Chants of "Let's Go Marlins" would start unprovoked. When the Marlins scored a run or made a play in the field, the fans roared their approval. Most of the fans, at least where I sat in right field, spoke Spanish.Īlthough crowds at Marlins games are small, I was very impressed at how vocal and passionate about the team they were. Many of the employees are of Latin descent. The pre-recorded announcements outside of Sun Life Stadium are read in English and Spanish. It was also clear from my game day experience that the Marlins heavily go after the Spanish-speaking market in Miami. When I first saw the view from the inside, I was amazed at how ill-suited the stadium seemed to be when fitted for baseball, but I must say that the sightlines were excellent from the majority of seats not closed off and watching a game there was better than I might have guessed. Besides the two World Series, the various incarnations of Sun Life Stadium have also hosted three BCS national championships games. It opened as Joe Robbie Stadium in 1987, assumed the Pro Player name in 1996 (first as Park, then as Stadium), became Dolphins Stadium in 2005, then Dolphin Stadium in 2006, Land Shark Stadium for part of a baseball season in 2009, and finally received its current name in 2010, when Canadian-based Sun Life Financial signed a 5-year naming rights deal just before the stadium hosted its fifth Super Bowl. The Marlins won both of their championships during the park’s tenure as Pro Player Stadium. * The stadium was renamed yet again in 2010, with the Marlins playing their first game at Sun Life Stadium on 4/9/10. Here's a breakdown of how many games the Marlins have played in the stadium under each of its names: Meanwhile, the Marlins, who rent the stadium from the Dolphins, have their accomplishments minimized next to the left field foul pole, where a couple of small banners mention the team won the World Series in 19.įrom their inception in 1993 through 2009, the Florida Marlins have played 1,340 regular season games in their multi-named, multi-purpose stadium. Most visibly, the facades of the upper deck are lined with retired numbers and names of those associated with the Dolphins, including the retirement of the entire 1972 undefeated team. What that translates to for a baseball game is a location above where the third base and right field stands are, which means no scoreboard in center field.įinally, the sense of history in the stadium is associated with the Miami Dolphins, almost ignoring the fact that the Florida Marlins are the only team to have won a world championship while playing their home games in the venue that has had over a half-dozen names since it opened. Second, the primary scoreboards for Sun Life Stadium are located in the end zones. Obviously they're all packed for football, but when the stadium's seating is used for baseball, only 38,560 of the 75,540 seats – just 51% – are made available and the empty seats can best be described as vast. Even the Marlins' Web site describes it as an "open-air football facility." So when you step inside the rectangular-shaped Sun Life Stadium you'll notice a few things unique to the venue that also hosts baseball games.įirst, there are the sea of Miami Dolphin orange seats that take a bit getting used to. Located at 2269 Dan Marino Boulevard, Sun Life was set up as a football-only stadium in 1987. Where the pursuit of baseball never ends.įlorida’s Sun Life Stadium is home to the Miami Dolphins and one step inside won't let you forget it.Īlthough it's the home of the Florida Marlins for 81 regular season games a year, the stadium is unquestionably a football stadium first, and baseball second. One of the many great items in our Marlins Store. Click Here for a schedule.Sun Life Stadium - Florida Marlins Baseball Pilgrimages Metro-Rail service is available for sporting events at Sun Life Stadium. 250 Parking spaces are designated for handicapped people. Sun Life Stadium is easily accessible for people with disabilities. The cost to park at a Marlins game is usually around 10-dollars, parking spots at Dolphins games are more expensive, costing around 25-dollars. You will have to pay to park and prices vary for different sporting events. With over 23,000 available spaces, Sun Life's parking lot is one of the largest of any venue in America and was designed for tailgating. Sun Life Stadium is conveniently located in the city of Miami Gardens right off the Turnpike's Homestead Extension, but if you take the Turnpike be prepared to pay a toll on your way in and out of the facility.
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