In order to prepare for the Pro Bowl in Orlando, the NFL is moving one of its Mickey Mouse games there as well.
As part of the league’s “re-imagination” of the Pro Bowl experience, they realized that at some point they might want a dry run in a stadium in which they don’t ordinarily use.
So they’re going to let the Dolphins “host” the Falcons during Week Three of the Preseason in Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. In the league’s release, it also said the game will provide the league “the opportunity to observe the gameday experience and stadium operations.”
It’s also a useful trial balloon to see how preseason games are received in markets without NFL teams, which is something the league ought to consider as many fans with season tickets have grown tired of paying full fare for games that only barely resemble football.
It also buys the Dolphins an extra week to make sure their renovations are finished on time. Their only preseason game in their soon-to-be-named building is in the final week of the preseason.
Team officials told Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald the project was still on schedule, and that wasn’t the reason the game was moved.
Dolphins season ticket holders will receive a refund for the game, making them the big winners in this deal, for not having to pay to watch a preseason game.
