The two possibilities for a new naming rights deal with the Dolphins’ stadium are Hard Rock and Qatar Airways, a source close to the team tells NBC 6.
There's no word on how serious the talks are, but the Dolphins are looking for a new sponsor for their stadium and both options make sense.
Hard Rock is an internationally known brand with local ties.
Qatar Airways is the state-owned carrier of Qatar and wouldn’t be the first airline from the Middle East to enter the sports sponsorship world. Starting in 2012, the U.S. Open Tennis Series has been sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Qatar also makes sense because Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross is reportedly leading a consortium of U.S. and Qatari interests to buy Formula 1 racing.
The Dolphins have yet to comment on the status of their stadium’s new name.
This week, the stadium became New Miami Stadium after the Sun Life naming rights deal expired last year. Sun Life Stadium was the seventh name the stadium has had since it opened in 1987. Known as Joe Robbie stadium until 1996, after the late owner of the Dolphins, it has also gone by Pro Player Park, Pro Player Stadium, Dolphins Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, and Land Shark Stadium.
