Stephen Ross Says Miami Super Bowl Hosting Requirements No Longer Fit Hard Rock
Miami Super Bowl hosting requirements have changed enough that Hard Rock Stadium no longer meets them, Stephen Ross said this week. The Dolphins owner said the issue is the area around the stadium, not the building itself, and Miami is not really in line for a Super Bowl at this point.
Stephen Ross on Hard Rock Stadium
Ross tied the problem to the neighborhood around Hard Rock Stadium, saying it has changed to accommodate the annual Miami Open and F1 events. He also said the league does not believe Miami meets all the requirements and the demands.
“The one thing that suffered is Miami hasn’t gotten a Super Bowl here, and we normally have one every five years,” Ross said. “Miami is not really in line for one.”
Miami has hosted 11 Super Bowls, but the city has dropped out of its usual rhythm. The most recent title game in South Florida was Super Bowl LIV between the Chiefs and 49ers in 2020, and that game came after a 10-year break.
Miami Open and F1 changes
The last long gap followed the need for significant upgrades to the building itself, including a giant roof to protect fans from rain. Ross paid for those upgrades himself after realizing public financing would not happen.
This time, the obstacle is different. Ross said, “It’s always exciting to have the Super Bowl but that was before we had all the other events.” He added, “Miami has by far the best weather.”
The stadium owner said the team is still looking at ways to improve the venue and the fan experience. “We are looking at how to make improvements,” Ross said. “I want to make the stadium always feel like a new stadium, we are looking at what the next phase will be and making the fan experience that much better.”
NFL rotation and Miami
Daniel Sillman said the team believes there is a solution to satisfying the league’s expectations. For now, though, Miami will not be getting a Super Bowl in the foreseeable future, while the league keeps moving to Los Angeles, Atlanta and Las Vegas, with Nashville also set to get one under the usual taxpayer-money tradeoff tied to new venues.
The next three Super Bowls have already been awarded to Los Angeles in 2027, Atlanta in 2028 and Las Vegas in 2029. Ross said the league is going back to those cities on a regular basis, and he said, “It’s in their best interest to have one here but at this point they don’t believe we meet all the requirements and the demands.”
Miami’s 10-year record gap is set to be broken, but the city is no longer part of the easy every-five-years path it once had.
