Dolphins applying to host Super Bowl 52

The Miami Dolphins are back in the hunt for a Super Bowl, according to an Adam H. Beasley report in the Miami Herald. The Dolphins were denied the opportunity to host either Super Bowl 50 or 51 earlier this year, but, according to Beasley's source, have turned in the paperwork necessary to start the process again, this time looking toward Super Bowl 52 in February 2018.

The league will take all applications from any interested site and determine two or three finalists for the games. Those finalists will be announced by Wednesday. The chosen sites will then begin to put together a formal bid, which will be presented at the owners meetings in May, where a vote for the host city will be held.

Of course, the major hurdle for the Dolphins in this quest, as it was in the bid process for the 2016 and 2017 championship games, will be Sun Life Stadium itself. The Dolphins had tried to receive a portion of the estimated $350 million renovation plan for the 27 year old stadium through a series of tax subsidies and an increase in the hotel bed tax in Miami. That plan died without reaching the floor of the Florida State House of Representatives.

The Dolphins could be signaling a renewed effort to get the public funding, though it does not appear the support, or lack thereof, in Tallahassee has changed since May. The team could also be looking to simply try to land a Super Bowl without the improvements to the stadium, or they could be looking to again be rejected for a Super Bowl, adding more proof that, without the renovations, South Florida will continue to be shutout of receiving the game.

Miami has hosted 10 Super Bowls, tied with New Orleans for the most in one host city. That averages to one every 4.7 years. However, the city last hosted the game in 2010, meaning they will at least see an eight year gap between games, and it could be longer if the NFL sticks to their word that the city cannot have a game without changes to Sun Life Stadium.

By Wednesday, we will know if the site can even be considered a finalist at this point.

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