Dolphin Stadium > Land Shark Stadium > Sun Life Stadium

Dolphin Stadium now named Land Shark Stadium

The $115 million, state-of-the-art, open-air football facility was the first of its kind to be constructed entirely with private funds.

On August 26, 1996, Pro Player, the sports apparel brand of Fruit of the Loom, sponsored the renaming of Joe Robbie Stadium as Pro Player Stadium. The name was changed from Pro Player Stadium to Dolphin Stadium on January 09, 2005.

Plans for the stadium were first announced on March 5, 1984. The clearing for the stadium site began on July 22, 1985, and groundbreaking ceremonies were held on December 1, 1985.

Financing for Dolphin Stadium was based largely upon the licensing of executive suites and club seats on a 10-year basis. Executive suites range in price from $30,000-$90,000 per year. Club seats cost between $800-$1,800 per year on a 10-year license.

On March 7, 1990, H. Wayne Huizenga agreed to purchase 50 percent of Joe Robbie Stadium, enabling him to begin his pursuit of a Major League baseball franchise. On January 24, 1994, Huizenga acquired the remaining 50 percent of the stadium to give him 100% ownership.

The first football game was played on August 16, 1987, when the Dolphins hosted the Chicago Bears in a preseason contest. The Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers battled on March 11, 1988, marking the first-ever baseball game played at the stadium.

In 2007, Dolphin Stadium completed a historic transformation, unlike any stadium has experienced in the United States. Working with HOK Sport and Stiles Corporation, both renowned in their respective fields of venue design and construction, the stadium underwent $250 million in renovations and improvements.

In February 2008, Mr. Huizenga sold 50% of the Miami Dolphins, stadium and surrounding developable land to Stephen M. Ross of New York and Palm Beach. Mr. Ross, Chairman of the Related Companies, an international real estate development company, became an active partner. In January 2009, Mr. Ross closed on the purchase of an additional 45 percent of the team and stadium. Coupled with his earlier purchase of 50 percent of the franchise, the stadium, and the excess developable land, Mr. Ross now owns 95 percent of the Dolphins and the stadium while Mr. Huizenga has a 5 percent share of both and remains a 50 percent partner in that land.

In a unique branding partnership, on May 8, 2009, Mr. Ross and celebrated singer songwriter Jimmy Buffett announced that Dolphin Stadium would be renamed Land Shark Stadium, bringing together Buffett's Margaritaville and Land Shark themes to enhance the gameday experience at the venue.

How many names does it need

Seems like every other year they change the name of the stadium

Need a scorecard to keep track

Marlins' park now Sun Life Stadium
Dolphins agree to contract with financial company

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

01/20/10 1:01 PM EST

MIAMI -- Same home, different name.

When the Marlins open the 2010 season, their home ballpark will be called Sun Life Stadium.

The name change became official on Wednesday, when the Miami Dolphins, who own the multisport stadium, announced the change.

On Opening Day in 2009, the park was called Dolphin Stadium, but in May, it changed to Land Shark Stadium. Land Shark held the naming rights until the completion of the Jan. 4 Orange Bowl college football game.

Sun Life Financial is a Toronto-based financial services and insurance company. The deal was expected for weeks, and the name switch is immediate. The deal is for at least five years, and according to reports, can extend for as much as 20 years.

Sun Life Stadium becomes the seventh different name on the building that initially was named after the Dolphins' former owner, Joe Robbie.

The Marlins share Sun Life Stadium with the NFL's Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami football team.

In the upcoming weeks, the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XLIV will be played at Sun Life Stadium. Since their inaugural 1993 season, the Marlins have called the primary football stadium their home.

The Marlins have two more years to play at Sun Life Stadium before their 37,000-seat, retractable-roof ballpark opens in downtown Miami.

When the Marlins move into their baseball-only park in 2012, their name will change to the Miami Marlins.

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.