tennis, life and a few things in between

Hard Rock Stadium
347 Don Shula Dr,
Miami Gardens, FL 33056

… 2024

This is a major tennis event with both ATP and WTA (men and women) held in Miami Gardens, Florida in March each year, on hard court. It started in 1985 in Delray Beach, billed as Winter Wimbledon, with $1.8m prize money. A few moves later, it settled in Hard Rock Stadium since 2019.

2023’s prize money is $16m. Singles winners receive $1,262,220 prize money.

Beside the stadium court, there are grandstand court and a few other courts.

For general parking, we’re directed to Gate 18. $40 per car ($35 if you pay with Sunshine Pass), which is a breeze – very convenient and efficient. DO check out their pre-paid parking …

The ground is nicely laid out. Car displays, foods and bars. We’ve drinks at … with a few shrimps, the bill is $80.

The tickets

Unlike US Open, the qualifying rounds ticket are $15 each, plus fees.

Stadium court tickets provide specific seats and access to the ground, and general admission to grandstand.

Grandstand tickets have designated seats, and access to the ground.

Ground pass is $55 per ticket plus fees.

They’re pretty tight on bags. A lady carries a tiny bag but is refused because it is a lightly larger than the sample the door checker holds. Many people have the clear plastic bags.

Hard Rock Stadium opened in 1987, is the home to the Miami Dolphins but is being used for a few other events, such as tennis, and college football the Orange Bowl. For tennis, they added huge sections at the stadium court, making it small because American football field is 120 yards by 53.3 yards, while tennis court is 78ft (23.77m) by 27ft (8.23m). Bathrooms have no ac, if I remembered right. USTA do. The ground is nicely groomed and laid out. I enjoyed the different seating areas, bars and eateries. Lacking corporate heavy hitters, such as Amex and Chase that are stables at US Open, La Roche-Posay passes out mini size. At Amex corner at the US Open, they gave at least two different full sizes. Don Shula (1930-2020) was a defensive back for 7 seasons but wa most famous for being the head coach of Miami Dolphins from 1970 to 1995, with the winningest recored: 347 victories and 328 regular season victories. In 1972, Dolphins had a perfect session, 14-0 but failed to win the Super Bowl. The QB I knew was Dan Marino (1961-) who lost to Joe Montana (1956-) and his 49er’s in Super Bowl XIX, in 1985. Marino won no Super Bowl while Joe Cool has 4 rings.

The matches on Day One …