The Miami Dolphins aren’t messing around when it comes to the Zika virus and the health of their employees and fans.
As a means to combat the virus, the organization has been aggressively using EPA-approved chemicals in and around the newly dubbed Hard Rock Stadium, where the Dolphins play their home games.
“All month, the Dolphins have been treating the 265 acres of property around the stadium, including parking lots, as a precaution, and in the interest of fan safety. The Dolphins are contracted with a pest control company that has followed CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommendations in its multi-step approach and are using products deemed safe for people, pets and aquatic life,” writes Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post.
The team is targeting areas where water drains, areas of standing water and basically anywhere else mosquitoes could potentially be found.
Backpack foggers are going to be used every two weeks. Additional treatments will happen two days before every Dolphins game, as well as any Miami Hurricanes games, that occur at Hard Rock Stadium this year, per the report.
The stadium is set to see its first action since being renovated this offseason on Sept. 1, which is the final preseason game of the year for the Dolphins.
The team was forced to play its first “home” preseason game at Camping World Stadium in Week 2 as renovations have taken longer than anticipated. In fact, there have been some fears that the new digs would not be ready for the regular season, but things appear to be moving in the right direction at this time.
Miami opens its regular season at home in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 25. The University of Miami is scheduled to open its regular season at Hard Rock Cafe in Week 1 on Saturday, Sept. 3.