New Dolphins Stadium "roof" - Is this for real?

[jtex316]

http://bit.ly/83Ka4A

Is this serious? (Click on the link to check out the pic).

You may have thought the Dolphins' home stadium had hit bottom with its "Land Shark" moniker, but now another bizarre retrofitting is in the works.

With NFL officials warning that Miami is about to be on the "Do Not Host Super Bowl" list, stadium officials are suggesting a 621,000 square-foot roof be attached on top of the stadium.

The immediate online responses to the roof ("mind numbing ugly," "could scare away a hurricane") have been brutal. Thankfully, the proposed changes inside are getting much better reviews:

The good news for football fans at both levels is that seating is being brought in closer to the sidelines. The gap between the bleachers and the field was always a gridiron drawback, and it's corrected somewhat with the latest revisioning. Plus those upgraded video screens looks awful sweet.

The roof would cover all the seats in the stadium, while at the same time allowing the sun and rain to come down on the field.

So while spectators would be spared the rain, which plagued the last Super Bowl here, the field and game play would be subject to the elements.

Dolphins CEO Mike Dee made it clear Thursday the renovations are not about the loyal Dolfans who faithfully come to the games during the regular season. This is all about the Super Bowl.

"This is not about the Dolphins or the stadium," Dee said. "It's about economic development. It's about being able to compete for events on a national and international level."

The next question is who is going to pay for all these renovations, which could escalate to close to $300 million.

[gocowboys31]

That thing looks like a piece of aluminum foil with a whole in it. Good luck convincing taxpayers to pay for this.

[Dave Gray]

It doesn't look so terrible to me.  These are all things that Mike Dee mentioned (roof, bringing seats closer to the field, etc.) at Web Weekend.

I think that some sort of covering needs to happen down here.  It's just too damn hot to ask your average person to go sit in for 4 hours on a 1PM start.  I took my Dad to a game this year and had to wait for a 4 PM game.  Another friend of mine's dad was literally taken away in an ambulance from the conditions.  It can get pretty brutal.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

That is hideous.....with all of the technology this is the best they could come up with? 

[YoFuggedaboutit]

That is really fucking hideous.  They need a full enclosure on top with a retractable roof.  Better yet, tear the damned thing down and build it up so that it's even better than the new Cowboys Stadium. 

[dolphantom]

That is hideous.....with all of the technology this is the best they could come up with? 

comon' man,  we're the dolphins. we go in style!! you really expected more from our franchise?

[BigDaddyFin]

Something tells me this whole roof/upgrade/do not let miami host the superbowl again shit has to do with the fact that it rained on the Colts/Bears and less to do with the actual stadium.

That and the fact that Jerry Jones built the most lavish and bordering on ridiculously extravagant stadium on the planet and now he wants to make some of his money back.

If I were Stephen Ross, I'd say ok, Mr. Goodell, we're tearing down Landshark stadium and we're rebuilding in its place a replica of the orange bowl complete with noisy fans and stands that shake and scare the shit out of the opposing players/fans.  Send the Pro Bowl back to Hawaii, and you can rotate the superbowl between Dallas, New Orleans and Arizona/San Diego for the rest of your tenure here.

[bsfins]

It looks like some Redneck engineering.....Maybe it's a Celebrity Helicopter Parking...You know it's so hard to find a place to land the Helicopter at these type of events.....I know I've never been there,but when I see shots of the stadium...It looks fairly barron,are they planning on planting all those trees?

[Dave Gray]

I know I've never been there,but when I see shots of the stadium...It looks fairly barron,are they planning on planting all those trees?

I noticed the same thing.  I can see them planting the trees right next to the stadium, but look in the nearby areas.  It's all green fields.  ...not the dirt lots and government housing that is really there.

[TonyB0D]

JTEX, what is that retarded link you're using?

[Sunstroke]

That is seriously butt-ugly, and it reeeeeally doesn't look like it could stand up to some of the extreme weather we have down here.

[Pats2006]

Who dezined that J-Lo

[stinkfish]

Fail.

[Brian Fein]

I don't know what will happen when that roof starts collecting water.  Engineering 101 - flat roofs don't work when it rains a lot.  It needs to be pitched somehow, I don't understand why it needs to cover the ramps and concourse. 

I do like bringing the bleachers closer to the field though.  Friggin' soccer...

[Dave Gray]

Even "flat" roofs aren't really flat.  They are just given that appearance.  It's probably pitched slightly, but you just can't tell from the picture.