Stadium Renovations Could Give Dolphins and Canes More of an Advantage

Last week the South Florida Super Bowl host committee unveiled plans for new renovations to be made to the 23-year-old Dolphin Stadium (its name this week). 

The purpose of the renovations isn't to make the stadium better for its current tenants the Miami Dolphins, Miami Hurricanes, or the Marlins (who won't be tenants come 2012) but to boost their efforts to attract future Super Bowls and host a few games of either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup

But the biggest benefactors in the end would be the 'Phins and 'Canes. From what I've seen based on the renderings, the 'Phins and 'Canes would gain more of a home field advantage.

The renovations include building a roof that would cover the spectators but leave the playing surface open to the elements. I love this idea because while the fans are kept dry and cool, the Dolphins and the Hurricanes would have to play their opponents in either a torrential downpour, or South Florida's infamous heat and humidity.

It's an advantage that both teams already have. I mean, have you been to a game at Dolphin Stadium? It feels like you're in a cast-iron kettle being cooked into "Dolfan" soup. I couldn't begin to imagine what it must feel like to be on the playing field.

What would add to the home field advantage are the renovations to the lower bowl.  Did I say renovations? I actually meant complete reconstruction, because that's their plan. 

The lower bowl would be reconstructed on a lower slope and would extend closer to the playing field. The hope in this would be with fans closer to the playing field, plus a roof covering them, a louder, more intimidating experience for the opposing team to come into.

25 years ago, the Hurricanes and Dolphins had one of the best home field advantages in all of football at the Orange Bowl. It was one of the loudest stadiums in both the NFL and college football, and both teams had considerably long home winning streaks and successful seasons to show this advantage.

It's an advantage they don't currently have at Dolphin Stadium, and one reason is because of the presence of the Marlins.

For the first third of the season, the Dolphins and Canes both have to play on a field with an infield dirt that has already gone through the wear and tear of anywhere from 65-81 Major League Baseball games. This could lead to injuries, kicks and punts taking funny bounces, and I can say with confidence, cost the Dolphins a win against the New England Patriots thanks in part to an Olindo Mare missed field goal that on a normal grass or FieldTurf surface he would've made, back in 2003 when they finished 10-6, one game out of the final playoff spot in the AFC.

The Marlins are also to blame for the distance of the seats from the field of play. Dolphin Stadium's seats are the farthest from the field in the NFL, mainly because they have to be until the Marlins move into their new digs for good. For right now it's the only way they could fit a baseball diamond onto the field.

The Marlins have benefited from this, as Dolphin Stadium is one of the few pitchers' parks in baseball, and will be using just about the same field measurements in their new stadium, but football, where the proximity to the field matters a lot more, was compromised. 

By being so far away from the field of play, the noise from the crowd doesn't seem as loud on the field. Crowd noise matters a lot in football, especially in college, where your defense is hyped up more by the crowd and an opposing quarterback and offensive line are more likely to be intimidated by the crowd noise and make mistakes like missed assignments, interceptions, and false start penalties.

The hope with these new renovations is that a missing component that has made Dolphin Stadium just a sterile place to watch a football game will make it a better place to watch a game for fans of the 'Canes and Gators, and an intimidating place for the opposition.

Let's face it, Dolphin Stadium will never replace the Orange Bowl, but the OB will never be coming back either. If these renovations could at least bring back 10 percent of the magic from the 'Canes and 'Phins' old stomping grounds though, it is something that I'm in favor of, and will be happy to send my tax dollars to bring to fruition.

Love the article? Hate it? Leave a comment, feedback is always welcome. You can find Thomas Galicia on Twitter, @305sportsdude.