Where would you rank Hard Rock Stadium to other Stadiums?

[BahamaFinFan78]

If you are trying to save a few bucks, what is the best option for parking to go to the stadium?

 

[1972forever]

I hear you all on the orange bowl. But... a few years ago when UM beat Notre Dame that stadium was ROCKING

Joe Robbie stadium opened in 1987. So basically in 35 years, you can point to one game in which the stadium was rocking. While I won’t argue that point. I can think of over 30 times the old Orange Bowl was rocking just as much.

To this day, I have never seen any stadium as alive and the excitement as high as the Monday night game in the Orange Bowl when the Dolphins beat the undefeated Bears in 1985. I still get a big smile on my face when I remember all the dejected Bears fans walking out of the stadium after that game.

 

[DolfanISS]

Last time I went I gave a kid 15 bucks for parking and he put me in his apartment complex. I don’t think we was supposed to but we were running late so I jumped on it lol. It was a rental anyway haha!!

I’ve just about always stated in Lauderdale and driven to the games. Haven’t been in years (2003).

 

[rafael]

The Orange Bowl was very intimidating. The stands were steep and felt rickety by today's standards. It was bleacher seating. The bathroom urinals were troughs. If you were ever on the field when the stadium was really rocking, you had the sensation that a wave of humanity was about to fall on you. The Orange Bowl wasn't comfortable and had no amenities, but it was a hot and hostile place to play. IMO it was part of what made playing the Dolphins at home a tough thing to do for so many years. The fans who post here wishing for a roof would have hated the Orange Bowl.

Hard Rock is much more comfortable. The seats have backs and are wider. The bathrooms are nicer. There are huge screens. If you want out of the heat, you can go into several lounge areas and still watch the game on TVs. I've been fortunate enough to attend a few Dolphin games in the sky boxes. It's almost like being at home except that somebody catered it and you can look out the window and watch the game. And you also have other TVs in there so you could keep track of multiple games. As a fan experience, Hard Rock is much nicer, but you lost a bit of that old time game day atmosphere.

 

[1972forever]

The Orange Bowl was very intimidating. The stands were steep and felt rickety by today's standards. It was bleacher seating. The bathroom urinals were troughs. If you were ever on the field when the stadium was really rocking, you had the sensation that a wave of humanity was about to fall on you. The Orange Bowl wasn't comfortable and had no amenities, but it was a hot and hostile place to play. IMO it was part of what made playing the Dolphins at home a tough thing to do for so many years. The fans who post here wishing for a roof would have hated the Orange Bowl.

Hard Rock is much more comfortable. The seats have backs and are wider. The bathrooms are nicer. There are huge screens. If you want out of the heat, you can go into several lounge areas and still watch the game on TVs. I've been fortunate enough to attend a few Dolphin games in the sky boxes. It's almost like being at home except that somebody catered it and you can look out the window and watch the game. And you also have other TVs in there so you could keep track of multiple games. As a fan experience, Hard Rock is much nicer, but you lost a bit of that old time game day atmosphere.

For comfort I agree, Hard Rock is better than the Orange Bowl. For a total football atmosphere and excitement, Hard Rock can’t come close to comparing to the Orange Bowl.

 

[AyyJayy]

Lower seats and visitor side does have issues but upper level is in shade.

The area is not in the best neighborhood but luckily there is a large police presence and near a main avenue. Not many hotels nearby tho

Miami gardens/hialeah is not the worst area. There are plenty of worse places, I wouldn't necessarily worry that much in that area. Maybe its just me .

 

[1972forever]

Miami gardens/hialeah is not the worst area. There are plenty of worse places, I wouldn't necessarily worry that much in that area. Maybe its just me .

I never felt unsafe attending games at Hard Rock Stadium because of the police presence and the fact as a season ticket holder, I was able to park in the parking lot near the stadium.

Yet the crime rate in Miami Gardens is higher than 82% of the rest of the cities in Florida. So as long as you are aware of your surroundings and you don’t hang out in the city for long after the game, it not a terrible place to have a stadium.

 

[robfila]

I stayed at the hotel right by the stadium within walking distance. There was a horse track behind it. It wasn't too bad

 

[Dthrill_08]

Miami gardens/hialeah is not the worst area. There are plenty of worse places, I wouldn't necessarily worry that much in that area. Maybe its just me .

There are definitely worse areas but remember, it used to be called Carol City before. If you go further west from the stadium it's not in the best of neighborhoods. The stadium is no where near Hialeah. Not even remotely close haha

 

[Dthrill_08]

I never felt unsafe attending games at Hard Rock Stadium because of the police presence and the fact as a season ticket holder, I was able to park in the parking lot near the stadium.

Yet the crime rate in Miami Gardens is higher than 82% of the rest of the cities in Florida. So as long as you are aware of your surroundings and you don’t hang out in the city for long after the game, it not a terrible place to have a stadium.

Yup. We called it murder city but thr stadium is real safe except for thr few drunken fights here and there but the police presence along is large.