Coronavirus: Miami Dolphins turning Hard Rock Stadium into drive-in theater

MIAMI — Hard Rock Stadium in Miami has hosted six Super Bowls since it opened in 1987 and is scheduled to host the college football national championship game in January 2021.

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Now, the Miami Dolphins plan to turn the football field into a drive-in movie theater holding up to 230 cars, the Sun-Sentinel reported. It’s a way to maintain social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic while still providing outdoor entertainment.

The screenings on the field are part of Outdoor Theaters at Hard Rock, a sports and entertainment complex, the newspaper reported. The drive-in events will be inside the stadium, while the open-air theater will at the stadium’s south plaza.

Some of the events will include Miami Dolphins’ content from the team’s history, classic films, concerts and commencement ceremonies, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Does that mean "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” will be a featured event? Officials are not saying. However, it’s likely the Dolphins’ 1972 perfect season and highlights of the team’s five Super Bowl appearances will be included.

Food and beverages can be purchased through an online ordering and payment system and delivered to cars, ESPN reported. Restroom access will be provided. Fans can put their names on an email list to be notified when tickets are available, the network reported.

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“We’ve spent several weeks planning this to be able to provide people with a safe option to go out and enjoy movies, classic Dolphins content, concerts, and celebrate 2020 graduates,” Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium Vice Chairman and CEO Tom Garfinkel said in a statement. “It’s a fundamental human need to physically experience and celebrate events and experiences together, and we’re trying to provide options for everyone where they can be safely socially distant and socially present at the same time.”

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The programming schedule is not yet available, but a spokesperson told the Sun-Sentinel the venue would be open “in the coming weeks.”

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