Miami Orange Bowl
The legendary home of the Miami Dolphins and Hurricanes, host of five Super Bowls and countless iconic moments.
The Miami Orange Bowl was an outdoor athletic stadium in Miami, Florida, from 1937 until 2008. It was located in the Little Havana neighborhood west of downtown Miami. The venue served as the home of the Miami Hurricanes college football team from 1937 through 2007 and for the Miami Dolphins for the franchise's first 21 seasons, until Joe Robbie Stadium (now Hard Rock Stadium) opened in 1987. It was also the temporary home for the FIU Golden Panthers in 2007. Opened in 1937, it was originally known as Burdine Stadium, renamed the Orange Bowl in 1949. The stadium was demolished in 2008; LoanDepot Park was built on the site and opened in 2012.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Former Home Stadium
- Location
- Miami, Florida
- Status
- Demolished (2008)
- Notable event
- Hosted Super Bowls II (1968)
- III (1969)
- and V (1971)
- Capacity era
- Approx. 75,000–80,000 Seating
Lore & Background
The stadium's first game was a high school game on September 24, 1936, before it officially opened. The Orange Bowl hosted five Super Bowls between 1968 and 1979, including Super Bowl V on January 17, 1971. The stadium was also used as a holding facility for Cuban refugees during the Mariel Boatlift in 1980. A live dolphin named Flipper was situated in a water tank in the open east end from 1966 to 1968 and again in the 1970s.
Reader's Guide
The stadium was located on a block bound by Northwest 3rd Street to its south, Northwest 16th Avenue to its west, Northwest 6th Street to its north, and Northwest 14th Avenue to its east. It had a regular capacity of 74,476 orange seats and could seat up to 82,000 for concerts. The surface was natural grass except for six seasons in the 1970s when Poly-Turf was used. The west end zone upper deck was added in the 1960s, bringing peak capacity to 80,010.
Did You Know?
- A live dolphin named Flipper celebrated touchdowns at the stadium in the 1960s and 1970s.
- The Miami Hurricanes won 58 straight home games at the Orange Bowl between 1985 and 1994.
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