The Miami Dolphins released a series of images Monday chronicling the start of the renovation project to Sun Life Stadium.
The modernization of @SunLifeStadium is underway. PHOTOS: http://t.co/G1leLLisNo pic.twitter.com/wJAFYGyhzn
— Mm Dlphns (@MiamiDolphins) January 5, 2015
Team president and CEO Tom Garfinkel posted some of the images from team photographer Jon Willey on Twitter showing workers taking apart corner end zone seats.
— Tom Garfinkel (@TomGarfinkel) January 5, 2015
— Tom Garfinkel (@TomGarfinkel) January 5, 2015
— Tom Garfinkel (@TomGarfinkel) January 5, 2015
This all gets ripped out including the concrete... Seats will be closer to the field. pic.twitter.com/axGnhLtaTO
— Tom Garfinkel (@TomGarfinkel) January 5, 2015
Eventually every seat in the stadium will be removed -- including the concrete -- over the course of the offseason in favor of seats that Garfinkel describes on Twitter as "being closer to the field." Capacity will be lowered from 76,000 to 65,000 with fewer upper-level seats and more placed in the lower level.
Though most of them will not be salvageable, he says the team "will be saving as many intact as we can and will have seat backs as well." Longtime season ticket holders will have the first opportunity to acquire those that can be saved, according to Garfinkel.
In addition to the seats. new features that will be installed in time for the 2015 season include renovated concourses, concessions and parking lot.
Once the 2016 season begins, the stadium will have an open-air canopy designed to provide shade and cover from the elements for fans as well as renovated club-level suites and four brand new high-definition video boards at each corner.
The $350 million project designed to upgrade Sun Life Stadium into a state-of-the-art facility is being funded by team owner Stephen Ross and the stadium owners. Miami-Dade County Commissioners approved a deal last summer to compensate the owners in exchange for an agreement to keep the team in Miami-Dade County for at least the next 30 years.
To view the complete set of photos click here.
You can follow Surya Fernandez on Twitter @SuryaHeatNBA or email him at SuryaFoxSports@gmail.com.
