Earlier this year, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved construction of the Marlins’ new ballpark. The ballpark, which officially broke ground in July, will be located in the downtown area of “Little Havana,” on the site of the former Miami Orange Bowl.
It’s about making a statement. So Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria challenged veteran ballpark architecture firm Populous to design a modernist structure: a sleek white stucco, silver metal and glass venue. He wanted a pitcher’s park, but with an intimate 37,000 blue seats, a left-field beach with a swimming pool and a right-field porch where fans can catch home-run balls. And sliding glass panels behind left field to showcase Miami’s skyline.
The team, after having spent years trying to gain political support and public dollars for the project, showed off new renderings and video of the ballpark, which combines white to mirror cruise ships and blue for the ocean, Biscayne Bay and Miami River. But Loria is keeping some details — such as a signature water feature in center field — under wraps.
The venue, scheduled to open in 2012 when the team will be renamed Miami Marlins, is designed to be breezy and comfortable, with wide concourses and plenty of concession stands for fans to get food and drinks quickly, Loria said. The concourses will overlook the field, so fans won’t miss the action when they get up for a beer or hot dog.
Wow. Check out some more artist renderings here.
The organization has pushed heavily since 2003 for their own stadium. Since the Marlins debuted in 1993, they have played in Joe Robbie Stadium (now LandShark Stadium), which is also the home of the Miami Dolphins. It’s been painfully obvious for some time now that the Marlins draw as much as a high school graduation. However, that may even be generous, depending on the size of your class. Good news is ownership knows what’s going on. It’s hot, hot, hot in Florida and nothing says a ruined evening than a gloomy Marlins or Rays barnburner. As a result, the new ballpark will have a state of the art retractable roof, a nice grass field, and 37,000 seats, including 3,000 club seats and 60 suites.
Though fans will have to wait till 2012 and have to get used to calling their team the “Miami Marlins,” those are small concessions for what looks to be a beautiful park. In left field, there are glass panels that can open up if the weather permits. How great would that be? I feel like the Marlins haven’t played a day game at home since they had Jeff Conine.
While some teams shop for sponsors, officials from the Marlins, Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami have agreed to fund the $515 million stadium with tourist tax dollars. Hopefully the Tampa Bay Rays follow suit because Tropicana Field looks like a glorified putt-putt course some struggling architects thought up after using many illegal substances.
