By R.V. Baugus
With all the advances made in recent years for patrons to enjoy their experience at public assembly venues, thanks mostly to technology, it is no surprise that the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium are taking to the skies for the next step of a WOW experience.
Ready for this one? A gondola cable lift is being built at Hard Rock Stadium, giving fans a new perspective of 
the home of the Dolphins. Think the sky lift ride at your nearby amusement park but with a stunning view of the city skyline.
And to think cup holders were once a significant guest experience invention!
We got confirmation from the Twitter account of Tom Garfinkel, vice chairman, president and chief executives of the Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, who indicated the project should be completed ahead of this season’s Super Bowl at the stadium on February 2. Timing, after all, is everything, and this could bring in very significant revenue to the thousands upon thousands who will be descending upon South Florida for the big game.
The obvious question is will the ride be used as a form of transportation the day of the game, and that answer is no. The ride is for entertainment purposes only and will stretch along the south side of the stadium. The cost per ride is still not known.
Specifics of the ride according to The Next Miami is that the gondola will travel for some 1,800 feet with the ride lasting some 10 minutes. Riders will enjoy a spectacular view of the stadium with the lavish skyline in the background.
According to The Next Miami, the gondola will travel for about 1,800 feet, with the ride lasting about 10 minutes. Those in the gondola will be given a bird’s eye view of the stadium with Miami’s skyline in the background.
The project is expected to cost $3 million and is being handled by one of the very best in Austrian ski lift manufacturer Doppelmayr, which is best known in the U.S. for its work on the Disney Skyliner, is managing the construction process, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The venue is also stepping up its efforts to eliminate single-use plastics ahead of the Super Bowl.
In an interview with Forbes, Garfinkel, discussed the team’s efforts to tackle plastic consumption.
In August, Garfinkel formed an internal committee to study how single-use plastics can be phased out and how the Dolphins can improve recycling efforts after watching a 60 Minutes documentary on how plastic is polluting the ocean. Garfinkel later announced that Hard Rock Stadium has committed to phasing out 99.4 per cent of single-use plastics by 2020, including for Super Bowl LIV.
Garfinkel told Forbes: “If we do something at the stadium and can set an example, what kind of larger impact can that have? I’m fortunate enough to be in a leadership position and I have a responsibility to lead, and I’m fortunate to have an owner (Stephen Ross) who is passionate about climate change and these initiatives.”
According to Garfinkel, Hard Rock Stadium uses approximately 678,000 plastic bottles and 525,000 plastic cups each year.
