The Miami Orange Bowl was a legendary outdoor stadium situated in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Originally opened on December 10, 1937 as Burdine Stadium, the venue served as home to the Miami Hurricanes college football team for over seven decades and to the Miami Dolphins for the franchise’s first 21 seasons, from 1966 through 1986.
Known affectionately as ‘Football Heaven’ and ‘The Old Horseshoe in Little Havana,’ the Orange Bowl expanded repeatedly over the years, eventually reaching a peak capacity of around 80,010. It hosted five Super Bowls and became one of the most storied venues in American sports history before closing on January 26, 2008, and being demolished that same spring.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Little Havana, Miami, Florida
- Opened: December 10, 1937
- Closed: January 26, 2008
- Demolished: March 3 – May 14, 2008
- Original Capacity: 23,330 (1937)
- Peak Capacity: About 80,010 (1968–1976)
- Final Capacity: 72,319 (2003–2007)
- Primary Tenants: Miami Hurricanes (1937–2007), Miami Dolphins (1966–1986)
- Super Bowls Hosted: 5 (II, III, V, X, XIII)
Seven Decades of Expansion and Growth
Built for $340,000 and opened as Burdine Stadium, the venue was renamed the Orange Bowl in 1949 to reflect its long association with the annual college football bowl game played there each winter. The stadium grew dramatically over the decades: end-zone seats were added in 1944 raising capacity to around 35,000, and further expansions pushed it past 59,000 by 1947. By the late 1960s the venue held over 80,000 fans, cementing its status as one of the largest stadiums in the country.
The field alternated between natural grass and artificial turf over the years, with Poly-Turf installed from 1970 to 1975 before the stadium returned to natural grass for the remainder of its life. Despite aging infrastructure, the Orange Bowl retained a fierce local identity and passionate fanbase until the Miami Hurricanes departed for Sun Life Stadium (now Hard Rock Stadium) ahead of the 2008 season.
Home to Champions and Super Bowls
The Orange Bowl’s greatest claim to national fame was its role as a Super Bowl destination. Miami’s winter climate made it an ideal host, and the stadium welcomed five championship games: Super Bowl II (1968), Super Bowl III (1969), Super Bowl V (1971), Super Bowl X (1976), and Super Bowl XIII (1979). Super Bowl III was particularly historic, as it featured Joe Namath’s famous guarantee before the New York Jets upset the heavily favored Baltimore Colts.
Beyond the Super Bowls, the stadium hosted the Orange Bowl college football game almost every year from 1938 through 1995 and again in 1999, drawing top programs from across the country. When demolition was completed in May 2008, LoanDepot Park — home of the Miami Marlins — was eventually constructed on the same footprint, opening in 2012.
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Miami Orange Bowl FAQs
When was the Miami Orange Bowl demolished?
The Miami Orange Bowl was demolished between March 3 and May 14, 2008, shortly after its final event was held on January 26, 2008.
How many Super Bowls did the Orange Bowl host?
The Orange Bowl hosted five Super Bowls: II (1968), III (1969), V (1971), X (1976), and XIII (1979), making it one of the most frequently used Super Bowl venues of its era.
What was built on the Orange Bowl site?
LoanDepot Park, the home ballpark of the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball, was constructed on the former Orange Bowl site and opened on March 5, 2012.
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Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.