The Miami Dolphins have a storied history of hosting the biggest game in football—11 Super Bowls across two iconic venues. From the legendary Miami Orange Bowl (five Super Bowls) to the modern Hard Rock Stadium (six, including the most recent in 2020), South Florida has long been a cornerstone of the NFL's championship rotation.
But that tradition is now on hold. And according to Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, the reason comes down to a deliberate trade-off: prioritizing major international events over the Super Bowl.
In a recent interview with The Miami Herald, Ross explained that Hard Rock Stadium no longer meets the NFL's requirements for hosting the Super Bowl—not because of the field or facilities, but due to a lack of space for the sprawling hospitality and fan experiences the league demands. The culprit? The construction of a Formula One racetrack and tennis courts for the Miami Open, both of which now occupy what was once available land around the stadium.
"The one thing that suffered is Miami hasn't gotten a Super Bowl here, and we normally have one every five years," Ross said. "Miami is not really in line for one. It's always exciting to have the Super Bowl, but that was before we had all the other events. Miami has by far the best weather. It's in their best interest to have one here, but at this point, they don't believe we meet all the requirements and the demands."
Translation: Ross and his team have chosen to transform the stadium into a year-round entertainment hub—hosting F1's Miami Grand Prix and top-tier tennis—rather than chase the NFL's Super Bowl checklist. It's a bold business move, but one that has sidelined Miami from the league's rotation.
The upcoming Super Bowl schedule reflects this shift: after this year's game in Las Vegas, the big game heads to Los Angeles (2027), Atlanta (2028), and back to Las Vegas (2029). Miami is notably absent from the lineup.
Still, Ross isn't giving up entirely. "We are looking at how to make improvements," he said. "I want to make the stadium always feel like a new stadium. We are looking at what the next phase will be and making the fan experience that much better."
For now, though, the message is clear: Miami's ownership is betting big on F1 and tennis over the Super Bowl. And until that equation changes, the Lombardi Trophy will be hoisted elsewhere—leaving Dolphins fans to wonder if their stadium will ever host the big game again.