The Hard Rock Stadium

The Hard Rock Stadium is the home of the Miami Dolphins in the NFL, and has been one of the best stadiums in the USA ever since it opened back in 1987.

The stadium has been trusted with hosting several major events in the USA over the years, including six Super Bowls and one Wrestlemania, due to how good the fan experience is here.

Located in Miami Gardens, fans who visit the stadium aren’t short of things to do pre- and post-match. While inside the stadium, there isn’t a bad seat in the house, regardless of how high or low you are.

The guarantee of a good seat comes from the symmetry of the stadium. All four stands are of the same height and designed in the same way, with one flat lower tier sitting below a steep upper tier.

The open-air canopy that was added to the stadium during significant renovation work in 2016 was a welcome addition to fans, too, as it meant that every seat in the arena is now protected from the sun, which is constantly beaming in Miami.

Many people who visit the stadium say that it encapsulates the local area. In other words, a trip to the Hard Rock Stadium is a continuation of the party scene that has made South Beach famous around the world. Expect loud music through the speakers and plenty of outlets to purchase food and drink.

The Hard Rock Stadium will play host to seven matches during the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. These matches are as follows:

• 15 June: Group Stage match
• 21 June: Group Stage match
• 24 June: Group Stage match
• 27 June: Group Stage match
• 3 July: Round of 32 match
• 11 July: Quarter-final match
• 18 July: Bronze match

Due to its location in Miami, a hotbed for celebrities, and the fact that it has hosted six Super Bowls, countless famous faces have been spotted at the Hard Rock Stadium over the years.  Some examples include:

• Paul Rudd
• Jeremy Renner
• Taylor Swift
• Beyonce
• Jay-Z
• Timothee Chamalet
• Taylor Swift
• Ed Sheeran

📸 Jeremy Renner with Paul Rudd and his son at Hard Rock Stadium for #SuperBowl in Miami. #Avengers Assemble.

(via @EW | Instagram) pic.twitter.com/NUmYPIunyU

— Jeremy Renner Net (@JRennerNet) February 3, 2020

Given the fortunes (or misfortunes) of the Miami Dolphins over the past couple of decades, jeers and boos have become more common than positive chants at the Hard Rock Stadium. One chant that you can expect to hear on a visit to the stadium is the Dolphins’ fight song, which is blared through the speaker after every Miami touchdown.

Tifos aren’t commonplace in American Football culture; however, a tifo was unveiled by Palmeiras fans at the Hard Rock Stadium during the 2025 Club World Cup. Whether this inspires Dolphins’ fans to produce something similar in the years to come remains to be seen, but don’t hold your breath.

As we mentioned earlier, there isn’t a bad seat in the house at the Hard Rock Stadium thanks to its design.

The best views, however, can be found in the North Gate and the South Gate – the two stands that run along the sides of the pitch. These stands are identical in terms of capacity and seating plan, so there is no advantage in sitting in one over the other.

To be able to get the best possible vantage point of the action, aim to sit in the upper tier of either stand in the most central blocks. In the North Gate, look for blocks 317-319, and in the South Gate, look for blocks 345-347.

If your priority is atmosphere, then you are better off trying to get tickets in the stands at either end of the pitch – the East Gate and the West Gate.

Seating plan

Miami is one of the party capitals of the world, so you aren’t going to be short of places to grab a drink pre- or post-match. Some of our recommendations in the local area include:

• Styx Sports Bar and Grill – 15336 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach, FL 33162, United States
• Miller’s Ale House – 15251 NW 67th Ave, Miami Lakes, FL 33014, United States
• 9 Feet Under – 885 SE 14th St Side Entrance, Hialeah, FL 33010, United States

There are various food concession stands dotted around the stadium, ensuring that everyone has access to food regardless of where they are sitting. In terms of food options, stadium classics such as burgers, fried chicken, hot dogs and fries are all available.

Alcohol and soft drinks are also available inside the Hard Rock Stadium. Popular concessions include the craft bar taprooms on the 100 level and 300 level at the stadium. To find out where these are, check out the seating plan above.

Going out for a meal in Miami isn’t cheap by any means, but there are still some places that are worth visiting nearby if you don’t fancy stadium food. Three of the best pound-for-pound restaurants near the Hard Rock Stadium are as follows:

• Rosalia’s Kitchen – 12130 Miramar Pkwy, Miramar, FL 33025, United States
• Lorna’s Caribbean and American Grill – 19752 NW 27th Ave, Miami Gardens, FL 33056, United States
• Hard Rock Cafe – 1 Seminole Way, Davie, FL 33314, United States

By car

To get to the Hard Rock Stadium, take the NW 199th Street (Miami Gardens) from the I-95, then just follow the street signs to the stadium. If you are using the official car park, then you need to contact the stadium in the days before your arrival to pre-book a space.

By public transport

The easiest way to get to the Hard Rock Stadium via public transport is to take the Miami Brightline train to Aventura Station. From there, take the Hard Rock Stadium Connect Shuttle, which drops you right outside the stadium.

An alternative option to to take the city’s Metrorail service to Golden Glades. From here, you need to board Metrobus number 297 to the stadium.

The current capacity of the Hard Rock Stadium is 65,326; however, it hasn’t always been this way. When the stadium first opened back in 1987, it had a capacity of 75,000, but renovation work in the mid-2010s saw the overall capacity cut by nearly 10,000.

The decision to reduce the capacity of the stadium was mainly due to a desire to fit more hospitality areas into the seating plan. Additionally, the renovation work in the mid-2010s saw every seat at the stadium replaced, and when it came to reinstallation, the Dolphins hierarchy decided to space each seat more to give fans more comfort.

Stadium tours at the Hard Rock Stadium are currently not in operation.

If you are attending an event at the Hard Rock Stadium, the chances are you are staying in Miami for a couple of days, at least. Some of the best places to visit in Miami, away from the Hard Rock Stadium, include:

• Wynwood Walls
• Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
• Bayside Marketplace
• South Beach
• Dolphin Mall

The stadium has been used by several international artists for concerts over the years. The most notable examples include:

• Taylor Swift
• Beyonce
• Coldplay
• Lady Gaga
• One Direction
• The Rolling Stones

Prior to playing at the Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins played at the Miami Orange Bowl. In the 1980s, the ownership decided that a move was necessary, and after a short build period, the franchise moved into its new home in 1987. At the time, it was called the Joe Robbie Stadium, after the Dolphins’ founder.

The most significant changes to the stadium happened over three consecutive years between 2015 and 2017. All the changes were funded by the Dolphins’ owner, Stephen Ross, and they included:

• All seats were replaced with new ones.
• Concourses were modernised.
• The capacity was reduced by 10,000 seats.
• Seating was brought closer to the pitch.
• More premium seating areas were introduced.
• A giant canopy was draped over the stadium to provide fans with protection from the weather.
• New video scoreboards were installed.

• 80,120 (2013 BCS National Championship Game)