From Formula 1 racing to NFL to Tennis’ 5th Slam

Hard Rock Tennis keeps the game growing

The Miami Open knows a thing or two about change. Since its inception in 1985 it has seen four venue changes from Delray Beach to Boca West to Crandon Park, to the world-famous Hard Rock Stadium. But even its most recent resting place involves little rest.

Every year, the tournament organisers are tasked with the huge task of transforming the home of the Miami Dolphins NFL team into a world-class tennis tournament. And this year, things got even more interesting.

Hard Rock Tennis requires innovation

As the Official Surface of the Miami Open since day one, Laykold has continually innovated to meet the tournament’s changing needs. The move to the Hard Rock Stadium in 2019 came with the challenge of new colors, a prescriptive pace rating requirement and the installation of 30 courts over an NFL field and surrounding car park.

The time pressure with the Miami Dolphins season and the start of the tournament just weeks apart later involved an unprecedented turn-around from our local installation partner FastDry Courts and new Laykold technology which allows court coating to be laid on new asphalt within a reduced timeframe.

This innovation has been at the heart of bringing tennis to a thrilling new venue, which keeps the game innovating and developing.

“To meet the new speed rating required by the tournament, we have customized our product mix and installation method to consistently achieve the right ball speed. Formula 1 isn’t the only sport where pace is crucial.”

The Formula 1 Impact

In 2023, the Miami Open’s ever-moving bar has been raised again. This year, the tournament requires a triple transformation with the inaugural Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix added to the mix.

The new track on the Formula 1 World Championship circuit made its debut in May 2022. The Miami International Autodrone is a temporary racetrack, designed to have a permanent feel, set over 5.41km of the Hard Rock Stadium complex with an estimated top speed of 320km (200m) /hour. Unsurprisingly, it has left its mark…on the tennis courts!

‘Formula 1 isn’t the only sport where pace is crucial’

The track, with its epicentre in the Hard Rock Stadium, skirted the outside show courts and snaked between the practice courts. This resulted in the need for a resurfacing of all courts to repair the damage caused by the stands and equipment during the Grand Prix before this year’s Miami Open.

A change in tournament pace rating requirements from ITF 3 Medium to ITF 4 Medium Fast which needs to be applied consistently across all 12 tournament and 18 practice courts added another dimension to the build. As Wesley Baum, the Technical and Field Support Manager is leading the court installation for Laykold explains:

“To meet the new speed rating required by the tournament, we have customized our product mix and installation method to consistently achieve the right ball speed. Our installation partner, FastDry, has been on site for 15 weeks, meticulously installing the courts to ensure we achieve the pinpoint accuracy required. Formula 1 isn’t the only sport where pace is crucial.”

With the Miami Dolphins playing their last home game on January 8, the timeframe to turn the NFL / Formula 1 venue into a world-class tennis venue is also Grand Prix-worthy.

The Fifth Slam to Formula 1 in Five Weeks

And of course, the transformation isn’t one way. Post tournament, there is less than 5 weeks to turn the venue back into a racing track as engines rev for the start of the 2023 Miami Grand Prix on May 5.

The Hard Rock Stadium is the only venue to host Formula 1, NFL and professional tennis. These sports couldn’t be more contrasting; it is truly a unique accomplishment.