8) UM says so long to the Orange Bowl Posted on Tue, Aug. 21, 2007Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint/license print email BY BARRY JACKSON bjackson@MiamiHerald.com DONNA E. NATALE PLANAS/HERALD STAFF The Orange Bowl has hosted the University of Miami since it was built and also the Dolphins during the first 21 years of their existence. UM may be leaving soon. The University of Miami decided Tuesday to leave the Orange Bowl and move its games to Dolphin Stadium. The relocation, effective in 2008, will eliminate the last marquee tenant for the Orange Bowl and could lead to demolition of the city-owned stadium, a faded relic with bench-style seats, inadequate restrooms and few amenities. ''This is a painful and sad decision,'' University of Miami President Donna Shalala. said. ``We all love the Orange Bowl, its history and tradition.'' ``[Miami] Mayor [Manny] Diaz and the commissioners of the city of Miami made an extraordinary effort to identify funds and design a renovation, but in the end it wasn't enough.'' Said UM Athletic Director Paul Dee: ``We are committed to providing the best facilities for our student athletes and fans. The decision to move to Dolphin Stadium was made for that reason. Our student athletes will be playing in one of the best facilities in the country, and the fan experience will be first class.'' The move was approved by the 17-person executive committee of UM's Board of Trustees and announced at an 11 a.m. news conference. UM and Dolphin Stadium officials agreed to a 25-year lease. Dolphin Stadium officials agreed to identify a corporate sponsor name for the facility and a neutral name is expected to be chosen by 2010. UM also received an assurance that Dolphin Stadium would eliminate the baseball infield dirt within a few years after 2010. That would require either the Florida Marlins leaving by then (their lease ends after the 2010 season) or Dolphin Stadium coming up with a solution to eliminate the dirt. UM Coach Randy Shannon said the move to Dolphin Stadium ``and the superior facilities that it offers will greatly enhance our recruiting efforts.'' The Orange Bowl was once the home of the Miami Dolphins and the Orange Bowl Classic. But the NFL team and the college classic both moved north to the stadium that then-Dolphins owner Joe Robbie built with private financing after years of clashes with Miami city officials. The bowl also hosted several Super Bowls before Dolphin Stadium came along and eclipsed it. UM, which has played at the Orange Bowl since 1937 (when it opened as Burdine Stadium) could play its final game there on Nov. 10 against Virginia. Miami closes the season with road games at Virginia Tech and Boston College. Besides Virginia, UM's other home games this season are against Marshall on Sept. 1, FIU on Sept. 15, Texas A&M on Sept. 20, Duke on Sept. 29, Georgia Tech on Oct. 13 and North Carolina State on Nov. 3. Finances have been the biggest factor in UM's move north. UM officials have said the school would earn at least $1.5 million more annually -- and potentially more than twice that -- by moving to Dolphin Stadium. Miami City Manager Pete Hernandez has said the Orange Bowl site would be an ideal location for construction of a retractable-roof ballpark for the Marlins. Discussions of that possibility are expected to get under way soon. Tickets and parking prices per games at Dolphin Stadium will be announced by January. The UM athletic department has established a link at www.hurricanesports.com to answer questions of new or existing Hurricane Club member and season ticket owner
That infield dirt issue is a big one IMHO, I've alway thought it was dangerous to the players. Not to mention that it always makes the field look ugly. Is Dolphins stadium closer to UM than the Orange Bowl?
Dolphin Stadium is farther BUT ....due to the highway systems it will be easier to get to in about the same amount of time. Dirt fields suck....especially for special teams and kicking units....its like having 12 men on defense when you are on offense plodding for traction.