Upgrades to Sun Life Stadium are several weeks behind schedule. With the Miami Marlins now playing in their own facility, this is not an immediate problem. But eventually it will be.
The Miami Dolphins have stated they fully expect the stadium to be operational in time for their Aug. 25 preseason opener but, as the Miami Herald reports, Miami athletics director Blake James has been forced to scrounge together a contingency plan in the event the stadium is not ready for the ‘Canes’ Sept. 3 opener opposite Florida A&M.
That would likely call for Miami to use Florida International’s FIU Stadium with the Golden Panthers hosting Indiana two nights prior.
Miami is also home the following week against Florida Atlantic which, as Tom Fornelli points out, could lead to the entertaining scenario of Miami hosting FAU in FAU’s own stadium. (Marlins Park is not an option either night.)
Still, that would be more than two weeks beyond the scheduled complete date. The Dolphins say they have every assurance the project will be done in time. Should the contractor not understand the seriousness of the end-of-August deadline, here’s betting someone from the Dolphins or the NFL office takes him out to Biscayne Bay to explain what’s at stake here, if you know what I mean.