Charter Bus to Miami Dolphins Game

East Coast Limousine has been providing a stress-free and affordable charter bus to Miami Dolphins games since 1986. For a bus charter to enjoy the upcoming NFL football season, choose a game, organize your group, and we’ll handle the rest!

History of the NFL Miami Dolphins football team 

Florida lawyer Joseph Robbie and actor Danny Thomas acquired an expansion American Football League team in 1966. The team, which would become the Miami Dolphins, was the ninth AFL expansion franchise and a charter member of the fledgling league. The duo paid the AFL $7.5 million for the team. 

Robbie initially planned to establish a football team in Philadelphia. However, AFL commissioner Joe Foss stepped in, suggesting Miami could be an ideal location for a professional football team due to the weather. Foss also cited Miami’s growing population and a lack of competition from other professional sports teams, as reasons Robbie should consider the city for the new AFL team.  

The owners held a contest to name the new football team. There were more than 19,000 entries suggesting the team’s official name, with over a thousand different mascots put forward. The name ‘Dolphins’ won the contest, as the name was submitted 622 times. 

The Dolphins Kick off in the AFL

Robbie eventually bought Thomas’ stake in the franchise and took full control of the Dolphins. George Wilson, a former Chicago Bears player in the 1930s and 1940s, became the Dolphins’ first-ever head coach. The team struggled under Wilson, finishing each season from 1966 to 1969 with a losing record.  

In 1970, the AFL and the NFL merged. The Dolphins became members of the AFC East and suddenly found success on the gridiron. The team appointed Don Shula as head coach for the 1970 season. Shula had previously coached the Baltimore Colts from 1963 to 1969. Although Shula would become synonymous with the Dolphins, he cut his teeth with the Colts after being appointed head coach at the age of 33.  

Shula’s Colts were a fantastic team, but the head coach failed to win the big games. The Colts lost the 1963 NFL Championship Game and Super Bowl III in 1969. His poor postseason record damaged relations with Baltimore’s owner Carroll Rosenbloom leading to his departure.  

Robbie had had four losing seasons as the owner of the Dolphins and was desperate for a winning campaign. He offered Shula a $70,000-a-season contract, a stake in the team, and general manager responsibilities.  

The Dolphins finally found success in Shula’s first season. The team went 10-4 and made the playoffs, losing to the Oakland Raiders in the Divisional Round. For the next three seasons, Shula worked his magic, guiding the Dolphins to the Super Bowl in each campaign. 

Super Bowl Champions

Miami Lost Super Bowl VI against the Dallas Cowboys 24-3. The next season, Miami finally won the big game, defeating the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII. The 1972 campaign was one of the greatest in NFL history, as the Dolphins went 14-0 in the regular season before winning all three playoff games for a perfect 17-0 record.

In Super Bowl VIII, the Dolphins defeated the Minnesota Vikings 24-7. Shula proved himself as one of the best head coaches in the NFL thanks to back-to-back Super Bowl wins. He also proved that Miami was one of the best teams in the league from year-to-year. The Miami Dolphins wouldn’t reach the Super Bowl again until 1982. Super Bowl XVII was a rematch of the 1972 version of the Big Game, as the Dolphins played the Redskins. This time, the Redskins came out on time 27-17. Two seasons later, Miami lost another Super Bowl, as the team fell to the San Francisco 49ers 38-16. Quarterback Dan Marino was the star of the season, however, winning the NFL Most Valuable Player Award. It was just Marino’s second season in the NFL. 

Shula Retires, and Playoff Defeats

Unfortunately for Dolphins fans, Super Bowl XIX was the last appearance in the NFL’s showpiece game for Miami. The team has gone nearly 40 years without reaching the Super Bowl again. The Dolphins’ lack of Super Bowl and NFL playoff appearances coincided with the dynasties of the Buffalo Bills in the 1990s and the New England Patriots in the 2000s and 2010s. Since winning the Super Bowl last, the Dolphins have reached the NFL playoffs just 13 times.  

In 1995, Shula retired as the head coach of the Dolphins. After reaching the Super Bowl in the 1984 season, Shula had a winning record in each of his remaining seasons except for one. Despite leaving the team, Miami continued to play well for the remainder of the decade. In the first season post-Shula, Miami failed to make the playoffs, posting an 8-8 record. However, coach Jimmy Johnson took Miami to the playoffs in each of the next three campaigns. Dave Wannstedt followed as head coach, guiding the Dolphins to the playoffs in 2000 and 2001.  

The Miami Dolphins once regularly qualified for the NFL postseason. However, since the 2002 season, Miami’s playoff appearances have been sporadic. Miami most recently qualified for the playoffs in 2022 under head coach Mike McDaniel courtesy of a 9-8 record. Miami lost in the playoffs to the Buffalo Bills 34-31, ending the team’s first season under the coach.

Hall of Famers and an Iconic Stadium 

The Dolphins have had 10 players inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. Perhaps the most legendary of those 10 players is Dan Marino. The quarterback played for the Dolphins from 1983 to 1999. Marino is the last quarterback to lead the team to a Super Bowl win.  

Wide receiver Paul Warfield was Miami’s first-ever NFL Hall of Fame inductee. Warfield compiled 3,355 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns in five seasons with the Dolphins. Shortly after Warfield was inducted into the Hall of Fame, legendary full-back Larry Csonka joined him.  

The Dolphins first played their home games at the Orange Bowl in Miami. The team attracted large crowds throughout the 1970s thanks in part to the team’s success on the field. Foss had been right about Miami being a potentially successful city for pro football. The 1973 season was especially successful for the Dolphins, as they had 74,961 season tickets sold.  

The Dolphins played at the Orange Bowl until 1987 when the team moved into its own stadium. Known as Joe Robbie Stadium at the time, the Dolphins unveiled their new home venue with a 73,000-seat capacity. The Miami Hurricanes now share the stadium with the Dolphins, having relocated from the Orange Bowl in 2008 

Joe Robbie Stadium was renamed Hard Rock Stadium in 2016 due to sponsorship rights. The venue has hosted a variety of professional sporting events over the years, including Miami Marlins baseball, soccer, and WrestleMania.

Transportation to Miami Dolphins Games

We offer passenger vans, mini-buses, and full-size motor coaches from locations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, for the best charter bus in South Florida. Our charter bus rentals to Dolphins games will exceed your expectations.