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New stadium proposed for University of Miami

Plans have been outlined for a new stadium for the Miami Hurricanes, the University of Miami’s American football team.

The Hurricanes currently play at Hard Rock Stadium (pictured), home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. The Hurricanes have leased the stadium from the Dolphins since 2008, when the former made the switch from the Orange Bowl.

Hard Rock Stadium is located 22 miles from UM’s main campus and Hurricanes fans feel the team requires a home venue that is closer to the university.

John H. Ruiz, a former UM student and founder of Medicare Secondary Player Recovery, has proposed a new stadium for the Hurricanes at Tropical Park, which is just three miles from the university.

“The Orange Bowl had this feel to it that has never been replicated at Hard Rock,” Ruiz told student newspaper The Miami Hurricane. “You were close to the field, you would be able to feel the game, you know? That’s the way we want to put it together here.”

Ruiz has proposed a new venue for the Hurricanes called LifeWallet Stadium, which would form part of the wider LifeWallet Park development. Tropical Park, which currently has a horse racing track, baseball fields and other sports facilities, would undergo significant renovation work if the LifeWallet Park plans are given the green light.

The Miami Hurricane reports that Ruiz would maintain many of the facilities currently located at Tropical Park. Ruiz also plans on adding more sports facilities.

Any plan to renovate Tropical Park would have to be approved by local residents through a county-wide referendum and Ruiz feels the proposal would receive the backing of the public. “I don’t think the county would vote against having a much-renewed public park with state-of-the-art technology,” he said.

HKS Architects is reportedly drawing up plans for the new stadium, with designs set to be released in the coming weeks.

The Hurricanes’ old stadium, the Orange Bowl, had a capacity of around 72,000 before being demolished in 2007. The stadium also served as the home of the Dolphins before the team moved to Hard Rock Stadium in 1987.

Image: Phasornc/CC BY-SA 4.0/Edited for size