- The Miami Dolphins were 30 degrees cooler than the Minnesota Vikings were on the sidelines in Miami on Sunday.
- Hard Rock Stadium was built to keep the Dolphins in the shade and their opponents in the sunshine.
The Miami Dolphins are extremely aware of how hot their city can get during football season.
Rather than simply sweat through the worst of it, the Dolphins decided to turn that heat into a home-field advantage, thanks to a clever bit of stadium design.
On Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, the effects of Hard Rock Stadium were on full display, with the Vikings' sideline reading 30 degrees warmer than that of the Dolphins.
—FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 16, 2022
There's nothing that complex about the Dolphins' competitive advantage — it just comes down to shade.
During renovations done to Hard Rock Stadium in 2016, the Dolphins decided to ensure that their sideline would be the beneficiary of the shade during the sunny September weeks.
—Sam Ali (@SamAliSports) October 16, 2022
It's a clever, albeit frustrating bit of gamesmanship on the part of the Dolphins, and it doesn't stop there.
The Dolphins also infamously wear white at home during early games, forcing their opponents to wear a darker colored jersey to enhance their toasting in the sun.
Between a hot sideline and a jersey that refuses to block the heat coming in, the Dolphins can get quite an advantage over whoever is coming to Miami, especially if they aren't ready to handle the heat.
But on Sunday, the Vikings managed just fine, ultimately beating the Dolphins 24-16, despite the sweltering temps.