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The Great Ballpark Chase: A Day at the Beach

timothynrussell
loanDepot Park
The view from behind homeplate at Miami’s loanDepot Park. (Photo by Tim Russell)

(Contributing writer Timothy Russell returns with another set of entries in his Chasing Ballparks series. Leading off this year, Miami’s loanDepot Park.)

Some people vacation in tropical locales. Some visit historical places. Some go to northern Michigan.

For a baseball fanatic like me, there’s nothing better than chasing ballparks.

Planning starts the day the next season’s schedule is released, which is usually around the All-Star Break. It was delayed this year, drawing the angst of baseball fans around the country. The 2026 MLB Schedule dropped August 26th.

I registered for the Southern Slam tour with Coast 2 Coast Sports Tours in fall of 2024. We had to overcome a possible cancellation due to lack of participants and then a personal medical issue, but it ended up going off without a hitch.

So, we flew into Miami and the fun began at one of six stops along the way.

loanDepot Park is the home of the Miami Marlins. While I have always said, baseball should be played outdoors, it was nice having a respite from the oppressive Florida heat and humidity.

Clockwise from upper left, when they talk about playing in South Beach they aren’t lying; some palm trees adorn the exterior; like most sponsors loanDepot has its name on just about everything; a view of the massive glass panels in the outfield; a perfect selfie spot; and Marlins’ pitcher Jason Junk in mid-delivery. (Photos by Tim Russell)

loanDepot Park is located on the former site of the Miami Orange Bowl in the city’s Little Havana neighborhood, about two miles west of downtown Miami. Construction was completed in March 2012 as the sixth stadium to have a retractable roof, which is rarely open during most of the season.

A nice design feature is the six glass panels (240-feet long by 60-feet high) in the outfield, allowing one to look into downtown Miami.

There is also, what some call, the Monstrosity. It used to be the Marlins’ home run sculpture in center field. Some called it tacky and ugly while others said it captured the “essence of Miami.” It was later moved outside the stadium plaza, which is being redeveloped into a Miami Live! plaza for indoor and outdoor dining, as well as entertainment places. It should open in 2026.

The home run statue will activate every afternoon at 3:05 p.m., in honor of Miami’s area code.

The artwork some call “The Monstrosity” and some images of the Bobblehead Museum inside loanDepot Park. (Photos by Tim Russell)

And if you are into bobbleheads like I am, you’ll love the Bobblehead Museum out in center field. There are lots of bobbleheads from all teams, including past players, mascots, and special edition themed ones.

Field dimensions are fairly standard, compared to other stadiums. Down the left field line is 344 feet, in left center it’s 386 feet. The deepest part of the park is center field at 400 feet. It’s 387 feet to right center and 335 feet down the right field line.

The upper deck is frequently closed off, due to the Marlins’ low attendance problems. They will open the upper deck for high profile teams like the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox e.g. teams that will draw bigger crowds.

Food-wise, one of the popular items would be the Cuban sandwich, although there are probably better ones at several places outside the stadium in Little Havana. The team also has a value section, called Familia Faves, where you can buy ballpark items like nachos, hot dogs, ice cream, or popcorn for $3 or $5, again in honor of the 305 area code.

As a Michigander, I was bummed to have just missed seeing the MLB debut of Michigan native Jakob Marsee. He’s from Allen Park, MI, went to college at Central Michigan University and I work with his grandmother.

Marsee ended up debuting with the Marlins just after the trade deadline. Originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round in 2022. He was traded to Florida in the Luis Arraez deal in 2024.

Currently, Marsee is hitting .338 with four home runs and 23 RBIs.

As part of the tour, we do a score contest, trying to predict the correct outcome at each game. Closest to the correct score wins a prize, usually a mini bat or a logo ball.

Going into the ninth inning, the Kansas City Royals had a 7-0 lead. I had picked a 6-2 KC win, while Tara had picked a 7-4 KC victory. I was looking good for the win until Miami scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth and I went back to the bus empty handed☹

I cursed Florida for scoring four meaningless runs all the way to the hotel. (OK, I didn’t, but it makes the story better:-)

The video board hangs high above loanDepot Park and the Marlins’ TV studio team of Craig Minervini, Jeremy Tache, and Rod Allen. (Photos by Tim Russell)

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