Race To Finish Stadium Renovations Before Fins Home Opener
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - With about three weeks to go until the Miami Dolphins season opener at New Miami Stadium, formerly Sun Life Stadium, the race is on to finish a number of renovations.
The makeover at the stadium has given it a dramatically different look.
"It definitely is a new era for the Dolphins," said Dolphins Senior Vice President Bill Senn.
For two years Senn has overseen the Dolphin's stadium overhaul. On September 1st, football fans will finally get to see what he's so proud of.
"The transformation of the building is just absolutely incredible this year. When the people walk up to the 300 level, when they come up to the top of the helix, it's going to be a 'wow' moment," said Senn.
New for the new season is a cool change. At the very top of the stadium, underneath a canopy roof, fans will no longer bake. Preliminary temperature tests showed the new shade cools things off 20 to 30 degrees.
Also new - in each corner of the stadium are high defenition televisions.
"They are 50 feet high and 112 feet wide. Just an incredible image," said Senn. "Our audio visual folks are going to be working on a game day experience like you've never seen before."
Brand new grass is already in, it's the same grass used in the Marlins Stadium.
Goal posts, turn stiles and gates all go up this week.
Senn said he's confident they will be football ready for the home opener, despite reports just a few weeks ago that the Dolphins were exploring alternative plans.
"You always have to have an alternative," said Senn. "With South Florida, big storm events you never know what could happen to you so you have to have a plan B."
Once the football season is over they will move into Phase Three which includes a complete renovation of the club and suite levels.
"It truly, truly is a new era. We have an iconic structure now, an iconic building. We have a great product," said Senn. "Our sole effort is to make as good a game experience as we can for our fans. The transformation this year is absolutely huge."
