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Stadium #23 Sun Life Stadium Miami Gardens, FL |
Seattle
Seahawks vs. Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins Stadium November 9, 2008 21 - 19 Win |
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| Main Page | Race to 31 | Miami Dolphins ProShop | My Blog |
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NFL Stadium Reviews:                                 RETURN Free 2011 Fantasy Football Cheatsheets |
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my other visit to |
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Stadium Vitals Built: 1987 Capacity: 76,500 seats Playing Surface: Natural Grass Draft Beer: $7.00 Hot Dog: $5.00 Stadium Parking: $40.00 |
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LifeStadium Address 2269 Dan Marino Boulevard Miami Gardens, FL 33056 305-623-6100 Get Directions |
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Stadium Review 
- The Olive BranchSun Life Stadium is home to the Miami Dolphins franchise with a storied history of NFL success and a proud nation of die hard supporters. Now although culturally, the phish are my sworn enemy, due certain loyalties to a rival up north (you guys know I'm a die hard Bills fan), as a self-appointed ambassador of the NFL product I love, I realized putting my home team bias on hold and embracing the Miami Dolphins franchise, if only for a day, is the right thing to do. As it turns out, embracing the culture of south Florida football, including some fantastic tailgating and the fine fans I encountered, was much easier than even I would have expected. If you think about it, Miami has it all. Great weather, an excellent NFL facility, and let's face it, a team that's on the rise after years of cellar dwelling in the AFC East along side my Buffalo Bills. It's the warmth of the south Florida fan and the support of a fan-friendly organization that makes Miami so damned tough to hate.  I arrived in Miami just before 9:00am with Jason, who also accompanied
me to Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego last year. Donning my number
23 Ronnie Brown jersey, I briefly noted the parallelism between the
number on my chest and the fact that Sun Life Stadium would be my 23rd
NFL venue on the Quest for 31. As we parked the car, I was amazed to
find that each parking space actually has a 10'x10' tailgating area
that's clearly marked located behind the space. It's worth mentioning
that Sun Life Stadium is the only stadium in the NFL (that I've seen)
that actually sets aside this type of tailgating real estate for it's fans. Some franchises
are so concerned with boosting their own concession sales that they
actually install measures to discourage fan tailgating in and around the
facility, so this is a significant gesture on the part of the Miami Dolphins.
 I found the parking lot to be easily accessible from main roads. There
were plenty of spaces available and plenty of port-a-john facilities
located throughout the parking area on gameday. To ensure a good
spot in the better tailgating areas, it's best to purchase a parking pass in advance, but you can also
pay for parking on gameday if necessary. The Dolphins also host a great NFL
experience for the kids that allows them to participate in pass, punt
and kick drills, jump around in inflatable bouncers, and test the true
limitations of their natural athletic ability. Parents will find plenty
of shaded lounge areas nearby (for sipping on cocktails or debating the
finer points of the Wildcat formation), as the kids are thoroughly
entertained with their own activities including facepaint
artists stationed in the area. As for Tailgating, I hooked up with the pros from
Finatics.com, providers of the premiere
tailgating experience in south Florida. The Finatics are a diverse group
of Dolphin fans, including seasoned Dolphin supporters (folks that have
followed Miami since the 1970's), modern era fans, and transplants from
up north. These folks are extremely knowledgeable, well connected, and
fantastic hosts. We ate well, we drank well, we were thoroughly
entertained. It was definitely a warm reception all around. As I walked through the parking lot, I noticed fans were incredibly respectful and welcoming. Offers for beer and food were more than we could entertain, but being the true Quester that I am, I attempted to field every one. We ate banana pancakes and plantains with Robbie and Dave from Hallandale Beach, pulled pork sandwiches and shrimp kabobs from Alan and Steve, and popped in on a parking lot pig roast with Davy and Paully. There was no end to the creativity that was Miami Dolphins Tailgating. Sun Life Stadium itself is an equally impressive facility. Host to Super Bowl XLI and Super Bowl XLIV, special renovations were undertaken in preparation for the Super Bowl to make this aging facility  more conducive to the needs of
the modern fan. There are several stadiums throughout that league that
could actually benefit from the lessons learned in Miami. Instead of
demolishing and building a monster facility, expansion projects like the
one at Sun Life Stadium can actually prolong the relevance and usability
of these older facilities, saving the organization and taxpayer the
expense of a complete rebuild. Prior to the renovations, Sun Life Stadium was much like many of the other older venues in the NFL. Tight
concourses made for crowded lines at concession stands and a scoreboard
the size of a my flatscreen TV at home, hosted postage stamp sized
replays that you had to squint to to see. The 2007 renovations opened up
the concourses, expanded the suites, and provided the common areas that
have been a hugely successful in many of the monster facilities built in
recent years. The food is fairly standard, but there is a noticeable
Hispanic influence in the available selections. Empanadas, frozen
sangria, and other local delights dot the menu, but most intriguing are
the "arepas" that can be found in specialty stands in the concourse. An arepa is part cornbread pancake and part grilled cheese sandwich, as
mozzarella cheese is melted between two circular corn bread cakes ...
definitely worth a try. As for the game, the Dolphins handled their business in what could
easily have been a trap game against a weaker opponent. Chad Pennington,
Ronnie Brown, and Ricky Williams ran the Wildcat formation to
perfection, producing 21 points en route to a much deserved 21 - 19 win
over the visiting Seattle Seahawks. The seats I scored from TicketCity.com were
excellent and the atmosphere electric. Ted Ginn Jr's touchdown catch in
the first quarter set the tone for the day as Miami battled to maintain
it's position with the pack in the AFC East. With a solid quarterback
under center, a ground game that grinds out the clock, and their
traditionally stingy, solid play on defense, the Dolphins have once
again proven that they are a force to be reckoned with in the AFC East. |
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| City of Miami Local Information | |
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Top Tourist Attractions: South Beach (Beaches during the day, Clubs at night) Everglades Tour on an Airboat Key West Local Foods: Cuban cuisine, Alligator meat, Frog legs What They're Drinkin': Tailgating Hotspots: Orange Parking Lot Fan Resources: Pocket Map of Miami Stadium Policy Stadium Parking Map Local Sports Media: The Sun-Sentinel The Miami Herald |
Popular
Bar Districts: South Beach (Purdy Lounge, BED, Cameo, Jazid, Dream, Fat Tuesday, Mango's Tropical Cafe) Downtown (Space, PS 14, White Room, Parkwest Nightclub, Nocturnal)
Best Restaurants: |
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Compare Prices for Miami Dolphins Football Tickets Here: Click on the following links for Miami Dolphins ticket availability at each of the top online ticket brokers on the web. Try each link to find the cheapest NFL ticket prices: |
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TicketCity.com | |
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StubHub.com | |
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VividSeats.com
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TicketNetwork
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Razorgator.com
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| The day begins | Excellent Addition | Dan Marino and Don Shula | ||
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| One Big Fella | Irony by the Numbers | Loungin' | ||
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| Mr. Fintastic | The fin is a nice touch | Quest for 31 Flag marking our spot | ||
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| Dave and Robbie Mixin' Rum Runners | Juvenile? Yes. But fun, you betcha! | Debbie celebrated her 350th consecutive game | ||
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| The view from here ain't so bad | Looking for a win | the lower level is much nicer | ||
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| Arepas!!!! | How about that Wildcat Formation | Stadium #23 - Sun Life Stadium | ||
| COMMENTS? Please feel free to post any suggestions or comments you might have for my journey to Sun Life Stadium, including the following: - Local Hotspots (Bar Districts, Restaurants, Clubs) - Local Foods (Traditional Cuisine, Micro Brews) - Tailgating Traditions - Your Experiences or Helpful Hints - If you saw me let me know! All commentary will be moderated. Your e-mail address will not be published. |
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Sean from Miami Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 4:40 PM |
the best way to get a parking pass beforehand is
on ebay or craigslist. The price is the same as a broker site (30-40)
but there is no service fee that broker sites charge. Be prepared and
have one beforehand....it's worth the 40 bucks |
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Tami from fort myers Sent: Saturday, September 05, 2009 10:11 AM |
I am going crazy trying to
find out about purchasing parking in advance for the 9/21 MNF game. Any
help would be really appreciated. Thanks! First time driving over
from the west coast. Tami, link on the links to one of the online ticket brokers above. They generally sell parking passes for purchase. |
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Mark Lowther from West Palm Beach,
FL Sent: Fri, July 10, 2009 09:56 EST |
Hey Hans, You coming back to Land Shark for a game in '09? If so, hope you find your way back to the same spot in the orange lot. We'll be there! Hey Mark, it doesn't look like I'm gonna make it back this year, but eventually I'll be back in your neck of the woods. Did you see the video on YouTube? Just look up "questfor31". |
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Janet White from Hollywood, FL Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 13:36:18 EST |
Hi Hans I met you Sunday, 11/9 at the Miami Dolphins game. I was with my son and all our tailgating friends. My friend Debbie is the one who is celebrating her 350 consecutive Dolphin game this coming week. She has never missed a home game since 1974. Good luck on your Quest for 31. It was a pleasure meeting you and look us up next time you are in Miami. Janet |
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Finatic Bob
from Miami Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 18:28:10 EST |
Hi Hans, It was a pleasure to meet you and share our tailgate and stadium. I'm glad that you had a great time. On the Finatics web site, I have added a link and thanks to our "Sites We Recommend" page. Check it out when you have a chance! Good luck on the rest of your journey! Peace! |
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