Baseball was born in America after the battlefields of the Civil War gone quiet. We stole the outline of the game from the British and Irish, taking their game of rounders and making it our own. Miami grew from a spring training hub for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles to finally getting a team of our own in 1993.
The initial seasons were heady. In four short years, the Florida Marlins took a wild card slot in the National League pennant race to the World Series where the Fish beat the Cleveland Indians in dramatic fashion.
The relationship between the Marlins and Miami has been up and down ever since that championship season. Wayne Huizenga, Blockbuster Video founder and cranky billionaire, soon resented the high cost of running a professional baseball team and traded away the star players of the 1997 team, dulling the luster of the franchise. Huizenga sold the team the next year to investment banker John Henry. Henry chafed at having to pay rent to Huizenga, who owned the Dolphins and had the lease on Dolphins Stadium. His quest was to have a ballpark that the Marlins could call their own.
Henry didn’t succeed. Four years later, the Marlins were shuffled in a three way team swap. It was a Tinker to Evers to Chance move. Henry left Miami to own the Boston Red Sox, while Montreal Expos owner Jeffrey Loria took over the Marlins. Loria pressed hard —very hard — to get a new stadium, even flirting with Las Vegas and Portland, Oregon and threatening to move the team.
Eventually, the stadium was approved and built, but not without much controversy. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez was recalled largely because of his support of the County’s $376 million contribution to the construction cost. The resentment between sports fans and the Marlins’ front office tamped the enthusiasm for the Marlins.
The Marlins are now owned by a group led by former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. Even before officially taking over, Jetercut ties with at least nine executives — team president David Samson, four baseball-operations vice presidents, and four special assistants. The Jeter group has moved to distance itself from the ownerships of the past and begin a new future in Miami.
To paraphrase Pumbaa, the warthog from The Lion King who spoke like Yogi Berra, we need to put our past in our behind.
CEO Derek Jeter said this in a recent interview with MLB Network: “We’re fixing something that was broken. We’re trying to build an organization that year in and year out we have an opportunity to win. We’re not trying to win one time. We’re trying to have the opportunity every year to win… We want our fan base to come out and support our guys and get to know our players. They will enjoy getting to know them, more importantly, they will enjoy how our team goes about playing the game.”
We need to look past the sins of Huizenga, Henry, and Loria and focus on today, because Miami needs baseball as much as baseball needs Miami.
But the fans aren’t listening. For the first seven home games this season so far, the Marlins have been averaging 9,576 attendees — in a park built to hold 36,742. It’s new owners, new team, and a new Marlins Park. The funky monstrosity in center field is gone. They’ve introduced a value meal, meaning you won’t have get an advance on your paycheck just to feed your kids at the game. And food has become more Miami with the additions of Miami’s Best Pizza, PINCHO, Novecento, SuViche and two concepts by José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup — Butterfly Tacos y Tortas and La Pepa.
Home game weekends feature Little Havana Nights on Friday presented by Estrella Jalisco, where your ticket includes an Estrella Jalisco beer, water or soda, and featured items from the re-concepted concessions. Saturday games will host the Park Before Dark, with an earlier start time (6:10 p.m.), postgame fireworks and concerts, and then hit the town for one action-packed Saturday night. And the first 10,000 fans will receive exclusive Marlins swag. Sundays are Fundays with family-oriented activities pre- and postgame. Before the games, there will be activities in the Home Plate Atrium near Section 15 on the Promenade Level. After the game, kids ages 14 and under can then take the field for the UHealth Diamond Dash to run the bases. The first 5,000 kids ages 14 and under on Sundays will receive Marlins swag prior to every Sunday home game that will dress them from head to toe in new team gear over the course of the season.
Overall, the team has held the line on ticket prices and even lowered them for some categories. Tickets are as low as $10 per game, making it a better value than going to a movie.
The Marlins are giving back to our community. For the littlest players, they’ve launched the Miami Marlins Tee Ball Initiative, presented by Ultimate Software, donating uniforms, hats, and equipment to recreational tee ball programs in Miami-Dade County. These savings lower registration costs, increasing the potential number of children playing. Leagues will be presented with a Marlins banner, and teams will be provided Marlins-branded batting tees and baseballs. The kids will get a Miami Marlins hat, jersey, drawstring bag, complimentary Billy’s Bunch Membership, a complimentary ticket voucher to a 2019 Marlins home game, and a Miami Marlins Youth Baseball and Softball Toolkit. The toolkit will be a great resource for players, coaches and parents, and features a welcome letter from Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson.
In the past, they’ve partnered with organizations like Dibia DREAM, Guitars Over Guns, Special Olympics Florida – Miami-Dade County, The Education Fund, so many more. The Marlins Foundation sponsors charitable events throughout the year. Its Ballpark Buddies programs provides free tickets to at-risk youth.
Just this past November, the organization committed $170,000 to completely renovate the four baseball fields at Tropical Park, reconditioning the in-field clay, drainage improvements, and re-grading the outfield turf and ensuring future generations have a quality facility to learn America’s Pastime.
We can argue for days if the baseball moves will work out in the end, but we cannot question the fact that this ownership and this team are committed to Miami and being a part of our community.
The Marlins are making an impact on the community that will benefit generations to come. They deserve our support. We need to cheer on pitchers Pablo Lopez, Sandy Alcantara, Nick Anderson, and the others. We need to celebrate every win, every homer, every hit, every stolen base or gloriously impossible outfield catch.
Actor Peter Gallagher once said, “To stay on the map you’ve got to keep showing up.”
It’s time that we as a community do our part and start showing up for the Marlins.
Good point. Good post. And the outrage keeps on coming.
Miami Herald’s Greg Cote predicts the Miami Marlins will lose 113 games in 2019, topping the 98 games they lost in 2018. Elected officials forced the taxpayers to pay over $3 Billion for this financial disaster. Now elected officials want to give the taxpayer owned Melreese Park to another set of billionaires! So the billionaires can build office buildings, a hotel and a mall.
This is such a ridiculous article. I only hope the author has a financial incentive for writing this, otherwise he is truly a member of a small and stupid cult. Worst franchise in baseball, horrendous history, bad fans (or none). People who are from Miami know better. Fudge the marlins.
$3 Billion. Elected officials of Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami forced the taxpayers to pay over $3 Billion, including debt service. $3 Billion.
Excellent points JVIgil. Excellent post.
the problem is deeper than the marlins and their own very significant issues. baseball attendance is falling even in core markets like LA and SF. the problem with baseball is that the games are too many in number, too long (who has time for a 4 hour game on a wednesday night, really), the fan base is graying, the quality of the game has fallen (who wants to see a player strike out 3 times a game), and the owners and union have sold the soul of the game for money. The game of baseball has not recovered from Bud Selig, and it may never. It is fundamentally a rural sport, but when it preserved its considerable history and charm, it grew on you. Since Bud Selig took over the game has never been the same.
I agree. I will go to a Marlins game in San Antonio. Never in the new stadium. Never stepped in it. The stench of the stadium deal has not left my house and it never will.
It’s not that it’s a direct burden; I understand the money to pay off the bonds coves from tourist taxes. It is a lost opportunity. We could have bonded off our tourist taxes to support other, much more viable, initiatives than a baseball stadium. Initiatives that DO contribute to economic growth in this county.
Good article. The road to success is paved with the remains of negativism and resentment. Dreamers and hard workers can succeed sometimes. Maybe this time they will.
I had a great idea. Have gladiator games before the ball game. Not the almost as fake as WWE MMA stuff. The real thing. Like Russel Crowe slicing off heads, blood and guts everywhere. Then I remembered. This is Miami. Who is going to pay to see that when you can watch Florida road rage for free on 836, 826 or the Turnpike. Sigh. Back to the drawing board again I guess.
One of MANY explanatory articles…. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/miami-overpaid-for-the-site-of-baseballs-all-star-game-by-26-billion-2017-07-10 Citizens of Miami-Dade County got screwed.
“I didn’t realize that the stadium was financially burdening us, and I assume you mean Miami-Dade County.” Is this your gold standard? That public fiancing of a private business has to be designated as a “burden” [however that is defined] in order for the outrageously disproportionate financial structure be criticized? https://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/national/miami.html . What percentage of the local population attend games? What independent disinterested study has supplied proof that there has been a benefit to tying up public money for this private business? The county has committed much and received little from this organization and others like it.
Agree with all the posters. We were scammed by the prior Marlins ownership. All without thought to the underlying business reality – Miami, even in the best of circumstances, will not support a major league franchise, nor does a baseball stadium in any way economically revitalize an area. this was all a scheme orchestrated to allow prior ownership to make their millions, with the blessing of MLB and the participation of poorly informed and weak politicians. Its ok that MLB leave Miami. We will not be the poorer for it. Don’t buy into the b/s of needing to be a “major league town.” Baseball as a sport is in a retirement home. We can attract plenty of sports $$ focusing on other events. More people went out to see the Miami Open than will go see the Marlins through 30 home dates.
If there are over 20,000 empty seats already at the beginning of the season why not give away the tickets to schools? Start the young population to appreciate our national pastime. People that receive free tickets will spend money on at least a soda!!!! It is a no-brainer! Nothing to lose!!!!
Watching the Houston Astros win a couple of years ago gave me hope for Miami being able to win again in the upcoming years. Funny thing is that if Jose Fernandez didn’t die, we were looking at a team had ridiculous upside. Yelich and Stanton have both since won MVP awards, and Jose Fernandez almost won a Cy Young award. Dee Gordon won a batting title, Marcel Ozuna hit .312 with 37 HRs. Jose Urena has become a decent 3 or 4 starter. JT Realmuto is one of the best WAR catchers in the MLB. Other honorable mentions would be Steve Cishek, Brad Hand and Kyle Barraclough. So many of those guys were came through the Marlins system. They were on the right track. However, after losing Jose, everything changed. If I remember correctly, they cancelled the next game and went on a losing streak, and the stadium has been a place where other teams come pad their record since. That said, even if they Marlins would have lived to see the full potential of all of the above named playing together,and winning a championship, they still would have had a hard time selling out. I went to both the 97 and 03 World Series. Neither were truly sold out. I have been to the World Series in Chicago, NY and Boston. They sell out 50k+, meaning that you won’t be able to buy $5 tickets in the parking lot for game 7 of the World Series as was possible in 97. And even with the Yankee Fans flocking to Miami in O3, you could still buy face value 100 level tickets in the parking lot. But that is just Miami. There were NBA Finals Heat tickets were barely only 2x face value online. In major market cities, they will be 3 to 5 times face value. (Also, it is typically easier to get the sporting events in other cities, both from inside and outside of the county. Certainly, that has an effect on demand.) Personally, having spent the majority of my life in major markets, I am happy that prices are like that here. Hopefully, the author of the article is correct in his belief that Jeter and company can build the Marlins properly from the ground up. Having the playoffs for any sport in your city is always better than it being somewhere else, and especially when ticket prices in your city face lower markups than other cities.
I didn’t realize that the stadium was financially burdening us, and I assume you mean Miami-Dade County. What is the present impact or cost? Personally, I stopped being a season ticket holder after the first year in the new stadium. I sit in side all day at work. I hated that they never opened the roof for ANY games. I am not sure if they do now. Good article though.
You couldn’t express it better. Soccer is now going on a spree. They may share the stadium with that “famous” soccer group, instead of expending more city and county dollars.
Well tell Mr Jeter that he traded away last years MVP, a all star catcher among others to cut payroll. This is why the seats are empty.
I’m a lifelong baseball fan and I attend Marlins games whenever time and $ permits but I don’t fool myself into believing that the Marlins organization is “giving back” to the community. It’s much cheaper to spend that money on ballfield renovations and such, than to spend it on acquiring or keeping talent (e.g. Realmuto).
Amazingly, the Marlins have been very good at discovering talent but, as soon as their value is realized, they’re sold or traded. For the last ten years they’ve been nothing but a farm team for all the other big league clubs.
The current management MIGHT have good intentions but, after suffering through several “fire sales”, I remain skeptical.
I think Mr. Jeter himself has said that he is looking to championship-worthy in five years.
In today’s instant-gratification society, that’s five lifetimes away.
Messrs. Kasky and Rosenberg are correct. The Marlins Stadium deal was the biggest scam ever foisted on the residents of the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County.
Shame on any government official who supported it.
Hi Grant, Nice article, and you bring up some things I was not aware of that the new management is doing. I was in favor of all that was done for the new stadium and a baseball fan. It is unfair to blame all of Miami’s problems on the “ White Elephant” just because it was the last team to get the benefits all the other franchises got theirs. But your article is not about that. I agree with you have we have to get behind the team again and it will take time. The new team needs to get some games under their belt before it gets good. The management is trying but yes most Miami fans will not go till the team starts to win. But in the meantime I will give the young guys a chance by watching games both on TV & at our beautiful stadium. Go Marlins:
Every major city has at least one professional franchise. I grew up in Miami and I think you can’t blame the politicions, because the fans don’t show up for games. Maybe they need to bring somebody in, who can think outside the box. Sitting in that magnificent stadium is truly a pleasure. If you’re a fan, then think about the guys, who’ll talk about seeing Aaron, Mays, DoubleD, Clemente, Mantle, Killebrew, Bonds, Berra, Bench, Rose,etc. What about the great players of today: Baez, Donaldson,Trout, Yelich, Ozuna, Judge, Stanton, Goldshmidt, Rizzo, Bellinger, etc.
Public money covered more than 80 percent of the stadium and parking garages, which cost about $634 million. The county spent some $376 million, the city of Miami $133 million.
I would like the County to offer a free transit week, or weeks, all across the County so people would be motivated to try mass transit and hopefully start giving up their cars. My response from transit…we’d love to do it, but it would cost ONE MILLION per week. The county doesn’t have the one million.
The County gave $376 million for the stadium. For that same price we could have had free transit for…EVERYONE for SEVEN years…. Imagine that!
Baseball fans suggested…insisted that if a stadium was built it would be fully filled with fans and transform Miami. Both assertions were nonsense. It was these “fans” that brought about the political pressure to push the egregious financial deal that all of us are saddled with. No amount of intellectual creative history writing will change the fact that an extremely small portion of our population shoved an expensive white elephant down our collective throats.
You forgot they won a second Wotld Series. The current owner can not afford the team. Or quality players. We are picked to finish 26 or worse this year. When they are playing 50/50 ball you may see me. I don’t go to a park to eat. I go there to see good baseball. You position is a lot of Bunk.
Kill your self. I will go to a marlins game when they move the team to San Antonio. They don’t deserve anything and you should be embarrassed for writing this garbage.
I’ve been left at the altar too many times before, and please forgive me if I have lost that “Loving Feeling”, like the song says. Jeter and Co. fired Andre Dawson and Mr. Baseball, had a bogus owner-partner entity holed up in a post office in the Antilles…like Groucho Marx once said, “do you trust me or your own eyes?” You be the judge…
Grant, it has been a very long time, since I first met you. Really enjoyed your article and believe it’s the first time, that I’ve heard somebody defend the actions of the team, that made sense, to me.
I’ve been left at the altar too many times before, and please forgive me if I have list that “Loving Feeling”, like the song says. Jeter and Co. fired Andre Dawson and Mr. Baseball, had a bogus owner-partner entity holed up in a post office in the Antilles…like Groucho Marx once said, “do you trust me or your own eyes?” You be the judge…
Baseball is so American and you, Grant, have meant so much to so many in Miami. You are authentic and speak always from the heart. The Marlins have vaulted Miami in the way the Dolphins and Heat have. Thank you!
I like the article.
Thank you once again Grant for your unfailing institutional memory.