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Upcoming Miami Dolphins dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The Seat That Matters Most Here: The Shaded Side
For a Miami Dolphins home game at Hard Rock Stadium, pick the south sideline. That is the Dolphins' side, and for afternoon kickoffs it falls into shade earlier than the north, visitor side. In September and October, that single choice affects your comfort more than level, row or section. If you want the most protection from sun and rain, aim for upper rows set well back under the canopy. If you want the most affordable full-field view, look at the 300-level midfield sections.
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens seats 64,767, and its canopy shelters more than nine in ten seats. With a schedule that stretches from September into early January, early home games are among the hottest in the league and late ones among the most comfortable.
Sideline by Sideline, Level by Level
Section numbers below come from a published third-party fan guide; confirm them against the seat map when you buy.
South sideline (Dolphins)
The home bench sits in front of sections 144 to 148. The 72 Club, a field-level premium area with recliners spanning the 35-yard lines, is also here. This is the side to favor for a day game.
North sideline (visitors)
Visitors use the bench below sections 117 through 121; section 118 marks midfield, and the Lexus North Sideline Club fills 117 through 119. This side takes the most sun in the afternoon.
Upper level
Sections 318 through 321, at midfield, are the budget route to a sideline view of the entire field. For the most shelter in the building, go to the upper rows tucked far back under the roof line, for example sections 343 through 346.
End zones
The west end zone spans sections 102 through 106; the east end zone spans 130 through 134.
Where Not to Sit in September
- Front rows on the north sideline for a day game. You sit in direct sun and look over the visitors' bench, a poor combination.
- The first rows of the lower bowl anywhere. The canopy does not reach all the way down, so sun and rain still find these rows.
- Low end zone rows if you want the whole game. Great at the goal line, weak for the long middle of the field.
The calculation changes later in the year. By November and December, the heat drops and a sunny seat becomes far less of a penalty, so the north side can turn into a reasonable value. Prime-time kickoffs also take sun out of the equation.
What Drives Demand at Dolphins Games
The NFL schedule runs 17 games over 18 weeks, which gives Miami eight or nine regular-season home games, plus August preseason dates and any January home playoff games.
- AFC East rivals. Each year the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots visit once, and those games carry the longest histories and the strongest interest from both sides.
- November and December. Cooler weather and playoff stakes push these games up the list.
- Night kickoffs. No afternoon heat and a national audience make them some of the most popular dates.
- September day games. Hot and humid; resale supply for the sunny north side tends to be deepest for these.
Resale prices move with who is visiting, when the game kicks off and where the team sits in the race. Seats on the shaded home side usually cost more than similar seats across the field, and the gap is widest for early-season afternoon games. Every Reserved Seat order carries a 100% guarantee.
Road games in Buffalo's Orchard Park, New England's Foxborough and the Meadowlands come around every season, and a December trip north is a sharp change from home.
Parking, Tailgating and Heat Rules
As of the 2025 season, Hard Rock Stadium posted the following game-day rules. Policies change, so confirm the current version before you go.
- Parking: prepaid only. Lots open four hours ahead of a Dolphins kickoff and close roughly 90 minutes after the game.
- Tailgating: allowed in the lots, limited to the space your vehicle occupies. Bring a gas or charcoal grill if you like, but leave kegs and open flames at home, and weigh tents down because stakes are not allowed.
- Entry: doors open 120 minutes ahead of kickoff, and once you leave you cannot come back in for most events. Tickets are digital and the stadium is cashless.
- Bags: bags must be clear and no larger than 12 inches long, 6 wide and 12 high; a paid check is available for bigger ones.
- Staying cool: you may carry in a factory-sealed water bottle up to 20 ounces. Spray sunscreen and umbrellas stay outside, so pack lotion and a hat.
- Getting there without a car: app-based rides load in Lot 44, a walk of around 25 minutes to the gates. Brightline passengers get a complimentary shuttle from the Aventura stop, and no-cost park-and-ride buses operate as well.
The complete list is in the Hard Rock Stadium guest guide. Roads around the stadium back up on game days, so leave early, especially if you plan to tailgate.
The Building Beyond Football
Joe Robbie Stadium, named for the founder, opened on August 16, 1987. Several sponsor names came and went before Hard Rock Stadium in 2016. Private money paid for the 2015–16 renovation that built the canopy and trimmed the seat count, which had been about 75,000, to 64,767. The address is Don Shula Drive.
The Dolphins share the venue with the Miami Hurricanes and the Orange Bowl. Six Super Bowls have been played here. The grounds also hold the Miami Open tennis event and a Formula 1 circuit for the Miami Grand Prix, and the stadium was a 2026 FIFA World Cup venue. Next door is the Baptist Health Training Complex, where the team has practiced since 2021. For deeper seat-level detail on other events, see the Hard Rock Stadium venue guide.
The Franchise Behind the Ticket
Lawyer Joseph Robbie and entertainer Danny Thomas received the American Football League (AFL) expansion franchise that began play in 1966, and they played their first 21 seasons at the Miami Orange Bowl. Don Shula coached from 1970 to 1995 and led three straight Super Bowl trips, winning two, VII and VIII. His 1972 club never lost: a 14–0 regular season and a clean sweep of the playoffs, a feat no NFL team had managed before and the core of the franchise's identity.
Miami owns five AFC titles (1971–73, 1982 and 1984). Dan Marino, quarterback from 1983 to 1999, rewrote much of the NFL passing record book and pulled off a famous fake spike to beat the Jets. The original colors were aqua and coral, with orange added later. The current owner, Stephen M. Ross, bought the club in 2009.
Frequently asked questions
Should I sit on the home or visitor side at Hard Rock Stadium?
For afternoon games, the south (Dolphins) sideline is the better choice because shade reaches it first. The visitors' north side stays sunny longer.
Which seats at Hard Rock Stadium are best protected from rain?
Choose upper rows set far back under the roof, around sections 343 through 346. The lowest rows of the lower bowl sit beyond the canopy's edge and can get wet.
What are the most affordable sideline seats for a Dolphins game?
Look at the 300 level near midfield, roughly sections 318 through 321, the least expensive way to sit on a sideline.
What should I bring to beat the heat at a Dolphins game?
Lotion sunscreen, a hat and a factory-sealed water bottle of 20 ounces or less, which the stadium's posted rules allow. Spray sunscreen and umbrellas are not allowed.
Where do I meet my rideshare after a Dolphins game?
Under the 2025 rules, rides load in Lot 44, around 25 minutes on foot from the gates. Confirm the current setup before game day.
What was the Dolphins' perfect season?
The 1972 team won all 14 regular-season games and every postseason game, finishing with Super Bowl VII. No NFL team had completed a perfect season before.