Fan Experience

Dolphins Plan For Fewer Fans

May 04, 2020 | 09:20 pm | By Pat Evans

The Miami Dolphins are released initial plans to bring fans back, including scaling back to 15,000 fans inside the 65,000-seat Hard Rock Stadium.
SI reports teams would lose $100 million each in local revenue if season is played without fans.

Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Front Office Sports Today

Donovan McNabb and the State of Football

From Taylor Swift to the Prime Effect, there's a lot going on in the world of football.

Listen Now

September 29, 2023 | Podcast

As the return of live sports draws closer, teams and leagues are figuring out how to eventually welcome back fans. For the Miami Dolphins that will mean a drastic reduction in stadium capacity and several new guidelines to keep fans safe.

Miami Dolphins President and CEO Tom Garfinkel made an appearance on “Good Morning America” to showcase Hard Rock Stadium’s social distancing guidelines including:

– A maximum of 15,000 fans rather than 65,000

– Different time slots for entry

– A row-by-row exit process

– Fans having to wear masks

– Fans required to order concessions in their seats before picking up in the concourse

The Dolphins plan comes at a time when concerns around potential financial losses of games without fans are growing. Sports Illustrated reported that teams could lose $100M in local revenue if games are played without fans. A team exec told SI that if fans could be in the stands by pushing the season back that it’s “not even a question.”

Fans, however, aren’t as concerned about the team’s finances – an ESPN survey found 65% would prefer to watch televised games without fans rather than waiting for people to return to stadiums.