Fans attending University of Miami games at Dolphin Stadium can expect more pregame entertainment, more comfortable seats, a wider selection of food and (unlike at the dearly departed Orange Bowl) the benefit of watching big plays a second time on one of the world's largest video replay boards.

But there also will be a few unwelcome but unavoidable changes -- altered seat assignments, the absence of Hurricanes logos in the end zones and limitations with all-day tailgating.

''We've worked very diligently, and Dolphin Stadium has been a great partner,'' UM athletic director Kirby Hocutt said.

A look at what fans can expect, beginning with Thursday's opener against Charleston Southern:

• Field presentation: There will not be a ''U'' at midfield Thursday, but there will be beginning either Sept. 27 against North Carolina, if the Marlins have been eliminated from playoff contention by then, or Oct. 4 against Florida State if the Marlins do not make the playoffs.

The letter ''U'' will be painted on turf that is being grown at an off-site turf farm. That turf will be implanted on the Dolphin Stadium field before games, then removed afterward.

But unlike at the Orange Bowl, the end zones will not display the word ''Miami'' or Canes helmets because UM shares the stadium with the Dolphins and ''it's too difficult to replicate the same process in the end zones,'' Hocutt said. Instead, there will be traditional collegiate striping in the end zones, with diagonal lines, beginning Sept. 27 or Oct. 4.

But Dolphin Stadium will allow UM to place a large ''U'' logo in the middle of its sideline. There also will either be ''U Miami'' or ''ACC Canes'' lettering in each corner of the field (but not on the field of play), according to diagrams provided by the school.

STADIUM DECORATION

• In-stadium presentation: The 400-level facade will be covered in a removable wrap featuring UM's Ring of Honor and acknowledgement of All-Americans, the national championship years and the 58-game home winning streak. Some Dolphins items -- including the Honor Roll -- will be concealed during Canes games. The lower-bowl field walls also will be wrapped in UM colors.

UM memorabilia will be displayed on the north side of the club level.

• Entertainment: The plaza areas outside Gate G will be fashioned as a UM fan zone, with kids' games (inflatables, face-painting, etc.), disc jockeys and former-player autograph sessions. There will also be live music on the club level.

• Parking: Season passes cost $150 (for a general spot inside the stadium gates) and $210 (for preferred parking, club level only, also inside the gates) -- less than last year's $240 season package at the Orange Bowl. Dolphin Stadium spokesman George Torres said the single-game parking fee will be $25 for ''orange'' lots across the street.

• Transportation: UM will offer free transportation from campus for students only. Hocutt said providing transportation for others from campus is not feasible.

• Tailgating: Dolphin Stadium's RV lot (at the intersection of 26th Avenue and 203rd Street) will open six hours before kickoff, and main stadium lots will open four hours before. The OB's official lots also opened four hours before kickoff. But at the OB, fans could tailgate in front of nearby homes for longer than that.

FOOD AND DRINK

• Alcohol: It will be sold until the end of halftime -- same as at Dolphins games and in line with UM's policy last season. A 20-ounce draft beer will cost $7.

• Food: There will be a much wider selection than at the Orange Bowl. Options include jumbo all-beef hot dogs ($5), chicken tenders with fries ($9), meatball subs ($8), turkey croissants ($9), turkey legs ($8) and pulled barbecue pork sandwiches ($9). A 20-ounce bottle of water will cost $3.

• Single-game ticket prices: UM associate athletic director Jim Frevola said general-admission seats will be $29 for nonconference games and $34 for conference games. UM will also offer tickets in the family zone (upper deck) for $15 for nonconference games, $25 for the Oct. 4 FSU game and $19 for ACC games, excluding FSU. Alcohol will not be allowed in the family zone.

• Seat relocation: This was tricky because Dolphin Stadium has 21,000 fewer lower-bowl seats than the OB. Frevola said there were a few complaints early in the process, but that most fans got seats within a ''reasonable proximity to their old seats.'' Hocutt said UM has sold a lot of tickets the past week and will exceed last year's season-ticket count of 28,000.

UM originally indicated 55,000 tickets had been sold to Thursday's opener, but later clarified that, noting that 21,000 of those were purchased by UM and given to school employees.

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