Miami-Dade approves plan to lure Miami Dolphins training facility to Miami Gardens

New $70M facility will feature at least two outdoor practice fields, one indoor field and office space

Hard Rock Stadium and Stephen Ross
Hard Rock Stadium and Stephen Ross

Miami-Dade County has devised a plan to bring a roughly $70 million training facility for the Miami Dolphins to the city of Miami Gardens, approving the plan on Tuesday.

In a 10-1 vote, commissioners rubber-stamped an incentive package and land deal that would put the Miami Dolphins’ training facility and headquarters offices right next to the Hard Rock Stadium, according to the Miami Herald.

It adds an additional 10-year extension to an existing 20-year subsidy agreement, and lifts a $5 million cap on a previous bonus agreement by $750,000 a year. This means the team could potentially pocket an extra $57.5 million.

The original 2014 agreement between Miami-Dade and the Dolphins rewards the team with bonuses for hosting major events. So far, the Dolphins have requested a total of $1.5 million in payments for hosting the 2016 Orange Bowl college football game and the 2017 El Clasico soccer match.

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The bonuses kicked off once the stadium opened in 2016, after rebranding as the Hard Rock Stadium and undergoing a $500 million renovation. The 2020 Super Bowl will reportedly generate a $4 million bonus.

In order to potentially receive the extra $750,000 a year, the team would have to agree to pick up a construction tab of at least $50 million, according to the publication. The length of the extension also depends on how much the Dolphins offer, with $70 million in construction qualifying the team for the extra 10 years.

The new facility will feature at least two outdoor practice fields, one indoor field and office space, according to the Miami Herald. The deal serves as a counter-offer to incentives and land offered by Miramar. Commissioner Barbara Jordan, whose district includes Hard Rock, proposed the 10-year extension.

The Dolphins have not yet accepted the deal. It’s current training facility and headquarters offices are located at Nova Southeastern University in Davie. Miami Dolphins owner and real estate developer Stephen Ross also plans to build a $53 million tennis complex at the stadium to host the Miami Open.  [Miami Herald] – Amanda Rabines