matthewweaver.com | mlb ballparks

Ballpark:
Dolphin Stadium (originally known as Joe Robbie Stadium and previously called Pro Player Stadium, Pro Player Park and - strangely - Dolphins Stadium) is one of the few remaining dual purpose facilities in Major League Baseball. [Minnesota, Oakland, Tampa Bay and Washington are the only other teams that play in truly multi-purpose stadiums, though several others are occasionally used for concerts or college football bowl games.]

The football stadium for the Miami Dolphins was converted to accept a baseball configuration prior to the team's inaugural season in 1995. When all seats are used, as in the 1997 World Series, the park seats a whopping 64,000 for baseball! Unfortunately, the football friendly seating does not provide good sightlines for baseball, except near the infield and just past the right field wall. Not surprisingly, this is one of the worst baseball parks in the Majors.

Dead center field is 415 feet away and the 430-foot "Bermuda Triangle" in left center field is a triple factory. Though the team has tried to make it more baseball friendly by installing an large scoreboard in left field (to hide the pulled back football seats) and club seating in right field, fans can't help but feel they are in a football stadium.

A positive is the huge onsite parking lot which makes driving to Opa Locka feasible...the location is quite far from downtown Miami, public transportation is not really an option and the town is a bit sketchy at night. There are also two vivid big screen video/scoreboards which are some of the best in baseball. However, the concourses are concrete and very loud, making talking or a phone call almost impossible. The eating options are mediocre, including Papa John's pizza (decent) and some Latin fare. There are few team shops available due to a limited staff working during game days (since the crowds are many times under 10,000 people. What crowds show up are not very baseball knowledgeable and they tend to not pay attention. In fact, even with a crowd of about 25,000, the fans decided to do The Wave while the Marlins were at bat and trying to drive in the tying run! That is pretty sad.

Ultimately, Dolphin Stadium readily deserves an "F" grade.

Note: The Marlins have been trying for some time to get public financing for a new 38,000-seat park next to the Orange Bowl near downtown Miami. However, as of mid 2007, the project is stalled and voters have refused to fund any new venue for the Marlins. The team is always a candidate to move elsewhere, such as Las Vegas.

How to get there:
The stadium is just off Florida's Turnpike at NW 199th Street (East-West crossroad) and NW 27th Avenue (North-South crossroad).

City:
Miami has sun and scenery beyond what most other cities can offer. It has a bustling nightlife, beautiful beaches, even more beautiful people and great food - especially Latino food. However, it is severely lacking as a baseball town. The fans rarely come out to the ballpark unless the team is an over budget, star-filled juggernaut like the 1997 World Championship team (that was dismantled the following off season). I guess most people feel that there are better things to do than watch a baseball game in South Florida...which is understandabel, I guess.

Stuff to do while there:
As an outdoors person, I am a bit biased, so take this with a grain of salt. I personally do not like the glitz and party lifestyle of South Beach, so I recommend staying in the more laid-back Fort Lauderdale or Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. No matter where you stay, there is plenty of beach and ocean, lots of shopping and the inevitable clubs. Florida is a golfer's paradise and there are other activities like gambling (Jai Alai and horse racing), scuba diving or boating. One can also visit Everglades National Park, the enormous wetlands just West of the Miami area.

Story:
In 2006, I flew to Miami from Portland to make Dolphin Stadium my 29th ballpark visit of the then-current 30 parks. My friend Ed Martinelli and his family live in the area, so I stayed at a local hotel and joined Ed for the game and his family for a little nightlife and eating in the trendy Las Olas area of Miami.

In 1997, I nearly hopped a plane and went to the 1997 World Series in Miami to see my Indians play. However, all 64,000 seats were sold out and, at the time, I couldn't afford to scalp a ticket - much less the last minute airfare. However, many Clevelanders did exactly that.

Fun facts:
The locals jokingly call the park "Dolphins Tadium" to play off the 2006 name change from Dolphins Stadium (and its two "s" letters versus just one).

Due to the regular South Florida downpours and the lack of a roof at Dolphins Stadium, the Marlins are tied for the record of the most rain delays in one game -- 4 on July 7, 2002.

The Marlins won the World Series faster than any other team in history. It took them just 3 years (1995-1997) to buy, in mean assemble, the talent that could win it all. They won it all again in 2003, but with a lot of home grown talent.

The Marlins also were the first team to go from first to worst in one season. After winning the ring in 1997, the team's owner lost so much money that he had to dismantle the team and cut over $60 million from his $80 million payroll. The personnel changes caused his veteran team to become a rookie team that lost over 100 games in 1998. Disgraceful!

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The unremarkable exterior
of Dolphin Stadium
April 11, 2006

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Sergio Mitre throws the first pitch
of the Marlins 2006 home opener
April 11, 2006

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A view from behind home plate;
Mitre throws to Mike Piazza
April 11, 2006

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A 3-photo mosaic of the stadium from the top of Section 450
April 11, 2006

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A 3-photo mosaic from
the right field corner
April 11, 2006

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My friend and Miami resident Ed Martinelli joined me for the game
April 11, 2006

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This sign pretty much says it all about the Marlins fan support
April 11, 2006

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WTF?! What was the
beer man thinking?
April 11, 2006