SoFla awarded 2021 football championship
Stadium’s renovations important to getting playoff’s title game
For the first time, the College Football Playoff National Championship game will be played in South Florida. The game will be played Jan. 11, 2021, at Hard Rock Stadium, said playoff officials. They said they were impressed with the stadium’s recent renovations.
MIAMI GARDENS — With Maimi Dolphins owner Steve Ross willing to open his checkbook to improve his team’s stadium, it was an easy decision for the College Football Playoff National Championship committee.
On Wednesday, Hard Rock Stadium was announced as the site of the national title game in 2021. The game will take place Jan. 11.
“As far as I’m concerned, the renovations had everything to do with it,” Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Gimenez said. “If Stephen Ross hadn’t spent $500 million to renovate the stadium, no matter how good our bid was, it was going to be very, very difficult for us to land this game, the same as the Super Bowl and the other great events that are coming.”
The three-year renovation project began in 2015. Among the upgrades already completed include replacing all lower bowl seats, the addition of giant video boards, the remodeling of the club level and 147 suites and redesign of the parking lot and exterior landscape.
After the Dolphins conclude this season, the project continues with the construction of two pedestrian bridges and tunnels that will allow fans to bypass vehicular traffic outside the stadium.
“We are excited that Hard Rock Stadium will play host to the biggest game in college