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| Orange Bowl (stadium) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Orange Bowl |
| Caption | Exterior of the Orange Bowl during the 1983 Sugar Bowl |
| Location | Miami Gardens, Florida |
| Opened | 1937 |
| Closed | 2008 |
| Demolished | 2008–2009 |
| Owner | City of Miami / Miami-Dade County |
| Surface | Grass (natural) |
| Capacity | 75,000–80,010 |
| Tenants | Miami Hurricanes, Miami Dolphins, Orange Bowl (game), Super Bowl games, FIFA matches |
Orange Bowl (stadium) The Orange Bowl was a multi-purpose sports stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, that served as a landmark venue for American football, soccer, and major cultural events from its opening in 1937 until its demolition in 2008. It hosted collegiate athletics, National Football League contests, international soccer, and frequent bowl games, drawing fans to landmark matchups involving teams such as the Miami Hurricanes, Florida Gators, and professional franchises including the Miami Dolphins. The facility became intertwined with regional identity through relationships with entities like Miami, Dade County, and events such as the Orange Bowl game and multiple FIFA World Cup and Copa América qualifiers.
Construction of the stadium began during the New Deal era, with municipal leaders in Miami and Dade County commissioning a civic project to host the annual Orange Bowl game and local athletics. The venue opened in 1937 amid the presidencies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and municipal leadership tied to Depression-era public works. Over decades, the stadium became the home of the Hurricanes and, beginning in 1966, the home field for the Miami Dolphins, linking the site to AFL–NFL history including the tenure of coach Don Shula and the Dolphins' undefeated season featuring players such as Bob Griese and Larry Csonka. The ground also staged international fixtures involving national teams from Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, and hosted concerts featuring performers tied to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acts and touring productions.
The stadium originally featured a horseshoe-shaped bowl with open north end, reflecting municipal stadium typologies of the 1930s employed in works supervised by agencies like the Works Progress Administration. Subsequent alterations introduced upper decks and cantilevered structures in the postwar era that modified sightlines and seating density similar to expansions at venues such as Lambeau Field and Yankee Stadium. The facility used natural grass playing surface and incorporated permanent lighting systems aligned with standards set by National Football League broadcasting partners including CBS Sports and NBC Sports. The design accommodated large marching bands from institutions like Ohio State University and University of Notre Dame during bowl appearances, and integrated press facilities used by outlets such as The New York Times and ESPN.
The Orange Bowl hosted the annual postseason Orange Bowl college football game from its inception, attracting participants from conferences like the Big Eight Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, and Big Ten Conference. As the Dolphins' home venue, it staged regular-season and playoff contests including matchups against franchises such as the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and Buffalo Bills. International soccer at the stadium included matches with club sides like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF on exhibition tours, and competitive fixtures involving CONMEBOL and CONCACAF national teams. The venue also presented entertainment spectacles featuring artists connected to labels like Motown and promoters such as AEG Presents.
The stadium was the site of seminal college football contests involving coaches like Hank Stram and Bobby Bowden, plus pivotal Dolphins games in the 1972 season that cemented the franchise's history. Historic bowl games at the site featured teams such as Nebraska and Penn State in matchups that influenced national titles and polls conducted by organizations like the Associated Press and Coaches Poll. Internationally, marquee soccer exhibitions brought squads including the England and club sides featuring stars associated with Pelé and Diego Maradona history. The venue also hosted concerts and civic gatherings involving figures from U.S. presidents to cultural icons represented by museums like the Smithsonian Institution.
Major expansions occurred during the postwar boom when the stadium added upper decks and press infrastructure to meet demand from college bowl committees and National Football League scheduling imperatives. Renovation phases addressed seating capacity increases, sightline improvements, and compliance with broadcast requirements driven by networks like ABC and FOX Sports. Accessibility upgrades responded to federal statutes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and municipal codes from Miami-Dade County. Temporary modifications were made for international tournaments under oversight by governing bodies like FIFA and CONCACAF, including locker room enhancements and perimeter security coordinated with local law enforcement agencies.
By the early 2000s, a combination of structural age, changing standards exemplified by new venues such as Hard Rock Stadium and economic calculations involving developers like Turner Construction Company led to the decision to close and demolish the stadium after the 2008 season. Demolition proceeded amid coordination between City of Miami officials, Miami-Dade County authorities, and private contractors, and the site was redeveloped to support future stadium projects and mixed-use planning consistent with regional strategies promoted by entities such as Florida Power & Light Company and tourism agencies like Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Orange Bowl's legacy persists through institutional memories at the University of Miami, franchises like the Miami Dolphins, and annual remembrances during college football gatherings and hall of fame ceremonies conducted by organizations including the College Football Hall of Fame.
Category:Defunct sports venues in Florida Category:Sports venues demolished in 2008