Marlins Stadium Construction Pictures & Discussion

[DJ Starion]

Apparently the ballpark will be called "Royal Caribbean Colosseum"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlins_Ballpark

Other than the wiki, there's no mention of it anywhere.

[Jim Vaz]

The webcam points south-southwest from behind the third base line. The Miami skyline is to the left of where the camera is. You're looking out in the direction of the Keys



So then the batters will be facing east toward the sun? thats interesting if its the case.

[BlueJays1977_1993]

So then the batters will be facing east toward the sun? thats interesting if its the case.

Actually that would be away from the sun.

[PeteU]

So then the batters will be facing east toward the sun? thats interesting if its the case.

Unless they are going to be playing games before noon, thtat shouldn't be a problem.

[NYBase]

Apparently the ballpark will be called "Royal Caribbean Colosseum"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlins_Ballpark

Haha, that would be a ridiculous name.

[The Old Ballpark]

So then the batters will be facing east toward the sun? thats interesting if its the case.

That's the preferred orientation of MLB ballparks.

Nothing newsworthy about it.

[jnakamura]

Haha, that would be a ridiculous name.

I kind of like it. It's different and kinda catchy. It doesn't sound as generic as most of the name-for-hire stadiums.

[marlins739]

The ballpark will be oriented the same way as Miller, Great American, PNC, Rangers, Comerica, and US Cellular.

Where did the Royal Caribbean Colosseum name come from? It's not even on the Wikipedia page, and I've never heard any talk of the naming rights deal being done anytime soon. Still, it's not a bad name at all for a park, and it represents an important South Florida industry - cruise ship tourism, which pays for a lot of things down here.

[dabigyankeeman]

That's the preferred orientation of MLB ballparks.

Nothing newsworthy about it.

Yes, since you dont play games in the morning, the batter is never looking into the sun if you face east.

Not always fun for the outfielders though.

[SoxfanNH]

Where did the Royal Caribbean Colosseum name come from? It's not even on the Wikipedia page, and I've never heard any talk of the naming rights deal being done anytime soon. Still, it's not a bad name at all for a park, and it represents an important South Florida industry - cruise ship tourism, which pays for a lot of things down here.

I don't see any mention of that either, but if that is going to be the name, I don't have a problem with Royal Caribbean being the naming rights sponsor, but I do have a problem with it being called a Colosseum. It is way too small to be a Colosseum(and I think it's the perfect size). It would be better suited as Park or Field. I know that the Oakland Alameda County Colosseum has a comparable capacity for baseball, but it's primarily built for football. Just my:twocents:

[TinoM24]

Yes, since you dont play games in the morning, the batter is never looking into the sun if you face east.

Not always fun for the outfielders though.

perhaps with the Miami heat, morning games might not be a bad idea lol (if there was no roof)

[marlins739]

No, speaking from experience as a former high school baseball player who had to endure Saturday morning practices in South Florida, the mornings are just as bad, in a different way. The grass is soaking wet, which isn't good for trying to pick up balls in the outfield. It's unbelievably humid around 9-10 am. I'd rather be outside at 3 in the afternoon when it's a little drier. There's really no good time for any outdoor activities in the summer, except water-related stuff

Royal Caribbean Field sounds nice. Land Shark Coliseum would be more appropriate for the size of the Dolph.

[TinoM24]

ah true, forgot about the humidity.

[J.R.]

He's right - teal (and purple) were very popular uniform color choices in the 1990s, but it fit the fish.

[marlins739]

The roof columns have gotten a lot taller this week. Compare them to the size of the trucks parked near them. They're at least the width of the cabs on the trucks. Also, some non-super columns have started to go up along the first base side. Lots of progress this week (Poor workers though, South Florida had record-setting heat this week, with indexes up near 100 all week)

[J.R.]

You ought to take some pics.

[Jbutta29]

yeah i always hated morning softball games here, the grass is always soaked...

[J.R.]

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/breaking-news/story/1271734.html

Fantastic that the Dolphins are kicking the Marlins out of an "outdated" park - the NFL's words, not mine.

Maybe the fish can offer to host the Super Bowl.

[yankees21]

when is it schedualed to open?

[jnakamura]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38907801@N05/3964931374/

[marlins739]

http://www.miamiherald.com/business/breaking-news/story/1271734.html

Fantastic that the Dolphins are kicking the Marlins out of an "outdated" park - the NFL's words, not mine.

Maybe the fish can offer to host the Super Bowl.

The Dolph is outdated compared to the new stadiums. I didn't really notice it until the last few years, but compared to the new ballparks (and I assume new football stadiums are the same way) the legroom is terrible, the concourses are small and not very nice, the seating bowl could very much use a pressure wash, and the Dolphins logos at the end of each row are looking terrible. They have put some money into the place in recent years, but it is very obviously from the mid 80s. The renovations recently have mostly been cosmetic things, like painting up the bathrooms and adding the new HD scoreboards, which look very nice but don't solve the fact that it wasn't a very good football stadium from the beginning. They did just add the new spaceship exterior on the long sides, but the short sides still look the way they did in 1987. The only seating bowl changes that have ever been made are various coats of orange and blue paint along the rims of the upper deck. There is barely an ounce of shade anywhere in the park, except for the first base side club level during football games.

Compared to the new Cowboys Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, Reliant Stadium, Ford Field, and even the renovated Superdome, the Dolph pales in comparison. The only thing good about it is that it's in (near) Miami, which has pretty reliably nice weather in January and plenty of glamor shots on the beach for the TV cameras.

yankees21, the new ballpark opens in 2012

[J.R.]

I just wish The Wayne was still in charge. He of all the hubris and huff and blow about what a drag it was having baseball there.

[Jbutta29]

Also the food is terrible, the bathrooms are a nightmare with no air conditioning or useful fans on the NON club levels. All the money they put in REALLY went into the club level. Which is very nice, but a major slap to the rest of the fans.

[marlins739]

They actually did add some fans to the main concourse. They're actually labeled "Big Ass Fans" but I can't tell the difference. The renovations did add a lot of space to put tables for fans to eat their overpriced, poorly selected food choices though. Most of the extra space under the spaceships is just a dead area. They did improve the exterior and team store areas outside the park though. The gates look like they're still under construction with cheap chainlink fences and bare concrete.

As for Wayne Huizenga, no thanks. What an a**hole. He did his best to get rid of the Marlins, and didn't do such a nice job with the Dolphins either. Stephen Ross is ten times better, mainly for keeping the Tuna around and not publicly threatening the Marlins with eviction every week

[Jbutta29]

actually some of the gates now have been adorned with BLACK iron gates, looks MUCH better. they definitely need to close off the bathrooms on the main and upper levels, its so humid and hot, they really need doors and a/c.
the food got even worse this year when they removed the FRIES from the overpriced and terrible chicken strips to replace them with POTATO CHIPS
not even REAL LAYS just some disgusting oil fried chips. The hot dogs are horrendous and everything else is overpriced. they did add stuff to the upper deck level concourses but that doesnt matter for baseball season...

[Jbutta29]

oh they also need to get rid of that ridiculous carnival colored stuff they put all over the exterior, it also appears they are adding more exterior work on the EAST side of the stadium.
here go some pics from some of my recent trips there


my nephew


my nephew and his dad in the Marlins dugout








and the ball thrown to him by Chris Couglin

[marlins739]

Jbutta29, I'm glad you had a good time at the Dolph. That's the first picture I've seen of the new club level concourse, and it looks like a major improvement from the hokey 80s decor of before. That Chris Coghlan ball might be worth something someday. Where was that trophy case with the Ramirez and Uggla jerseys? Is that from the trophy room by the Marlins bullpen? They take you there on the tour, and that's where they keep the World Series trophies.

That colored stuff on the ramps is new since August. Probably Dolphins improvements leading up to the Super Bowl. I see you were there after the first Dolphins game, judging by the dead grass and cutouts in left field, and the painted-over Dolphins logo at the 50 yard line.

[dabigyankeeman]

Those colored things on the outside make the stadium look like a clown palace. Its like when they painted the multi-colored triangles and shapes inside the stadium. This can be a nice looking place, but they are turning it into a total joke.

I will say that the club section is fantastic though. I always sit in a club seat when i go to a Marlins game, its not that expensive, and to have access to the air conditioned lounge area that goes completely around the whole stadium is great. You can get good Hebrew National foot-long dogs in there too. Its a different world when you are in a club seat, and you get all these amenities even if you buy a cheaper club seat in the outfield area. Plus the seats themselves are two inches wider than the rest of the stadium.

[PeteU]

The Dolph is outdated compared to the new stadiums. I didn't really notice it until the last few years, but compared to the new ballparks (and I assume new football stadiums are the same way) the legroom is terrible, the concourses are small and not very nice, the seating bowl could very much use a pressure wash, and the Dolphins logos at the end of each row are looking terrible. They have put some money into the place in recent years, but it is very obviously from the mid 80s. The renovations recently have mostly been cosmetic things, like painting up the bathrooms and adding the new HD scoreboards, which look very nice but don't solve the fact that it wasn't a very good football stadium from the beginning. They did just add the new spaceship exterior on the long sides, but the short sides still look the way they did in 1987. The only seating bowl changes that have ever been made are various coats of orange and blue paint along the rims of the upper deck. There is barely an ounce of shade anywhere in the park, except for the first base side club level during football games.

Compared to the new Cowboys Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, Reliant Stadium, Ford Field, and even the renovated Superdome, the Dolph pales in comparison. The only thing good about it is that it's in (near) Miami, which has pretty reliably nice weather in January and plenty of glamor shots on the beach for the TV cameras.

yankees21, the new ballpark opens in 2012

Appearance-wise, I'd say it is outdated....noting pressure washes as well as the faded Dolphins logos on the seats. Heck, if Stephen Ross wants to spend the money on replacing the seats all together, it might not be the worst idea.

But do you really think it is that outdated in terms of amenities? It has more than enough luxury boxes and club seating, not to mention the new concourse and club additions they've added on in the past couple of years. It has enough regular seating, concession stands, and restrooms. It's boring, yes, but most football stadiums are. Do you think the Super Bowl Committee is that shallow that they'd deny Miami future Super Bowls simply because the Dolphins logo on the aisle seats is faded?

[marlins739]

The NFL must know something we don't for them to say that. Having never been able to compare Dolphin Stadium luxury boxes to newer stadiums, I have no idea. There sure seem to be way more than enough of them, with two levels completely encircling the field. Maybe the NFL's issue with the Dolph is the lack of a retractable roof, when it rained at the last Super Bowl played there. Wayne did once talk of adding one, so maybe they will at some point.

What definitely does not need to happen is a new stadium for the Dolphins. With a few well-thought out renovations and a good scrub down in the seating bowl, the Dolph can be up to Super Bowl standards again.

[rx2003]

yes I do....obviously if they are saying publicly the stadium needs upgrading, then yes I do and I think they are serious about not awarding Miami another bowl for awhile,,,,

[rx2003]

actually some of the gates now have been adorned with BLACK iron gates, looks MUCH better. they definitely need to close off the bathrooms on the main and upper levels, its so humid and hot, they really need doors and a/c.
the food got even worse this year when they removed the FRIES from the overpriced and terrible chicken strips to replace them with POTATO CHIPS
not even REAL LAYS just some disgusting oil fried chips. The hot dogs are horrendous and everything else is overpriced. they did add stuff to the upper deck level concourses but that doesnt matter for baseball season...

no its actually worse than that, now the fries and strips are sold separately, before they came togther, so u can pay $4 more for the same strips and fries, who cares about the chips

[PeteU]

Looks like the roof support columns on the north side of the stadium site are almost done....those things are tall (and wide!)

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/fla/ballpark/webcam.jsp

Also, it looks like some of the foundation for the seating bowl itself is getting underway on the west side (on the right side of the screen).

[jrh31584]

When the Marlins move out, would it be possible to narrow the field at the stadium formerly known as Dolphin?

[marlins739]

Not without spending a whole lot of money to either dig out the playing field to lower it, or else to redo the entire lower deck. In other words, no. I doubt there will be too many changes to the Dolph once the Marlins move out, since there's hardly any indication that they play there right now. They'll probably cover the dugouts and remove the home bullpen but keep everything around just in case.

The four northern roof columns look to be done for now.

[BlueJays1977_1993]

^Shouldn't all these posts be in the Dolphin Stadium thread?

[PeteU]

When the Marlins move out, would it be possible to narrow the field at the stadium formerly known as Dolphin?

They could plausibly do what was done at the LA Coliseum, lower the field and bring in the sidelines.

Of course, the sidelines are good for major soccer matches, say if the US hosts another World Cup, so something has me thinking they'll just leave it how it is.

Plus who knows if Joe Robbie will still host a baseball game or two in the future? :) I'd love for the Marlins in 2043 to do what the Dodgers did last year and host a 50th Anniversary exhibition game at their old stadium. (Assuming, of course, that Joe Robbie is still standing in 2043).

[rx2003]

the rain at the SB was an abberation, it rarely rains for hours like it did that day, usually 30 mins to 1 hour and it stops......that was a one in a million event

[StadiumPage]

the rain at the SB was an abberation, it rarely rains for hours like it did that day, usually 30 mins to 1 hour and it stops......that was a one in a million event

Well, in the winter anyway. I went to U Miami and the first week I was there Freshman year we had one of those "dead hurricane" systems go through. It seemed to rain for a solid week.

[marlins739]

Was this in the fall, around August-September? This is what happens every day all summer. It rains all the time, and when it's not raining, it's hot. Most of the winter it's pretty nice out, but that's not when they play baseball.

[StadiumPage]

Was this in the fall, around August-September? This is what happens every day all summer. It rains all the time, and when it's not raining, it's hot. Most of the winter it's pretty nice out, but that's not when they play baseball.

Right, late-August 1995.

[TommieAgeefan]

Plus who knows if Joe Robbie will still host a baseball game or two in the future? :) I'd love for the Marlins in 2043 to do what the Dodgers did last year and host a 50th Anniversary exhibition game at their old stadium. (Assuming, of course, that Joe Robbie is still standing in 2043).

That would be nice. Maybe by then, the Metrorail North Line will be built, which would serve the stadium.

[Transic]

They've started constructing the seating bowl from the west end of the site, viewable on the webcam. :)

[NYBase]

Bump!

Anyone get any new renderings, pics or info?

Bumpage!

[PeteU]

Bump!

Anyone get any new renderings, pics or info?

Bumpage!


Here's what it looks like as of this morning:



Watching the actual seating bowl go in, after all these years I still cannot believe this ballpark actually is beginning to physically exist in the real world as opposed to just hypothetical renderings. That's what 15 or so odd years of trying to get the place built will do to you.

[RationalNYYfan]

Congratulations to the Marlins, I'm so glad for them that this thing is being built. And man I hope they are successful there. It kills me to see a sparkling new field like Nationals Park sit empty because of the poor team and the ambivalent fan base.

[Chevy114]

Here's what it looks like as of this morning:



Watching the actual seating bowl go in, after all these years I still cannot believe this ballpark actually is beginning to physically exist in the real world as opposed to just hypothetical renderings. That's what 15 or so odd years of trying to get the place built will do to you.

You should have built a stadium 10 years before you got a team and then get shocked when your stadium is considered outdated when you have your teams 10 year anniv. like we did in Tampa!

[whoisonit]

Here's what it looks like as of this morning:



Watching the actual seating bowl go in, after all these years I still cannot believe this ballpark actually is beginning to physically exist in the real world as opposed to just hypothetical renderings. That's what 15 or so odd years of trying to get the place built will do to you.

Great picture, thanks.

Now it really feels like the place is a reality. Keep posting pics, (lots of them). This thread is going to be as good as the Target Field one has been now. (as long as NY idiots don't make ignorant comments about the fan base).

The Marlins have so much history in their short time, I'm really happy for you guys down there that this is happening. I'm predicting consistanly huge crowds :)

On a side note, re the teal: watching some old stuff on the MLB Network reminded me of just how much I loved the teal ! So unique and gave the team such an identity. I've been hating the black forever - and the blue/gold thing just sucks plain and simple. Uniforms matter !

[RfkFedEx]

I'm happy for the fish fans too! You guys deserve this after so many up and down years in the heat, rain and mud.

Miami is a great wknd road trip for fans to take in a couple of games. I know I'll be there in 2012.

[Blakelevy70]

I realize that Nationals Park might be a bit empty right now because of the lousy team that we are putting on the field but make no doubt that it is a beautiful stadium, just like this one will be for the Marlins. When the Nationals get better, and they will....then they will have more fans. It's really no different than any other city. When the teams win, the fans come out. I think there are only a few teams, like the Yankees/Mets, Cubs, and Angels/Dodgers that really are the exception to the rule.

[Transic]

Marlins Stadium Update No. 3 Cheers (Public Art edition)
Posted by Sarah Talalay on December 15, 2009 07:20 PM

Florida Marlins owner and art dealer Jeffrey Loria has promised his team’s new ballpark will be a work of art and unlike any other baseball stadium. That’s why he’s focused on creating a modernist structure of sleek white stucco, silver metal and glass.

On Tuesday, Miami-Dade County’s Art in Public Places Trust continued Loria’s theme, approving proposals for $5.3 million in public art projects planned for the ballpark, including a playful, dynamic home run celebration feature, budgeted at $2.5 million, by renowned multimedia pop artist Red Grooms. Grooms' work was selected from several entries after a series of meetings.

It’s still conceptual and difficult to describe, but it’s something like an arcade game decorated with pelicans and seagulls, blue sky and clouds with a series of marlins that will actually jump after a Marlins player hits a home run. (See picture at left) Grooms is known for large scale works of urban-scapes and buildings.

Grooms, who was born in Nashville, said he drew on his memories of visiting Daytona as a teenager. He remembered seeing the ocean for the first time, the pelicans and seagulls, he said.

“All that stuck with me,” said Grooms, 72. That’s how he decided “to incorporate the great natural beauty of Florida and wildlife” into his proposal. “I am featuring beautiful clouds and waves.”

Grooms described the project, which he learned of from Loria, as “a pretty unusual project. It’s like making up a kind of new event or game or something.”

Initially the project was expected to have a feature rise from a pool of real water, but county officials liked the idea of using Grooms-designed water instead. The key to the work is part of it will be visible even if a game isn’t going on, but it will spring to life once a Marlin hits a home run.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/videobeta/watch/?watch=b470357d-d249-458b-8198-e054c02dbe11&src=front

http://blogs.trb.com/sports/custom/business/blog/2009/12/marlins_stadium_update_no_3_ch.html

In the article there's a link to a video that show how the thing is supposed to work. Rather interesting, to say the least.

[koufax]

if that thing really happens after every HR, the Marlins are gonna get laughed off the field. thats AWFUL. so so awful. I cant wait to see it :)

[dabigyankeeman]

if that thing really happens after every HR, the Marlins are gonna get laughed off the field. thats AWFUL. so so awful. I cant wait to see it :)

Agreed. Its pitiful that baseball has come to stuff like this.

[RfkFedEx]

I think it's ok for the Marlins. It's Florida for God's sake. There isn't much baseball tradition down there just yet and everyone is laid back. Miami is an artsy town with lots of pretty colors, unlike the industrial gray of the NE.

I thought the pool in AZ was totally cheezy back in '98, but it fits its AZ surrounding. If you've ever flown into PHX, you'll see that every other house has a backyard pool.

I don't want special effects in the pre 1958 baseball towns, but for sunbelt expansion clubs, eh. Whatever.

[peterrod16]

Agreed. Its pitiful that baseball has come to stuff like this.

what a waste of money.

[DrLev]

what a waste of money.

Oh, like an exploding scoreboard is any less of a waste of money? Or an apple stamped "Home Run" rising out of a hat? This has the potential of being a signature Marlins thing, and trust me, they've been tenants in someone else's stadium for long enough. Let them have their "thing." Besides, I'm sure Bill Veeck himself would applaud such a concept. Showy, flashy and signature? That's Veeck in a nutshell.

[dabigyankeeman]

Oh, like an exploding scoreboard is any less of a waste of money? Or an apple stamped "Home Run" rising out of a hat? This has the potential of being a signature Marlins thing, and trust me, they've been tenants in someone else's stadium for long enough. Let them have their "thing." Besides, I'm sure Bill Veeck himself would applaud such a concept. Showy, flashy and signature? That's Veeck in a nutshell.

I myself have no problem spending money on a signature thing, i just happen to think that this particular thing they are showing looks kinda goofy to me. Perhaps when built it will look more impressive. I just dont want the Marlins and their stadium to be laughed at, i want them to do well and to project a good image.

[peterrod16]

Oh, like an exploding scoreboard is any less of a waste of money? Or an apple stamped "Home Run" rising out of a hat? This has the potential of being a signature Marlins thing, and trust me, they've been tenants in someone else's stadium for long enough. Let them have their "thing." Besides, I'm sure Bill Veeck himself would applaud such a concept. Showy, flashy and signature? That's Veeck in a nutshell.

my coworker told me the colors reflect the buildings in south beach.
So it works.

[Chevy114]

Oh, like an exploding scoreboard is any less of a waste of money? Or an apple stamped "Home Run" rising out of a hat? This has the potential of being a signature Marlins thing, and trust me, they've been tenants in someone else's stadium for long enough. Let them have their "thing." Besides, I'm sure Bill Veeck himself would applaud such a concept. Showy, flashy and signature? That's Veeck in a nutshell.

I agree I have seen worse, we in Tampa have a tropicana orange juice logo on the wall of the dome that lights up at homeruns and we got used to it.

[PeteU]

Agreed. Its pitiful that baseball has come to stuff like this.

Had it existed at the time, I would have loved to see it go off after Alex Gonzalez's 12th inning shot in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series. :rofl:

Sorry for the gratutious smack talk, but you know I couldn't resist myself.

As for the feature itself, it is odd, but hey, it does seem to be original. I'll reserve judgment until I see it in person.

[dabigyankeeman]

Had it existed at the time, I would have loved to see it go off after Alex Gonzalez's 12th inning shot in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series. :rofl:

Sorry for the gratutious smack talk, but you know I couldn't resist myself.

As for the feature itself, it is odd, but hey, it does seem to be original. I'll reserve judgment until I see it in person.

That only happened because Weaver was brought in to pitch, he just couldnt handle the pressure of being a Yankee. I hated him before that, you can imagine what i think of him now!!!:rant:

Oh well, at least i was in the stadium in Florida for the one world series game that the Yankees DID win down here, i lucked out on the game i picked.:thumbsup:

[marlins739]

I think the display is kinda cool. It's cheesy enough to be fun, and isn't that obtrusive when it's not up.

First base side main concourse is coming along quite nicely. They have the last few rows of risers up in a few places. They sure have done a lot for the first 6 months of construction

[Paul W]

what a joke, make the franchise pay or it!!
after all, you will have to buy a ticket to see it - so it's not public art!!
otherwise put it outside so everyone can see it!!

[GordonGecko]

what a waste of money.

what the hell is that thing

[JohnCropp]

Great picture, thanks.

Now it really feels like the place is a reality. Keep posting pics, (lots of them). This thread is going to be as good as the Target Field one has been now. (as long as NY idiots don't make ignorant comments about the fan base).

What fan base? :rolleyes:

[Lafferty Daniel]

The Marlins are clearly trying to appease the gay community in South Florida with that celebration sign. Hey, whatever helps put people in the seats.

[Transic]

Marlins select artists for new ballpark
http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091218&content_id=7828988&vkey=news_fla&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla

[SoxfanNH]

I would be ok with it if it didn't look like it was drawn by a first grader. Maybe it will look better in real life, so I'll reserve my final judgement till then. When the original ballpark concept drawings came out though, it sounded like it was going to be some kind of neon silouette of a marling leaping out of the water when the Marlins hit a homerun. I really like the homerun celebration sign for Target field with the two players from Minneapolis & St. Paul shaking hands. I was hoping the Marlins would do their own version of that using a leaping marlin.

[PeteU]

Was driving on I-95 last week and you can see the columns rising off to the west. That place is going to be a pretty impressive structure.

[natron20]

They should replace the fish with some dude wearing leather and assless chaps and a flashing neon sign that reads "FABULOUS!"

That display = THE SUCK

[Coach Bombay]

I don't see how it's any cheesier than an apple popping out of a hat.

My big problem with this ballpark is the blue seats.

[J.R.]

That is ridiculous.

[NYBase]

I like it, it's original. Don't understand the homophobic statements on this thread. :noidea

[ChineseDemocracy]

It's a decent idea, but the way they drew that thing up is horrendous!

That looks like a hat my Aunt Fiona would wear at the Rose Bowl flea market!

Pardon my French, but that HR celebration could use a little more "badassery."

This concludes today's segment of "Butchering English." I hope you will all join me next time.

[Rob R]

Holy crap.

[ChineseDemocracy]

Holy crap.

[Paul W]

Stadium Boom Deepens Municipal Woes

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/25/sp...r=1&ref=sports

the first two graphs, much more in the article...

"Years after a wave of construction brought publicly financed stadiums costing billions of dollars to cities across the country, taxpayers are once again being asked to reach into their pockets.

From New Jersey to Ohio to Arizona, the stadiums were sold as a key to redevelopment and as the only way to retain sports franchises. But the deals that were used to persuade taxpayers to finance their construction have in many cases backfired, the result of overly optimistic revenue assumptions and the recession."

everyone thinks that this won't happen to them, but it almost always does.
beware of those who will try to reach in your pockets to enrich themselves...

[joshfan]

http://bases.nbcsports.com/2009/12/marlins-making-progress-on-new-stadium.html.php


Will this be the first 3000 seat MLB park?

[Transic]

Marlins stadium workers go underground
Public infrasctructure stage of ballpark project under way

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091226&content_id=7855624&vkey=news_fla&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla&partnerId=rss_fla

[Second Base Coach]

Three thousand good seats is about all they need, right?

[joshfan]

Three thousand good seats is about all they need, right?

Seems that way
I thought that Miami would draw large with the fine Latino base baseball enjoys
Shows ya what I know

[STLCards2]

I was in Miami a few months after they won the W.S. in 2003, and there wasn't a trace of the victory anywhere. No pennants. No bumpers-stickers. No W.S. champs merchandise at the airports. Very weird. Not sure what, in terms of demographics, in contributing to the lack of interest in the Marlins. Maybe the % of older citizens?

[Richard]

Allow me to dispell any myths. I am from south Florida. There are lots of baseball fans here. The problem is that the Yankees are the most popular team in this region (the Yanks broadcast on the radio here), then the Red Sox and Mets maybe and then the Cubs and Marlins. I've noticed more Phillies hats and shirts lately. I think the new stadium will help because the Marlins will hopefully keep more star players now ( I won't hold my breath). I've been to their current stadium many times, although it is very nice, I've never felt welcome there as a baseball fan. The fans are consumers and they know what the Marlins always do and that is get rid of up and coming players. Maybe the new stadium will help peel a few Yankees, Mets and Cubs fans away and maybe they will become Marlins fans.

[Allie Fox]

The other problem with the Marlins was the location of the old ballpark. Joe Robbie (or whatever it's called) is way out in the boondocks of North Miami. It is quite a ride for the Latino fanbase.

I think with the new stadium being built on the old Orange Bowl site will make it much easier for those fans to see more games. If they can afford it that is.

[UnderPressure]

A little off-topic here, but why didn't the franchise use the name "Miami" from the beginning?

[PeteU]

A little off-topic here, but why didn't the franchise use the name "Miami" from the beginning?

As Florida's first MLB franchise, I think the ownership wanted to call dibs on the entire state. Although I doubt many fans are in North Florida--although with Jacksonville serving as the Marlins' Double A team, that might change. I'd love to see Miami and Jax have a long standing affiliation.

[PeteU]

Allow me to dispell any myths. I am from south Florida. There are lots of baseball fans here. The problem is that the Yankees are the most popular team in this region (the Yanks broadcast on the radio here), then the Red Sox and Mets maybe and then the Cubs and Marlins. I've noticed more Phillies hats and shirts lately. I think the new stadium will help because the Marlins will hopefully keep more star players now ( I won't hold my breath). I've been to their current stadium many times, although it is very nice, I've never felt welcome there as a baseball fan. The fans are consumers and they know what the Marlins always do and that is get rid of up and coming players. Maybe the new stadium will help peel a few Yankees, Mets and Cubs fans away and maybe they will become Marlins fans.

That's a good read on the problem. I still think the Marlins biggest problem was percieved instability, especially immediately after the 1997 championship. The fire sale demolished the potential to really build on the team and demoralized the fanbase. Then, when Wayne and then Henry and then Loria started demanding a new ballpark or else, there was the fear among many baseball fans that the team might not be around much longer, so why invest in rooting for them.

Thankfully, with the new park the team will be here for the foreseeable future. But Loria can't just rely on that alone--he's got to change his mindset and lock up some of the great talent the team has historically cultivated. Signing Hanley to a long term deal was a good start. But for all that is good in this world, please, please, please sign Josh Johnson.

(And I might be the only person who follows the Marlins who wants to keep Dan Uggla around. Realistically though, he'll probably be traded away this off season. Unfortunately, Uggs isn't consistent, but when he is good, he is good.)

[dabigyankeeman]

Major league baseball wanted them to use the name Florida so that they would be followed thru the whole state. I thought it was ridiculous, and it really became ridiculous when they put a team in Tampa Bay.

Hey, I too really like Uggla. He is not always the best fielder, but he is adequte, and he sure can hit.

[GordonGecko]

[GordonGecko]

[Twenty Seven]

I love watching these progressions. So much potential.

[jnakamura]

------------------------------------

[marlins739]

Those aren't the permanent road uniforms. They're just a minor change to ease the transition away from "Florida" to "Miami." All they changed was the word on the front, same style and font, and removed the F logo on the sleeve patch. I expect to see the F logo deemphasized and all references to Florida downplayed in the next two years. However, a complete uniform change is coming in 2012, and it is doubtful that they will keep the black-silver-teal combo in the new park, based on the color of the seats and what the front office has said

This is an old batting practice hat logo that they don't use anymore. Maybe the new logo will be something like this

[Chevy114]

Im excited for this, finally a baseball stadium near the mass population instead of in the middle of nowhere! I think we will start to see more and more people come around and go to marlin games now that its closer and indoors.

[NYaDiO]

I really like when it starts looking more like a ballpark, the first few stages are always a bit confusing.

[PeteU]

Im excited for this, finally a baseball stadium near the mass population instead of in the middle of nowhere! I think we will start to see more and more people come around and go to marlin games now that its closer and indoors.

The way the stadium will be surrounded in a residential neighborhood actually reminds me a lot of Memorial Stadium, although it will be easier to get to via major expressways than Memorial Stadium was.

[marlins739]

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100111&content_id=7899564&vkey=news_fla&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla

Article about the possibility of hosting bowl games and other events

[Chevy114]

The way the stadium will be surrounded in a residential neighborhood actually reminds me a lot of Memorial Stadium, although it will be easier to get to via major expressways than Memorial Stadium was.

Yeah good point, it does feel like a throwback to those neighborhood parks like crosley and memorial. That must be cool to be within walking distance of a park! I always wanted to do that with a trop if the neighborhood wasn't a dump and my job was closer to it.

[Paul W]

"MARLINS, MLB, MLBPA AGREE MARLINS WILL INCREASE PLAYER PAYROLL"

translation - now that we got what we wanted, we'll proably spend some money on players...

"...owners of clubs such as the Marlins, Pirates, and Royals have reportedly received revenue-sharing figures that surpass their Major League payroll levels, and thus the question is asked, “Where is the money going?”

http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3935:precedent-setting-deal-with-florida-marlins-over-revenue-sharing-has-broad-implications&catid=26:editorials&Itemid=39

[Chevy114]

"MARLINS, MLB, MLBPA AGREE MARLINS WILL INCREASE PLAYER PAYROLL"

translation - now that we got what we wanted, we'll proably spend some money on players...

"...owners of clubs such as the Marlins, Pirates, and Royals have reportedly received revenue-sharing figures that surpass their Major League payroll levels, and thus the question is asked, “Where is the money going?”

http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3935:precedent-setting-deal-with-florida-marlins-over-revenue-sharing-has-broad-implications&catid=26:editorials&Itemid=39

The Rays used to get more from the Revenue money than they spent on the mlb payroll. Man I don't miss Vince at all!

[Altitude]

"MARLINS, MLB, MLBPA AGREE MARLINS WILL INCREASE PLAYER PAYROLL"

translation - now that we got what we wanted, we'll proably spend some money on players...

"...owners of clubs such as the Marlins, Pirates, and Royals have reportedly received revenue-sharing figures that surpass their Major League payroll levels, and thus the question is asked, “Where is the money going?”

http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3935:precedent-setting-deal-with-florida-marlins-over-revenue-sharing-has-broad-implications&catid=26:editorials&Itemid=39

I bet I know where some of that money went...

The Pirates just built a new stadium recently with revenue sharing. While the Royals updated Kaufman Stadium with new renovations.

The Marlins have been the team that has been hoarding the money.

[marlins739]

Right away, the Marlins locked up their ace Josh Johnson for 4 years, $39 million. There's where the rest of the revenue sharing money ended up

[Coach Bombay]

[marlins739]

Even since that picture, a lot has happened. They are beginning to form the left field main concourse, and the roof track beams have all been formed and several are nearing completion. The luxury boxes on the first base side are there now, and the tree columns (roof supports outside the stadium) are 2/3 of the way up now

[NYBase]

Is this neighborhood lively? Looks like traffic will be a nightmare, am I wrong? Any mass transit? Where are the parking lots? Curious...

Glad they are leaving Landshark...

[Paul W]

Is this neighborhood lively? Looks like traffic will be a nightmare, am I wrong? Any mass transit? Where are the parking lots? Curious...

details, details, details...

[cringey]

Is this neighborhood lively? Looks like traffic will be a nightmare, am I wrong? Any mass transit? Where are the parking lots? Curious...

Glad they are leaving Landshark...

The stadiums being built on the site of the Orange Bowl Stadium which sat 73,000. So I'm hoping the infrastructure is there for a 37,000 seat ball park.

[Paul W]

Is this neighborhood lively? Looks like traffic will be a nightmare, am I wrong? Any mass transit? Where are the parking lots? Curious...

Glad they are leaving Landshark...

at least you could get to jrs without using local streets - 95 or the palmetto expy. to the turnpike.
but it should be fun on flagler especially when the drawbridge is up, nw 12th or 17 ave's or nw 7th st. with all the local traffic.
maybe luria can strong-arm more politicians to grab land and homes/businesses south of dolphin expy. to get a ramp.

[marlins739]

There will be four large parking garages right next to the ballpark as part of the complex on the north and south sides (parallel to the roof tracks). The site is about two blocks off the Dolphin Expressway, which leads into I-95 about half a mile east. It's a residential neighborhood, so it's nothing special, and it feels perfectly safe. As for mass transit, this is South Florida, where everybody drives everywhere. I don't know that there is any mass transit going down there, and the team doesn't advertise it. There are three expressway exits close to the park, and having the garages on opposite sides of the complex will ease traffic. The area where all the construction workers' cars are parked will be one of the parking garages.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, with several thousand people and no parking garages there, the traffic situation was fine. We took 7th street to NW 12th ave and onto the Dolphin Expressway. Took 5 minutes to get back on the highway. Every stadium is going to have some backup when all those people leave at the same time.

[StadiumPage]

The stadiums being built on the site of the Orange Bowl Stadium which sat 73,000. So I'm hoping the infrastructure is there for a 37,000 seat ball park.

When I was going to UM (95-99) they ran buses from the Culmer Metrorail station to the OB for Canes football games. That's about the closest you can get with mass transit. Its not incredibly far from several highways, but I suppose traffic could be tight getting in and out.

Its a residential neighborhood ("little Havana"), but you figure they will get some nice bars/restaurants built as the ballpark opens. I doubt it will ever rival Wrigleyville, but its a possibility.

[Paul W]

Its a residential neighborhood ("little Havana"), but you figure they will get some nice bars/restaurants built as the ballpark opens. I doubt it will ever rival Wrigleyville, but its a possibility.

the business owners near the stadium can't count on game crowd for business, it's been shown that baseball crowds don't always help local businesses...

from the ny times:
In the Shadow of Yankee Stadium, an Off Year

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/nyregion/04stadium.html?scp=3&sq=yankee%20stadium%20neighborhood&st=cse

with all that's in these mallparks (restaurants, stores) local businesses lose out.

[dabigyankeeman]

The Orange Bowl made a fortune for the people that lived near it. They would charge to let people park in their yards on game day, they packed in as many cars as they could fit, and they really made big bucks.

I bet they are chomping at the bit for the new stadium to open.

[RICHIECOQUI]

There will be four large parking garages right next to the ballpark as part of the complex on the north and south sides (parallel to the roof tracks). The site is about two blocks off the Dolphin Expressway, which leads into I-95 about half a mile east. It's a residential neighborhood, so it's nothing special, and it feels perfectly safe. As for mass transit, this is South Florida, where everybody drives everywhere. I don't know that there is any mass transit going down there, and the team doesn't advertise it. There are three expressway exits close to the park, and having the garages on opposite sides of the complex will ease traffic. The area where all the construction workers' cars are parked will be one of the parking garages.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, with several thousand people and no parking garages there, the traffic situation was fine. We took 7th street to NW 12th ave and onto the Dolphin Expressway. Took 5 minutes to get back on the highway. Every stadium is going to have some backup when all those people leave at the same time. Here the webcam you can check the progress http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/fla/ballpark/webcam.jsp

[NYBase]

Thanks for the answers. If two Yankee Stadiums work in the busy South Bronx why not Marlins Ballpark.

[TommieAgeefan]

When I was going to UM (95-99) they ran buses from the Culmer Metrorail station to the OB for Canes football games. That's about the closest you can get with mass transit. Its not incredibly far from several highways, but I suppose traffic could be tight getting in and out.

For what it's worth, Miami-Dade Transit has in its long-range plans an East-West Metrorail line, which would pass right by the new stadium on NW 7th St. However, there is currently no funding for it, so it is decades away if it ever gets built. In addition to the Culmer Shuttle listed above, there is a local bus line (the 7) that runs on NW 7th St to Downtown Miami, but it's not much of an option (to give you an idea, MDT bus drivers who have worked the route refer to it as "Cellblock 7") :laugh (a friend of mine used to drive for MDT, I rode with him one Sunday on the 7, I saw what they meant) :crazy

[Paul W]

For what it's worth, Miami-Dade Transit has in its long-range plans an East-West Metrorail line, which would pass right by the new stadium on NW 7th St. However, there is currently no funding for it, so it is decades away if it ever gets built.

with metro-dade pouring so much taxpayer $$$$$'s into the mallpark, so many other important public infrastructure proposals go wanting.
i lived in dade and metrorail was a joke because nobody thought of using it to go anywhere north of civic center because the areas it went were unsafe and still are.

[The Korean]

^I was under the impression that their metrorail is completely useless because it doesnt even cover half of the city.

[TommieAgeefan]

^I was under the impression that their metrorail is completely useless because it doesnt even cover half of the city.

Sadly, that is true. It is very good for getting you to Downtown Miami (I can count on one had, well maybe both the times I have driven into downtown), but other than that, not much. The spur to the airport will help. If the full system ever gets built (lines to west Dade County near FIU, the north line to the Broward County line (serving Sun Life Stadium and Calder Race Track) and the East-West line (serving the new Marlins Stadium and possibly extended across Biscayne Bay to Miami Beach, though that last line might end up as light rail instead), then it might be worth something. But with the current financial situation (and Dade County has never been flush with cash in good times), doesn't look like that will happen anytime soon. :(

[The Korean]

New Yorkers are spoiled when it comes to convenience of the public transportation. Name one place in NY Metropolitan area not served by LIRR/Subway/Bus/MetroNorth.

[GordonGecko]

New Yorkers are spoiled when it comes to convenience of the public transportation. Name one place in NY Metropolitan area not served by LIRR/Subway/Bus/MetroNorth.
Governor's Island

[marlins739]

Not having much in the way of public transportation will not be a problem because there will be 5000 parking spots on-site. Overflow (or cheaper options) in Little Havana driveways sounds bad to outsiders, but everybody who ever went to a game at the Orange Bowl has done it. Again, this is Florida, and everybody is happy to drive everywhere. A lot of the Marlins' fanbase comes from an hour outside the wildest dreams of the Metrorail system anyway, so they would have been driving anyway. There's also not a lick of public transportation to the Dolph either, so it's no change for most fans.

[The Korean]

Governor's Island

Ferry, part of public transportation. I think.

[baseballman1243]

Ellis Island

[threeyoda]

Ellis Island

Ferry is public transportation. I think The Korean meant:

NY Waterway Ferry/Bus
Private Ferries
MTA Bus/Subway
MetroNorth
Bergen Light Rail
NJ Transit Train/Bus
PATH
LIRR
AirTrain Newark/JFK
Taxis
Air Tram

[baseballman1243]

Ferry is public transportation. I think The Korean meant:

NY Waterway Ferry/Bus
Private Ferries
MTA Bus/Subway
MetroNorth
Bergen Light Rail
NJ Transit Train/Bus
PATH
LIRR
AirTrain Newark/JFK
Taxis
Air Tram

lol well I'm stumped then

[Transic]

New Yorkers are spoiled when it comes to convenience of the public transportation. Name one place in NY Metropolitan area not served by LIRR/Subway/Bus/MetroNorth.

St. John's University?

[Ralf]

New video of the stadium up on MLB.com. It is by far the worst of all the new ballparks. Its so bland.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100129&content_id=7993808&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb

[Coach Bombay]

Hate the blue seats, other than that.. not bad

[baseballman1243]

New video of the stadium up on MLB.com. It is by far the worst of all the new ballparks. Its so bland.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100129&content_id=7993808&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb

I wouldn't say that at all. If anything it's less bland than Citi Field; at least the Marlins place is unique.

[TheTraveler]

New video of the stadium up on MLB.com. It is by far the worst of all the new ballparks. Its so bland.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100129&content_id=7993808&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&partnerId=rss_mlb

Actually I like it. The outfield wall has far fewer nooks and crannies than a lot of other parks. I like quirky ballparks that are made to fit unique pieces of land --- I hate purpose-made quirks, especially weird angles on the outfield walls.

And those sliding glass walls behind the left and left-center field stands are a very nice touch.

[marlins739]

Besides the hideous coloring of the interior, which I'm sure will be better in real life than the renderings (see renderings of the green wall at Nationals Park compared to the real thing), I like the design a lot. It will fit in nicely with modern buildings down here, and it's the right level of intimacy for a small-market team. Once the details are added, I think people are going to like this place. It's a departure from previous parks, and it will grow on people who are tired of seeing red brick everywhere

[Paul W]

Hate the blue seats, other than that.. not bad

don't worry, it'll be jazzed up using taxpayer dollars!

[marlins739]

don't worry, it'll be jazzed up using taxpayer dollars!

They had to put seats in anyway, and ugly colors cost just as much as nice colors

[Ralf]

I wouldn't say that at all. If anything it's less bland than Citi Field; at least the Marlins place is unique.

Yea, thats believable.....

[threeyoda]

Does anyone know what these letters are for and what they're supposed to say? I also found a pretty cool picture, which is the last one.

[RfkFedEx]

That reeks of Cowboys stadium from that angle.



However, I think it will be a fine ballpark for Miami.

[LDYanks16]

Does anyone know what these letters are for and what they're supposed to say? I also found a pretty cool picture, which is the last one.

Assuming there are a few other letters around there (especially "I's"), you can unscramble them and spell out "MIAMI ORANGE BOWL." An odd way of doing it, but either way an interesting homage to the site that the new stadium will occupy.

[marlins739]

I wonder if those are the original Orange Bowl letters from the sign on the old stadium.



Where are those pictures from?

[stumpmerrill]

I read that those letters are the letters from the OB sign. i forget where I read it but if i find the article I'll post the link.

[threeyoda]

I got them from stadiumpage.com

[Paul W]

those letters really say - "we got you to pay for this, suckers!"

[rantanamo]

I think it looks great. Glad to see a few stadiums that aren't following the traditional brick designs. Especially in areas where it isn't really traditional to that area.

[Mattingly85MVP]

Does anyone know what these letters are for and what they're supposed to say? I also found a pretty cool picture, which is the last one.

looks like a huricane scrambled them, maybe that's the idea

[marlins739]

The first roof track beam was lifted into place today on the north side. It gives you a nice cross-section view of the stands behind the plate now too.

[Twins91871977]

Major league baseball wanted them to use the name Florida so that they would be followed thru the whole state. I thought it was ridiculous, and it really became ridiculous when they put a team in Tampa Bay.

Hey, I too really like Uggla. He is not always the best fielder, but he is adequte, and he sure can hit.

So why are the Rangers still called the Texas Ranger instead of the Dallas Rangers. There already is a Houston Team there, that's probably more popullar in the state of Texas.

[marlins739]

How are the "Florida Marlins" any worse than the "Minnesota Twins" or "Arizona Diamondbacks" or "Colorado Rockies"? There was no guarantee that another team would ever show up in Tampa. And if so, our name is no worse than the "California Angels", who had no hope of converting the entire state, much less their own market. The Texas Rangers are like the Buffalo Bills, in that the entire name is necessary to make it make sense.

[DJ Starion]

There's always the Los Angeles Lakers, which made more sense in Minneapolis. LOL

[BigMac1212]

So why are the Rangers still called the Texas Ranger instead of the Dallas Rangers. There already is a Houston Team there, that's probably more popullar in the state of Texas.

There's a group of marshalls calld the Texas Rangers. Remember Walker, Texas Ranger?

[BigMac1212]

BTW, I reallylike the outfield dimensions. The deep outfield should make this ballpark a pticher's haven.

[dabigyankeeman]

BTW, I reallylike the outfield dimensions. The deep outfield should make this ballpark a pticher's haven.

Thats gonna ultimately hurt attendance, people love home runs, homers are one of the things that brings people out to the ballpark. Check out Mets fans threads on forums and you will see all the complaining about the fact that the new stadium is much harder to hit home runs in. Just my opinion, we all like different things. But 64 balls were hit in the new park of the Mets this year that would have been homers in Shea but were not homers in this park, thats a really high figure, almost one a game since they play 81 home games.

As to the state name instead of a city name, thats fine in a state thats basically one big city, but not in a place like Florida where you have a ton of well known cities with major attractions. Also, once a second team gets in a state, any team with a state name should switch to a city name.

[marlins739]

There's always the Los Angeles Lakers, which made more sense in Minneapolis. LOL

Same with the Utah Jazz, which worked much better in New Orleans. Too late to change it now. At least we don't have the Texas or Minnesota Senators or Colorado Nordiques. I always interpreted "New York Islanders" to refer to the state since they don't play in the city. How do people feel about the New York Giants and Jets, who don't even play in the same state? At least the Nets and Devils are honest about where they play.

As for the dimensions of the new ballpark, the idea was to closely mirror the playing field at the Dolph. A quick search shows that the Dolph is right in the middle of the pack for home runs given up in the NL. In 2008, it was in 8th place in the National League. We don't know how the new park will deal with winds with the roof and outfield panels open, but with the roof closed, it should play like the Dolph in that regard. The front office has long tried to build the team around pitching because of the spacious outfield at the Dolph, and that will probably continue.

[Paul W]

MARLINS OWNER STARTS THE SQUEEZE THE TAXPAYER/FANS...

more reality from "field of schemes" http://www.fieldofschemes.com/news/archives/2010/02/4021_marlins_prez_bu.html

Marlins prez: Buy tickets now, before they're partly gone!

The new Florida Marlins stadium is 22% complete, team president David Samson announced yesterday, which is apparently the magic number for trying to scare people into grabbing up season tickets before they're all gone. This is admittedly tricky when your season ticket base is only 5,000 fans, but Samson still gave it the old college try:

"The response has been, 'well, listen, I know I'm going to get in the area I want, so there's no rush'," Samson said. "What I'm telling them is 'listen, some of these areas are going to be sold out before you have a chance.' So for example, I've had people who want to buy the front row in our new batter's box we haven't announced what the name is but it's coming. The front row is sold out, it's done. Front row behind the dugout, those areas are sold out.
"If you don't have your place in line, the seats you think you're going to get aren't going to be available. I think the urgency will come. There was a far greater, like with the Twins, a far greater increase the year before [the new ballpark opened] than two years before. So I think we're still a year away from the big bump," Samson said. "I still expect more fans this year, we have a good team that's worth supporting, we have a ballpark that's coming up, there is no more excuse, other than no roof and no air conditioning."
I can see it now: "Come see your 2010 Marlins! Or else you might have to sit in the second row in 2012! Also, the players union made us actually re-sign some of our players this year!"

Joking aside, this will actually be an interesting test of whether the Marlins' legendary attendance woes are the result of a bad stadium, as team execs insisted, or of a fan base that has better things to do on summer evenings. (Not to mention a slight shortage of spending money.) If I'm the Tampa Bay Rays, I'd want to time my big stadium push for 2012, when the Marlins' stadium honeymoon is in full effect, because if other small-market teams' experience holds true, it might not be long before attendance falls back to pre-new-stadium

MORE SQUEEZING TO COME...

[marlins739]

Article about the possibility of the Marlins hosting the 2015 All Star Game

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100216&content_id=8079192&vkey=news_fla&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla

[marlins3]

Two things:

1. April, early May, late September and October are usually temperate months where the heat and humidity don't rise as high as they do during the summer.

2. Florida is the sunshine state. Why dome off the state's best asset when the weather conditions are good enough to keep the roof open during certain portions of the baseball season? (Why dome off baseball period--that's the bigger question)

I think a previous poster answered your question. It is nasty hot and humid during the daytime in south florida. That is a BIG reason why they didn't draw much in Joe Robbie Stadium (I am a die-hard Phins fan and refuse to call it anything other than JRS or Dolphins Stadium). The roof makes perfect sense.

[marlins739]

The second roof track beam of six has been lifted into place on the north side of the park. The beams over the inside of the park are being assembled on the ground and lifted into place. It appears that the portions outside the park will be built in their final location with lots of scaffolding. Fascinating to see how they do all this.

[NYaDiO]

Article about the possibility of the Marlins hosting the 2015 All Star Game

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100216&content_id=8079192&vkey=news_fla&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla

Would it really be possible, I mean the All Star game is huge attracting thousands of fans from every Major League team. I don't think they have the seating capacity to accommodate an All Star Game unless they do some renovations just for that game. Just something to put out there.

[StadiumPage]

Would it really be possible, I mean the All Star game is huge attracting thousands of fans from every Major League team. I don't think they have the seating capacity to accommodate an All Star Game unless they do some renovations just for that game. Just something to put out there.

No problem at all. PNC Park is about the same size and they had it in 2006.

[dabigyankeeman]

I think a previous poster answered your question. It is nasty hot and humid during the daytime in south florida. That is a BIG reason why they didn't draw much in Joe Robbie Stadium (I am a die-hard Phins fan and refuse to call it anything other than JRS or Dolphins Stadium). The roof makes perfect sense.

Plus RAIN. Not many games get rained out, but a ton of games have long rain delays. I got beaten into the ground by rain delays, thats what really got me to stop going.

Its also nasty hot and super humid at night here too for most of the summer.

[Chevy114]

Plus RAIN. Not many games get rained out, but a ton of games have long rain delays. I got beaten into the ground by rain delays, thats what really got me to stop going.

Its also nasty hot and super humid at night here too for most of the summer.

I remember the first time I went there was 45 mins of rain and then 2 hours of 90% humidity in like 88 degree weather. Not a fun place to be after rain since there is no cross ventalization.

[marlins739]

Three of the six interior roof tracks sections have now been raised up on top of the super columns. This place is going up really fast. The first base grandstand is now the height of a 6 story building, and the left field main concourse is mostly poured. It's barely been 6 months since construction started.

[Bleeding Pinstripes]

is the construction being done by union workers?

[Paul W]

is the construction being done by union workers?

probably not, right-to-work state. surprised?

doin' it on the cheap...

[Bleeding Pinstripes]

probably not, right-to-work state. surprised?

thats probaly why its happening so fast! lol you dont pull ur weight you dont get paid!

[marlins739]

The names for the levels have been announced. Construction is now about 25% complete

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20100309&content_id=8725420&vkey=pr_fla&fext=.jsp&c_id=fla

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Some pics from Ghost Of Fire/ Flickr from last week

ENLARGE (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2725/4391014349_eb542823e9_o.jpg)


ENLARGE (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2750/4391785236_31f66ecd26_o.jpg)


ENLARGE (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4391785060_2f9e70c4fa_o.jpg)




ENLARGE (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4391006595_633dd6cea7_o.jpg)


ENLARGE (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4391781418_de64d13ca2_o.jpg)

[go_leafs_go02]

Looks like a new Interstate interchange from the last photo.

[ZeoBandit]

Wow. That seems to be going up quickyl!

[marlins739]

Sure is. The fifth roof track section went up last night. It's where the red crane is in the last picture.

[Perseus71]

I just passed by the new stadium. It looks very small but looks much more ahead of schedule than NYS was at the time of build. It should be a great place to watch baseball.

[Transic]

It would be interesting what the response would be from the folks who say they can't get to Joe Robbie Stadium because of how hard it is to get to there, since the stadium is being built right in their neighborhood.

[muckandgrind]

I heard something that I hope isn't true......PLEASE tell me that the Marlins aren't putting a freakin' SWIMMING POOL in the outfield stands somehwere!!

[DJ Starion]

They wouldn't be the first team.

[Paul W]

I heard something that I hope isn't true......PLEASE tell me that the Marlins aren't putting a freakin' SWIMMING POOL in the outfield stands somehwere!!

sure, it's lined with gold! when you're plain' with the taxpayers dime, the sky's the limit!

[muckandgrind]

They wouldn't be the first team.

I realize that....I know the Diamond Back's retractable dome has one....I was just hoping that would be the last. How lame.

[The Korean]

sure, it's lined with gold! when you're plain' with the taxpayers dime, the sky's the limit!

Tax payers money gets wasted every single day besides baseball stadiums, whats the big deal. I'd rather have this then some art gallery or god forbid, 1000 dollar toilet seat.

[Iowanic]

Did the people who are paying get asked whether they want a swimming pool ?
If I'm paying for something being built, I'd like some say therein.

[The Korean]

Nobody asked any of us when they use tax money on some retarded stuff, but hey, its life.

[Iowanic]

.

"A fool and his money soon go seperate ways....."

[marlins739]

The Marlins already have a small pool at Sun Life Stadium in the right field corner. It's a hot tub size party area. In the grand scheme of things, the pool is not a very large portion of the total cost, and most people in Florida are very happy to have pools

[Iowanic]

Heck, they can most of the crowd in a hot tub some games.

[PeteU]

I heard something that I hope isn't true......PLEASE tell me that the Marlins aren't putting a freakin' SWIMMING POOL in the outfield stands somehwere!!

Actually, I wouldn't mind watching the game from the pool area. Why? Two of my most favorite hobbies are a)following baseball and b) swimming. The chance to combine the two sounds pretty sweet to me. Sort of like the episode of Seinfeld where George tries to combine sex and eating.

[Paul W]

Nobody asked any of us when they use tax money on some retarded stuff, but hey, its life.

...idiot...

[Cool Papa B.]

I just found these pictures online. They are similar to the pictures posted on the previous page.

http://www.uspresswire.com/sets/83723

[The Korean]

...idiot...

What are ya gonna do? Run for senate? HoR? Governor? President?

I dont think theres really anyway we can stop this unless we have a violent overthrow of the current system.

[Paul W]

What are ya gonna do? Run for senate? HoR? Governor? President?

I dont think theres really anyway we can stop this unless we have a violent overthrow of the current system.

hope you don't...

it may come to that...

btw - using spell check is a good thing...

[Iowanic]

It's starting to sound like the marlins aren't getting what they wanted; they're taking what others have decided for them.

No wonder they have such small crowds. Who would want to root for such a team? Or more exactly, a team with such managment?

[marlins739]

It's starting to sound like the marlins aren't getting what they wanted; they're taking what others have decided for them.

No wonder they have such small crowds. Who would want to root for such a team? Or more exactly, a team with such managment?

What are you talking about? The Marlins are getting exactly what they have always wanted since the beginning - their own retractable roof ballpark. The details have been agreed upon by the team, city, and county

[Bleeding Pinstripes]

it looks like they are building the roofs support structure out of concrete instead of steal. wouldent steal last longer and be more durable?

[Iowanic]

Which leads us back to who's paying for it....and if they're allowed any say on how their money is spent...

Ps; I don't know how well steal holds up, so I can't venture a guess. But if they use Steel, it could work....

[dabigyankeeman]

It's starting to sound like the marlins aren't getting what they wanted; they're taking what others have decided for them.

No wonder they have such small crowds. Who would want to root for such a team? Or more exactly, a team with such managment?

Who would root for a team that has won two world championships in the last 13 years? How many fans wish their team did that. Outside of the Yankees and the Red Sox, i dont think anybody else has done it, and only the Yankees have won more than 2 in that time-frame.

[Iowanic]

Hey, i hear ya: a tiny band of die-hards apparently with deep pockets. If that's the way they want to spend their money, cool.

As long as it's just their money.... Hopefully, those who don't want to come to the games, won't have to pay for it.

But it really doesn't work like that, does it?

[Iowanic]

For those interested:
Records; 2004 thru 2009;

Marlins: 486 won; 485 lost.
Cubbies: 499 won; 471 lost.

Ouch!

Well, there is a brightside. You got a new playing field....

[Paul W]

as long as it's just their money.... Hopefully, those who don't want to come to the games, won't have to pay for it.

But it really doesn't work like that, does it?

no it does not, everybody pays & pays...

[marlins739]

Concrete is used for nearly every building project in South Florida. Do you really think that nobody thought it through, and that the use of steel-reinforced concrete instead of plain steel for the roof tracks was just a simple oversight on the part of the construction team? Look at every highway bridge in South Florida. Concrete is used where there would be steel in many other places because of corrosion issues in the salty air. If they thought steel would be more durable and last longer, then they would have used steel. The use of all the exposed steel was a design choice in most of the other ballparks, and exposed steel is not in the architectural plans of the new park. For those of you who need your steel fix in the new ballpark, the entire roof itself will be made of steel.

For those of you interested, 2003 NLCS game count:

Marlins 4, Cubbies 3

[Iowanic]

Good point. At least they enjoyed that last hurrah.....

In fairness to the marlins, they do get a fair amount of wins for the cash spent.
The cubbies got the opposite problem....

Is part of the reason the marlins get by with such light payroll, is they have other folk doing the heavy-lifting regarding their new stadium?

[marlins739]

Here is the official, God-honest, no BS, real life financing breakdown for the new park, which will be owned by the county:

Team: $155 million AND COST OVERRUNS, plus $100 million for the 5000-space parking garage. The team will be responsible for maintenance, insurance, and operational costs
Miami-Dade County: $50 million in funds specifically designated for the Orange Bowl site, and $297 million in county tourist tax revenues, which are set aside by law for tourism-related projects
City of Miami: $13 million towards construction, plus providing the land and paying for the demolition of the Orange Bowl

Another fun fact:

Dollars per win in 2009
Cubs: 83 wins, $135,050,000 = $1,627,108.43 per win
Marlins: 87 wins, $36,814,000 = $423,149.42 per win

The most important stat of all

Number of World Series victories in the lifetime of every single person on this forum:
Marlins - 2
Cubs - 0

[Iowanic]

Sad but true. Like I said; all that and a new stadium, too.
Uh....how many fans per game did the marlins average, last year?

[Van Greco]

It never ceases to amaze me how much other fans seem to like to rip on the Marlins. This team has been an unmitigated success since it's inception. Two titles already is pretty impressive for a team that's not even twenty years old. Everyone loves to bring up the attendance issues, but doing so really indicates a lack of understanding of the population of this area. A huge amount of the population of South Florida is from somewhere else. The amount of former New Yorkers here is staggering.

I was 13 when the Marlins started play and like so many other Floridians I was a fan of the team that trained in my hometown in the spring (in my case the Dodgers). It takes time to build a loyal fanbase in an environment like this. Especially in light of some previous demoralizing ownership moves. So many other teams' fans seem to take for granted that they are part of a long standing tradition of rooting for their home team. They can root for the team their father rooted for and in some cases the team their grandfather rooted for. This stadium goes a long way toward ensuring that this team will stay in Miami, thus allowing the already growing number of kids who have grown up Marlins fans to continue to increase.

The future actually looks good for the Marlins. In the last two years we have locked up Hanley and JJ. Chris Coghlan won the NL ROY last year and we have the #3 prospect in baseball named Mike Stanton who's playing well this spring and could be up by mid year. Not to mention we still have one of the best front office guys in the game in Larry Beinfest. This team is gearing up to make a serious run at another title in 2011 or 2012. It's fun to watch this team right now.

[Iowanic]

I hear ya: When I stated earlier the marlins, in fact, do a lot with a small payroll I was honest in being impressed: I wish the cubbies could learn a thing or two along those lines.

I've got a strong libertarian streak: if someone is having their money taken for something, then they should have a say on what it's being used for.

[boisemarinersfan]

Maybe there isn't any support for baseball in Miami. On the other recent ballpark construction threads once the building started the thread wouldn't go 2 days without a comment.

[PeteU]

I hear ya: When I stated earlier the marlins, in fact, do a lot with a small payroll I was honest in being impressed: I wish the cubbies could learn a thing or two along those lines.

I've got a strong libertarian streak: if someone is having their money taken for something, then they should have a say on what it's being used for.

Well, unless you happen to live in Miami-Dade County, then you can go shuttie, Bartman. It's none of your business.

[Iowanic]

My, Someones a tad grumpy.

[marlins739]

Understandably so. Read the last page of this thread. People love to bash on the Marlins for no reason. We've been one of the better teams in baseball for the last several years, finishing in second place last year, staying in contention into the final week of the season, and the only team that has more World Series titles than us in recent history is the Yankees. If Marlins fans hijacked the Wrigley Field renovation thread to bash the Cubs, you would be angry too. A real Cubs fan would not have already forgotten the 2003 NLCS, in which the Marlins embarassed the heavily favored Cubbies on the way to beating the Yankees in their own house.

Nobody batted an eyelash about New York spending $2 billion on Citi Field and Yankee Stadium, but when Miami spends 1/5 as much, people on this board freak out. The Marlins ballpark deal is in line with many other teams that have built new ballparks lately. If you live in Miami-Dade County, feel free to object to the way your tax money is being spent. However, unless you want to protest the use of public money in every ballpark, don't single out the Marlins

[StadiumPage]

Nobody batted an eyelash about New York spending $2 billion on Citi Field and Yankee Stadium

I agree with your premise, but New York did not spend $2 Billion on the ballparks. The Mets and Yankees are paying off the bonds themselves. New York (state and city) facilitated the issuance of the bonds at a cheaper rate than they would've gotten on their own. (NYS/NYC also paid for "infrastructure"; last I heard private companies aren't allowed to just build roads and train stations on city land. And land costs; Citi was built in the parking lot anyway, Yankee land was shady though)

I don't understand the crankiness in this thread either though. Companies/teams should try to get whatever they can from the cities they are in. Miami was willing to pay to keep their team. Montreal wasn't and you saw what happened.

[Chevy114]

I don't get the issue, the marlins are getting a stadium like they wanted. It will be a retractable roof so fans can actually bare to sit there for more than 3 innings (trust me it gets hard during day games in the dolph). It also has views beacause of the glass in center field and is shaped like a baseball stadium so you aren't overrun with seats everywhere.

I would take it, I would also take 2 world series in 10 years, and I would take a young and compeitive team every year (although I would like to keep a veteran if I could afford it).

I know I'm from Tampa and I have been told to hate the marlins from 1993-1998 but I am actually proud and a little jealous of the marlins.

[locke40]

Maybe there isn't any support for baseball in Miami. On the other recent ballpark construction threads once the building started the thread wouldn't go 2 days without a comment.

I'm not sure how accurate this particular message board / website is to the actual percentage of a fan base for any team.

[StadiumPage]

I'm not sure how accurate this particular message board / website is to the actual percentage of a fan base for any team.

Well, they did manage the largest ever World Series crowds in 97 and 03. The fans are there, but they need to win to draw.

[chip]

"largest ever World Series crowds in 97 and 03"

I think the Dodgers and the Indians have had larger crowds.

[dabigyankeeman]

"largest ever World Series crowds in 97 and 03"

I think the Dodgers and the Indians have had larger crowds.

I believe you are correct. However, I was there for every world series game in 1997 and for one WS game in 2003 (luckily the one that the Yankees won), and the gigantic crowds were incredible!!

[StadiumPage]

"largest ever World Series crowds in 97 and 03"

I think the Dodgers and the Indians have had larger crowds.

You're right, completely forgot about the WS at the LA Coliseum. Over 90K!! 80,000+ in 1938 in Cleveland too. Possibly some at Yankee Stadium before fire code changes and renovation knocked it down to 55k too.

But regardless, the 75k they drew for their seven WS games shows you that there are fans there, but you need to win to draw them.

[marlins739]

The Marlins have sold out all but a handful of their playoff games, and the ones that weren't sellouts still had crowds north of 50,000. Championship and World Series games have all been around 65,000

[Iowanic]

At the very least; it's been a education on the Marlin's world.

[Dodgersfan323]

It has gone erect! I need to get out and see how the progress is on our new NFL stadium.....