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Miami Dolphins News: NFL Announces Status for Dolphins Opener

Hard Rock Stadium Empty

The NFL officially announced today that the Miami Dolphins will not play in Miami at Hard Rock Stadium for their Week 1 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On their team website, the Dolphins issued a statement on Hurricane Irma, which is now a Category 5 storm that is likely to hit landfall on the East Coast of the United States by this weekend.

“Due to the potential impact of Hurricane Irma on South Florida, the Miami Dolphins home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, originally scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, will not be played in Miami on Sunday, the NFL announced today,” the Dolphins said in a statement. “In the interest of public safety in light of the current state of emergency, the NFL, in consultation with state and local officials as well as both clubs, has decided that playing an NFL game in South Florida this week is not appropriate. The league will continue to examine other options, including playing the game this Sunday at a neutral site or in Miami later this season, and will provide an update on that decision as soon as possible.”

The NFL has not yet made a decision on when or where the game between the Dolphins and Bucs will take place. The league is currently considering two options for the game: Sunday at a neutral site or playing the game later in the season in Miami.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, since both teams share the same bye in Week 11 on Nov. 19, there is a possibility that the Dolphins and Bucs would have to play 16 straight games without a week off.

Dolphin Nation will provide you with more details as soon as they become available.