Hard Rock Stadium – Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Miami Band Forms the U at Halftime

Fanfare Score

Total Score
3.86

Crowd Score

Total Score
3.43

 

The Storm Center

Hard Rock Stadium has been the off-campus home of the Miami Hurricanes since 2008. They moved to the stadium in Miami Lakes when their longtime home, the Orange Bowl, was torn down in order to build the new Marlins Park. Hard Rock seats 74,916 in its football configuration and is unique in that it was completely built with private funds.

The Hurricanes brought a great football tradition with them to Hard Rock Stadium. They have won five NCAA National Football Championships, produced two Heisman Trophy winners (Vinny Testaverde and Geno Toretta) and sent five players on to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The stadium is primarily the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins and the Hurricanes but has also hosted some of the top sports events in the world over the years. This includes five Super Bowls, four BCS-era National Championship games, two World Series, a major tennis tournament and several games of the World Baseball Classic. Future events in the stadium include the 2020 Super Bowl and the 2021 NCAA National Championship Football Game.                  

Food & Beverage 5

While Hard Rock has concession stands which offer the typical stadium fare, it also features several options with a decidedly Latin or South Florida flavor. Among these are Sloppy Joe’s (conch fritters and po’ boys from the Florida Keys), Café Versailles (Cuban sandwiches and empanadas), Fuku (spicy chicken), Novecento (tacos and burritos) and Los Ranchos (churrasco’s and rice with beans). For those who enter the stadium before the noontime kickoff, there is the Breakfast House which features brunch items and mimosas.

Since Hard Rock is not an on-campus facility, alcohol flows freely at games. Hard Rock features more than 30 national brews, plus 16 craft beers from the South Florida area alone. Local brews include Funky Buddha, Due South, Saltwater, Concrete Beach, 26 Degrees and Wynnwood. Bottled beers are $8, and drafts go for $11. A full open-air Craft Beer Deck is located on the 300 level concourse.

Atmosphere 4

The atmosphere at Hurricanes can be a mixed bag. The stadium has done everything possible to make the fan experience a great one. This includes the installation of new seating, the widening of several concourses to improve traffic flow, moving the sidelines 25 yards closer to the stands  and the addition of four huge HD video boards. Most important a canopy roof now covers 92% of the seating area, protecting the fans from both the broiling sun and the frequent tropical downpours that occur in South Florida. This all great except for one thing… everything comes in the teal and orange colors of the Miami Dolphins. The branding is also heavily skewed toward the Dolphins as Dolphin greats are immortalized in statues. You have to look very hard to find any green and orange or any statues of UM greats.

The atmosphere for Hurricane games can primarily be found in the tailgating in the lots surrounding Hard Rock.  Hurricane warning flags fly on virtually every car or motor home and the colors of the day are the “U’s” green and orange. Many fans come early, play hard, eat well and leave after the game without even setting foot in the stadium. It is almost a communal existence.  The band and the cheerleaders circulate throughout the crowd and you will often hear the fight song burst forth from different sectors of the parking lot.

Neighborhood 3

The owners of the Dolphins chose the site of Hard Rock Stadium more than 30 years ago based on the cheap cost of land, its quick access to the Florida Turnpike and I-95 and its location halfway between the population centers of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Unfortunately for UM fans and the team, that is more than an hour north of the school campus in Coral Gables and the clubs of South Beach.

The neighborhoods surrounding the stadium primarily consists of fast food locations, strip malls and a low/middle class residential area. The main entertainment attraction is the Calder Casino located adjacent to the stadium. The lone hotel within walking distance of Hard Rock is the Stadium Hotel, but it is rather dated.

However, if you travel five miles east from the stadium towards the Atlantic beaches you will find a large inventory of hotels to choose from at varying price levels. The Gulfstream Park complex offers a great combination of activities including horse racing, a wide variety of dining opportunities and a shopping mecca.

Our game day advice is to sample one of the many unique food offerings at Hard Rock Stadium, then, if you are not headed back to the campus or South Beach after the game, check out the many coastal entertainment and lodging options. If you are coming in from out of town, flying in through the Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) is much closer to the stadium and less congested than Miami International Airport.

Fans 5

If ratings came out for fan bases, the Hurricane faithful would be near the top. They are known for their chant of “OOOOHHHHHHH…C-A-N-E-S  CANES!” which is equal in volume and frequency to FSU’s Tomahawk Chop chant. You also must realize that the University of Miami has achieved the #1 ranking as a party school by numerous publications for several years. No matter what the score, these folks are going to have a good time. The cheer team (cheerleaders, Sebastian the Ibis and the Band of the Hour) do a great job of coordinating the cheers with the members of the student body.

Access 2

If you are an UM  student, the access to Hard Rock Stadium is horrible, as the school campus is in Coral Gables, more than 18 miles from the stadium. Those miles are on two of the busiest roads in Florida, I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. There is an exit off the Turnpike (#2X 199th Street) that will deposit you directly into the stadium lot. However, the alumni for the University of Miami hail from all over Florida, their drive may be much less frustrating.

One other option to get to Hard Rock Stadium from the Miami area is through public transit. Miami-Dade Transit offers a combination of light rail and bus shuttles to the stadium. Riders should take Metrorail to the Earlington Heights Station, then transfer to Bus Route 297, which goes directly to Hard Rock Stadium. The fare is $4.50 round trip.

Return on Investment 4

Tickets range from $30 – $170. Plan for much higher prices when the opponent is FSU or the University of Florida. Parking in stadium lots is $25. The concession prices are higher than normal but the selection and quality of items on the menu far exceed what is typically found at an NCAA football game.

Extras 4

Sebastian the Ibis is one of the top mascots in the NCAA. He doesn’t hesitate to get up in the stands with the student section to stir up the enthusiasm.

The Hurricanes  Ring of Honor is displayed on the upper bowl of the stadium. It includes players such as Michael Irvin, Warren Sapp, Ray Lewis, Vinny Testaverde, Bernie Kosar, Jim Kelly and Cortez Kennedy .

There is an ironic twist to the naming rights for Hard Rock Stadium. Hard Rock restaurants throughout Florida are owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, prominent supporters of the Florida State Seminoles. The FSU Seminoles are one of the Hurricanes top rivals and an annual opponent during the ACC football season.

Hard Rock Stadium is a major sponsor of public art. The stadium features more than 30 murals, locally known as street art, throughout the facility. Most murals have a sports-related theme, while others are more linked to the culture of South Florida.

Final Thoughts

Hard Rock Stadium is a venue that has stayed current with the times and the owners have been willing to invest whatever funds are necessary to improve the fan experience. The Miami Hurricanes have had one of the most successful college football programs over the last 30 years. Add them together and mix in some of the most exotic concession offerings in football and you have one of the most unique experiences in NCAA football.

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Food and Drink Recommendations

 

Shula’s Steak House

7601 Miami Lakes Drive

Miami Lakes, FL 33014

(305) 820-8102

http://www.donshula.com/


 

 

Denny’s

19780 NW 27th Ave

Miami Gardens, FL 33056

(305) 621-3468

https://locations.dennys.com/FL/MIAMI-GARDENS/


 
 

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Entertainment Recommendations

 

Calder Casino

21001 NW 27th Ave

Miami Gardens, FL 33056

(305) 625-1311

https://www.caldercasino.com/


 

 

Everglades National Park

40001 State Road 9336

Homestead, FL 33034

(305) 242-7700

https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm


 

 

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Lodging Recommendations

 

 

Hampton Inn & Suites Ft. Lauderdale/Miramar

10990 Marks Way

Miramar, FL 33025

(954) 430-5590

http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/hampton-inn-and-suites-ft-lauderdale-miramar-FLLMMHX/index.html


 

 

 

Stadium Hotel

21485 NW 27th Ave

Miami Gardens, FL 33056

(305) 621-5801

http://www.stadiumhotel.com/


 
 
 

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Crowd Reviews

Latest Crowd Reviews

Date: 2019-10-22 09:01:52
By: Legacy Review

Total Score
3.43

Chris Green – Many of the NFL’s biggest stars have come from Miami. It’s a school everyone wants to go to. Hard Rock Stadium and the Hurricanes are still a football experience everyone should have at least once, especially if it’s a marquee match-up.

Stadium Info

Hard Rock Stadium
2267 NW 199th St
Miami Gardens, FL 33056

Miami (FL) Hurricanes website

Hard Rock Stadium website

Year Opened: 1987

Capacity: 74,916

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