MLB Stadium Showcase: Marlins Park
Tuesday night, the 88th MLB All-Star Game will be played at Marlins Park in Miami. The Miami Marlins home stadium opened for business in 2012, after the franchise played its first 19 seasons at the now Hard Rock Stadium, located 14 miles northwest of downtown Miami. The team’s current home sits in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, two miles west of downtown Miami and six miles west of South Beach. The stadium was constructed on the former site of the famed Orange Bowl football complex, immediately south of the Dolphin Expressway.
Constructed at a cost of $634 million, the 37,000-seat venue takes on a look that is decidedly representative of the unique city in which it sits. The venue features a very contemporary design, filled with the bright colors, art deco architecture, art, beach life and party scene so synonymous with the iconic South Florida city.
A 70-foot tall Miami themed mechanical sculpture is found behind the centerfield fence, with two tropical fish aquariums present behind home plate.
Photos Courtesy: The New Tropic & AquaNerd
The Clevelander Marlins Park (named after the famous South Beach hotel and night spot) is stationed behind the leftfield wall and encompasses a swimming pool and space for up to 240 revelers.
Photo Courtesy: askmissa.com
The park’s wide variety of concession options include South Florida favorites like Cuban, Kosher and gluten free fare, along with seafood and local craft beers. Nathan’s Hot Dogs and Papa John’s Pizza are also available for purchase.
Throughout the concession areas, digital boards continually switch menus between English and Spanish language wording.
Structurally, Marlins Park comes equipped with a retractable roof, combined with outfield glass windows that provide a panoramic view of downtown Miami. The well-placed Budweiser Bowtie Bar offers similar glimpses of the Miami skyline.
In addition, two large fan plazas are situated on the east and west sides of the stadium, with the west area playing host to a year-round team pro shop.
The facility also lays claim to 45 luxury suites.
When factoring in the four surrounding parking garages and six additional nearby parking lots, the Marlins home features 5,700 automobile spots. Shuttles to a nearby mass transit station are also available on game days.
