Miami home field sun advantage and why this is wrong on so many levels

[ALF]

Have games start after sunset when the heat index is too high.

[Tanoros]

9 hours ago, mjt328 said:

Each stadium offers its own level of homefield advantage.

 

For some teams (such as Buffalo), that edge comes from weather.  Our hometown players get used to the snow and wind, while the visiting domed/warm-weather teams often struggle to get acclimated.  They say that Seattle was built to amplify sound, making it incredibly difficult for visiting offenses to communicate.  Denver's stadium is at a higher altitude, which results in lower oxygen levels and causes visiting teams to get gassed more easily.  At the Meadowlands, stadium officials were known to open the tunnel doors when visiting teams were kicking and close them for the Jets/Giants.

 

Normally these types of things don't bother me.  But what I saw yesterday was definitely on a different level.  There were dozens of players going down with heat stroke, heat related illness, etc.  I've never witnessed that in a football game before.  Coaches and players have often talked about the heat-advantage at the Dolphins stadium, but this seemed remarkably unsafe.  Not sure if there is a solution though, other than make Miami play in the later time slot during the early part of the season.

 

I agree. The amount of players showing signs of heat exhaustion was unbelievable! I’ve never seen anything like it before (but I’m not watching every Miami home game either). Most of our players, just looked like they were barely holding on. It was hard to watch, yet it also showed just how damn tough they are. They fought like hell! 

[MPT]

11 hours ago, Beast said:

It was no issue when we won there in September last season 35-0.

 

Wow I didn't know that Miami had the same exact weather every day in September every year.

 

Was half our team injured for that game too?

[Beast]

26 minutes ago, MPT said:

 

Wow I didn't know that Miami had the same exact weather every day in September every year.

 

Was half our team injured for that game too?

 

Funny but WGR said that the conditions were almost identical so who knows.

[MPT]

1 minute ago, Beast said:

 

Funny but WGR said that the conditions were almost identical so who knows.

 

Weather records show it was 10 degrees cooler during last year's game with more cloud cover. And I think you're not appreciating the fact that we couldn't rotate players this year because everyone was hurt. Just the sheer number of players leaving with heat sickness or cramps should be an obvious indicator of the difference between the conditions.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

This was a rare game. Move on.

[What a Tuel]

3 hours ago, UKBillFan said:

Have we really got to the point of reviewing the weather from September 2021? 😅

 

Pretty sure the people bringing up 2021 weather are the people arguing that this conversation is all because we lost and not because we saw players throwing up and falling over from heat exhaustion.

 

Either we build our new stadium to ensure the home bench is protected from the elements and ban heaters on the visitor sidelines or the dolphins allow a few popup tents and cooling benches.

 

Its that easy. But we all know that no one is going to be a big enough dick to design our new stadium to prevent the visitor side from getting heat. But hOmEFieLD AdVAnTaGe am i right?

[Royale with Cheese]

46 minutes ago, MPT said:

 

Weather records show it was 10 degrees cooler during last year's game with more cloud cover. And I think you're not appreciating the fact that we couldn't rotate players this year because everyone was hurt. Just the sheer number of players leaving with heat sickness or cramps should be an obvious indicator of the difference between the conditions.

Can you send a link for the weather record for last year compared to this year?

Just outbid curiosity.

[What a Tuel]

1 minute ago, Royale with Cheese said:

Can you send a link for the weather record for last year compared to this year?

Just outbid curiosity.

Not sure if serious or not but I posted this on the prior page.

 

https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/fl/miami/KMIA/date/2022-9-25

 

Yesterday:

Time Temperature Dew Point Humidity Wind Wind Speed Wind Gust Pressure Precip. Condition

12:53 PM89 °F72 °F57 %ESE6 mph0 mph29.89 in0.0 inPartly Cloudy

1:53 PM89 °F73 °F59 %ESE9 mph0 mph29.86 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

2:53 PM88 °F74 °F63 %E10 mph0 mph29.84 in0.0 inPartly Cloudy

3:53 PM88 °F75 °F65 %E13 mph0 mph29.82 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

 

https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/fl/miami/KMIA/date/2021-9-19

Last year:

Time Temperature Dew Point Humidity Wind Wind Speed Wind Gust Pressure Precip. Condition

12:53 PM88 °F76 °F67 %E9 mph0 mph30.01 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

1:40 PM81 °F75 °F82 %VAR3 mph0 mph30.00 in0.1 inHeavy T-Storm

1:53 PM81 °F76 °F85 %W7 mph0 mph30.00 in0.2 inT-Storm

2:53 PM77 °F75 °F94 %CALM0 mph0 mph29.98 in0.4 inT-Storm

3:13 PM78 °F75 °F90 %CALM0 mph0 mph29.97 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

3:53 PM81 °F76 °F85 %CALM0 mph0 mph29.96 in0.0 inMostly Cloud

[Playoffs?]

6 hours ago, frostbitmic said:

Confuse the winds so it doesn't snow on the Buffalo sideline yet leave the Miami sideline in waist deep drifts.

 

And if they're going to schedule a Bills game in Miami in September @1:00, they need to schedule Miami at Buffalo at 8:00 the final game of the season.

There’s the answer right there!  

[blacklabel]

If the league gives a crap about player safety it needs to be discussed. These guys shouldn't be out there playing in that insanity. Guarantee there were some Miami players that were feeling it too. 

 

I said in another thread that I hope when the Fish come up here in December that the high temp for the day is like 8 or something. They can freeze their little fish faces off. 

[BigAl2526]

I think it is a very real problem and I think there are solutions, but I don't really think the NFL is going to make the necessary changes.  Solutions could include scheduling home games in Miami (and Tampa Bay) either in the morning or evening to avoid that brutal afternoon sun and humidity during the first 4 or five weeks of the regular season.  However, I don't think the league would ever adopt that as a policy because it screws up TV contracts.

[Big Turk]

15 minutes ago, What a Tuel said:

Not sure if serious or not but I posted this on the prior page.

 

https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/fl/miami/KMIA/date/2022-9-25

 

Yesterday:

Time Temperature Dew Point Humidity Wind Wind Speed Wind Gust Pressure Precip. Condition

12:53 PM89 °F72 °F57 %ESE6 mph0 mph29.89 in0.0 inPartly Cloudy

1:53 PM89 °F73 °F59 %ESE9 mph0 mph29.86 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

2:53 PM88 °F74 °F63 %E10 mph0 mph29.84 in0.0 inPartly Cloudy

3:53 PM88 °F75 °F65 %E13 mph0 mph29.82 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

 

https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/fl/miami/KMIA/date/2021-9-19

Last year:

Time Temperature Dew Point Humidity Wind Wind Speed Wind Gust Pressure Precip. Condition

12:53 PM88 °F76 °F67 %E9 mph0 mph30.01 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

1:40 PM81 °F75 °F82 %VAR3 mph0 mph30.00 in0.1 inHeavy T-Storm

1:53 PM81 °F76 °F85 %W7 mph0 mph30.00 in0.2 inT-Storm

2:53 PM77 °F75 °F94 %CALM0 mph0 mph29.98 in0.4 inT-Storm

3:13 PM78 °F75 °F90 %CALM0 mph0 mph29.97 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

3:53 PM81 °F76 °F85 %CALM0 mph0 mph29.96 in0.0 inMostly Cloud

 

Cloud cover makes a big difference...temps in that sun on the field are likely 20+ degrees warmer.

 

Eric Wood reported the on field temp yesterday was 112.

 

Last year would likely have been around 95 with the cloud cover

Edited September 27, 2022 by Big Turk

[What a Tuel]

14 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

I think it is a very real problem and I think there are solutions, but I don't really think the NFL is going to make the necessary changes.  Solutions could include scheduling home games in Miami (and Tampa Bay) either in the morning or evening to avoid that brutal afternoon sun and humidity during the first 4 or five weeks of the regular season.  However, I don't think the league would ever adopt that as a policy because it screws up TV contracts.

 

Morning football sounds like fun but you are right, missing half the country while they are still sleeping is unlikely.

[Royale with Cheese]

51 minutes ago, What a Tuel said:

Not sure if serious or not but I posted this on the prior page.

 

https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/fl/miami/KMIA/date/2022-9-25

 

Yesterday:

Time Temperature Dew Point Humidity Wind Wind Speed Wind Gust Pressure Precip. Condition

12:53 PM89 °F72 °F57 %ESE6 mph0 mph29.89 in0.0 inPartly Cloudy

1:53 PM89 °F73 °F59 %ESE9 mph0 mph29.86 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

2:53 PM88 °F74 °F63 %E10 mph0 mph29.84 in0.0 inPartly Cloudy

3:53 PM88 °F75 °F65 %E13 mph0 mph29.82 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

 

https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/fl/miami/KMIA/date/2021-9-19

Last year:

Time Temperature Dew Point Humidity Wind Wind Speed Wind Gust Pressure Precip. Condition

12:53 PM88 °F76 °F67 %E9 mph0 mph30.01 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

1:40 PM81 °F75 °F82 %VAR3 mph0 mph30.00 in0.1 inHeavy T-Storm

1:53 PM81 °F76 °F85 %W7 mph0 mph30.00 in0.2 inT-Storm

2:53 PM77 °F75 °F94 %CALM0 mph0 mph29.98 in0.4 inT-Storm

3:13 PM78 °F75 °F90 %CALM0 mph0 mph29.97 in0.0 inMostly Cloudy

3:53 PM81 °F76 °F85 %CALM0 mph0 mph29.96 in0.0 inMostly Cloud

Thanks!

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

I’ve been searching for all the posts whining about the stadium after all the games the Bills won in Miami … can’t find them

[What a Tuel]

10 hours ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

I’ve been searching for all the posts whining about the stadium after all the games the Bills won in Miami … can’t find them

 

This was discussed. They were all cooler and we didn't see the effects on players we saw sunday. Nothing to do with the loss.

 

Show me a game previously where we saw this effect.

[Royale with Cheese]

3 minutes ago, What a Tuel said:

 

This was discussed. They were all cooler and we didn't see the effects on players we saw sunday. Nothing to do with the loss.

 

Show me a game previously where we saw this effect.

 

Thanks for the links.  Another poster was calling several ignorant because he said the temp/elements were identical last year.

[Billz4ever]

On 9/26/2022 at 6:26 AM, 298Woody said:

I live here is south Florida and have been saying since the new stadium bakes the opponent by design of the owner of the Dolphins. The position and roof design give complete shade on the home team side and cook the visitors. The only solution I see is to ban 1 pm games from this stadium in September and October or extens the roof to shade the entire stadium. This is the tropics.

The hottest part of the day is 3 P.M. so moving to a 4 P.M. kickoff isn't much better.  Would have to be a night game to really make a difference.

[Billz4ever]

21 minutes ago, What a Tuel said:

 

This was discussed. They were all cooler and we didn't see the effects on players we saw sunday. Nothing to do with the loss.

 

Show me a game previously where we saw this effect.

They weren't all cooler. The game last year was within one degree of this year with the same humidity.

 

The difference this year was the bills game planned to chew clock and their offense was on the field for almost the equivalent of 3 entire quarters.  Last year they had the ball for 28 minutes.

 

The Bills blew them out last year, so nobody cared.

 

But if something is actually an unfair advantage, people should be making noise about it regardless of if they win or lose, which isn't the case.  It's only a big deal now because we lost.

 

 

Edited September 27, 2022 by Billz4ever

[Royale with Cheese]

Just now, Billz4ever said:

They weren't all cooler. The game last year was within one degree of this year with the same humidity.

 

The difference was the bills game planned to chew clock and their offense was on the field for almost the equivalent of 3 entire quarters.  Last year they had the ball for 28 minutes.

 

The Bills blew them out last year, so nobody cared.

 

But if something is actually an unfair advantage, people should be making noise about it regardless of if they win or lose, which isn't the case.  It's only a big deal now because we lost.

 

 

 

NOPE!

[TBBills]

On 9/26/2022 at 6:08 AM, oldschoolfootball1963 said:

The NFL or players association needs to step in and do something about this. We could have had several players die or be so heat effected that it could effect those players for several games. This is a safety issue. When the dolphins play in buffalo they have the same heaters and cold weather gear and it’s on equal footing. In Miami one team gets to be in the shade the entire game while the other side bakes in the sun. I’ve never been to Hard Rock stadium. But it appears there is some sort of screen or something that keeps their side shady. This is a very unfair advantage that effects the players heath. It would be like the dolphins having to play in leather helmets Vs the Bill's with todays helmet technology. I’m not pissed that we lost. I’m mad about how the sun effected the Bills players more because one team gets the shade while the other team bakes. This needs to stop to protect player safety. 
 

I just read the entire thread. I don’t care who won the game. The winner is not important. If you took your 80 year old grandma into that stadium what side of the stadium 🏟 would you sit her on for 4 hours. We have many 300 pound men expending lots of energy. This is not right. It has nothing to do with who wins or losses. If the Bills had won I would be saying the same thing. That side of the field was unsafe for player safety. Korey Stringer died of heat stroke for the Minn Vikings. 
This was unsafe period and this effects players in different ways. We may have a few players that might not play in Baltimore because of the effects of this game. I was very worried someone might die in this game. Credit Miami for hanging in there. But look at their defense 90 plays and still doing well. Now look at the Bills offense. They look like they might die out there. If you don’t think that this is a problem then you are the problem. 

S. T. O. P.

[What a Tuel]

8 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

NOPE!

 

It's a vicious cycle of correcting this.

 

I don't know why people think its because we lost. I guarantee this topic would have been here if we won. Same with the Tua concussion thread.

 

No one wants to see either situation when they are watching football.

 

[Royale with Cheese]

7 minutes ago, What a Tuel said:

 

It's a vicious cycle of correcting this.

 

I don't know why people think its because we lost. I guarantee this topic would have been here if we won. Same with the Tua concussion thread.

 

No one wants to see either situation when they are watching football.

 

 

For sure.  I've never seen a game where players are dropping like flies.  Diggs laying on the sideline looked like he was dead and I know the feeling.

 

I got heat exhaustion cramps about 4 years ago.  My right leg completely locked up for about 15 minutes in my hamstring and calf.  I didn't even want anyone to carry me off the mat, I just wanted to lay there because any movement from my leg was extremely painful.  There is nothing you can do when your body gets to that point.

 

We blew some opportunities for sure and should have won the game.  But the sun just made it significantly worse.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

16 hours ago, ALF said:

Have games start after sunset when the heat index is too high.

or 4PM start. 
 

it usually rains near 3 PM every day 

It was 100 deg in LA right 

 

but both teams were shaded

 

[DieHardBillsFan]

On 9/26/2022 at 6:51 AM, Stretch said:

I’m sorry, but I don't see this as cheating.  It’s smartly building an advantage.

It's the Patriot way!

[NyQuil]

It’d sure be shame if there were malfunctions with the heaters when they play in December.

[C.Biscuit97]

Eh. I went to a 90 degree game in Buffalo before. I’m sure the snow and cold is a huge advantage to us late in the season.  That’s football. I mean you could make every team have a dome for the fairest competition but where’s the fun in that? 

[Mr. WEO]

On 9/27/2022 at 9:16 AM, Royale with Cheese said:

 

For sure.  I've never seen a game where players are dropping like flies.  Diggs laying on the sideline looked like he was dead and I know the feeling.

 

I got heat exhaustion cramps about 4 years ago.  My right leg completely locked up for about 15 minutes in my hamstring and calf.  I didn't even want anyone to carry me off the mat, I just wanted to lay there because any movement from my leg was extremely painful.  There is nothing you can do when your body gets to that point.

 

We blew some opportunities for sure and should have won the game.  But the sun just made it significantly worse.

 

 

Did he enter the concussion protocol?

[Mr. WEO]

On 9/27/2022 at 9:16 AM, Royale with Cheese said:

 

For sure.  I've never seen a game where players are dropping like flies.  Diggs laying on the sideline looked like he was dead and I know the feeling.

 

I got heat exhaustion cramps about 4 years ago.  My right leg completely locked up for about 15 minutes in my hamstring and calf.  I didn't even want anyone to carry me off the mat, I just wanted to lay there because any movement from my leg was extremely painful.  There is nothing you can do when your body gets to that point.

 

We blew some opportunities for sure and should have won the game.  But the sun just made it significantly worse.

 

The Bills should only play during a total solar eclipse.   

[Beast]

We'll see how much that home field helps that defense on short rest after being on the field for 90 plays and 40 minutes 4 days prior in that heat.

 

***** Miami. 

[Buffalosouth]

This is one of those topics that gets brought up on opposing teams message boards. 

 

I agree player safety comes first. Let's make sure the new stadium has us in the sun and the opposing team in the shade during winter. Can we also get the wind to only blow and their sideline as well. No heat in the locker room either. 

 

They won, we lost, and we will smash their faces in when round 2 comes around.

[Royale with Cheese]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

The Bills should only play during a total solar eclipse.   

No they shouldn’t.

[Mr. WEO]

5 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

No they shouldn’t.

 

well, I've read here over the past 2 seasons that they aren't fit for high winds (NE game in Buff), rain (Indy game) or the hot sun (Miami, only this year).   One would get the  impression, reading here, that they are only built for perfect weather.

 

The only logical conclusion is the of this team is to enjoy the ultimate success.....they will have to move to San Diego.

[Mr. WEO]

2 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Yea… The excuses are just that.

 

They were the better team Sunday. The problems were the same as last season in most of their losses… Poor offensive line play(yes injuries contributed). 

 

coaching and prep for the known heat risks were also lacking

[BGORDO]

OMG, not another dome thread. 

[jkeerie]

11 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

coaching and prep for the known heat risks were also lacking

I don't know how you can prepare for 112 degree heat index.  On a short week it likely wasn't feasible to go down early to get acclimated.  When NE went down early it was the first game of the season...much more time to prepare.

From what I heard from the players and coaches, none of them was using the weather as an excuse.  They know they didn't make the plays when they needed to.

Having said all this, with the higher temperatures this planet is experiencing, playing conditions this extreme...that can adversely affect player health...should be avoided.  People die of heat exhaustion and heat stroke under lesser conditions.

[NewEra]

26 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

coaching and prep for the known heat risks were also lacking

What did McDs coaching and prep for the known heat risks consist of?  

[Royale with Cheese]

42 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

well, I've read here over the past 2 seasons that they aren't fit for high winds (NE game in Buff), rain (Indy game) or the hot sun (Miami, only this year).   One would get the  impression, reading here, that they are only built for perfect weather.

 

The only logical conclusion is the of this team is to enjoy the ultimate success.....they will have to move to San Diego.

Cool story.

[Mr. WEO]

4 minutes ago, jkeerie said:

I don't know how you can prepare for 112 degree heat index.  On a short week it likely wasn't feasible to go down early to get acclimated.  When NE went down early it was the first game of the season...much more time to prepare.

From what I heard from the players and coaches, none of them was using the weather as an excuse.  They know they didn't make the plays when they needed to.

Having said all this, with the higher temperatures this planet is experiencing, playing conditions this extreme...that can adversely affect player health...should be avoided.  People die of heat exhaustion and heat stroke under lesser conditions.

it’s not really a question of acclimation—the Miami players no doubt spend most of their week in air conditioned spaces.  It’s very doubtful they are on the field practicing hard midday every day.  It’s more about strict hydration schedules all week and particularly the days before,  as well as electrolyte replacement.  It was 102 on the field last year.  Every knows this is how it’s going to be there on turn in September 

3 minutes ago, NewEra said:

What did McDs coaching and prep for the known heat risks consist of?  

excellebt question.  Nothing obvious