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     PRO PLAYER STADIUM  
         
 
Pro Player Stadium is a football and baseball arena located in Miami , Florida . Since 1987, it is serving as a home to the Miami Dolphins and since 1993 to the Florida Marlins. Pro Player is a division of the clothing company which bought the naming rights of the stadium in 1996. At present, even though this clothing company has collapsed and no longer manufactures any Pro Player commodity, the name of the arena remains same. Originally the arena was known as Joe Robbie Stadium. This $115 million infrastructure is indeed the first of its kind to be built with the private funds.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the Stadium was carried out on December 1, 1985 . The stadium saw its inaugural on August 16, 1987 when the Dolphins invited the Chicago Bears for a preseason challenge. The stadium hosted the first baseball game on 11 th March 1988 .
  
 

The contest took place between the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers. On March 7, 1990 multi billionaire Wayne Huizenga became the proprietor of the stadium. Initially he bought the stadium to bring Major League Baseball to South Florida . His efforts borne fruits in 1991, when South Florida was rewarded a National League expansion franchise. Huizenga deserves the entire credit for the up gradation and revitalization of the stadium and making it one of the excellent sports and entertainment facility in the United States . Preceding the 1993 season, the arena was completely overhauled which consumed around $10 million. The renovation was also done in order to upgrade the stadium so that it would be able to host the baseball games. The stadium was also equipped with a synthetic warning track to absorb the water and a new Prescription Athletic Turf (PAT). The latest drainage system in the arena ensures a smooth, dry playing surface.


The backing of the Pro Player Stadium largely depends upon the authorization of the executive suites and club seats on a 10-year basis. The cost of executive suites cost from $30,000-$90,000 per year and the club seats cost vary from $800-$1,800 per year. The state of the art facility has 75,000 orange and teal seats that enclose the field. With its spherical ramps and escalators accessibility to any seat is trouble-free. Two video boards are located above the rim of the upper deck of each end zone. The stadium exhibits its usefulness by hosting world class events every year. Along with Miami Dolphins football and Florida Marlins baseball, the stadium also serves as a home to the FedEx Orange Bowl. In 1999, the arena hosted the Super Bowl XXXIII. The FedEx Orange Bowl 2005 National Championship will mark the seventh Orange Bowl at Pro Player Stadium.

DETAILS:

  • The stadium offers the parking for 14,970 cars and 254 buses plus a helipad.
  • All second-deck outfield seats are covered by canvas and are not used for baseball.
  • Outfield wall has many corners and gaps that help to make interesting bounces and tough angles for outfielders.
  • Left-field wall is called the "Teal Monster."
 
 

SEATING CAPACITY:

•  Baseball:
47,662 ( 1993 )
42,531 ( 2001 )
•  Football:
75,000