of the Miami-Dade County line." Walls: "A majority of the Crandon Park season-ticket holders have chosen to come back, and on top of that, we have a lot of tennis fans in Broward and Palm Beach counties, and they are now able to come easier because it’s a lot closer." He added that the ease of parking and stadium’s multiple entry/exit points have also "helped ticket sales." Construction of the new site is "on schedule to be ready for the tournament," which runs March 18-31. Much of the South parking lot has been "transformed into a tennis plaza, with paved walkways, fountains and extensive landscaping surrounding 12 match courts, which are well under construction." Eighteen practice courts "will be added" to the 13,800-seat venue after the Dolphins' season is over (MIAMI HERALD, 12/15).
