Land Shark Stadium, we hardly knew ye
By David Sweet • Jan 8th, 2010 • Category: A-B InBev, NFL
It was a heckuva run, lasting nearly eight full months. But that stadium in Miami where the Marlins and Dolphins play no longer has the Jimmy Buffett imprimatur.
Land Shark Stadium — named after a beer brand owned by Buffett and brewed by Anheuser-Busch — passed away officially on Tuesday at the end of the Orange Bowl game. Now, the multi-purpose park lacks any naming rights; it goes back to be known as simple old Dolphin Stadium.
What’s in a name? Fans might be confused what park they’re entering. It has been known as Joe Robbie Stadium and Pro Player Stadium as well during its short 23-year run. Perhaps that’s one reason why the Marlins — whose identity has been as World Series winners who love slashing payroll — have decided to move into their own rectractable roof park in 2012.
Though it may not be linked anymore to a beer brand championed by a partying singer, Dolphin Stadium will be rocking soon. It will host both the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl within the next month. But even those events may not be fun as the initial press conference with 500 Parrotheads announcing the Land Shark name.
