Marlins fans got their "first look at their team’s new $515 million home Saturday at FanFest," and the club said that "more than 40,000 showed up" for the event, according to Manny Navarro of the MIAMI HERALD. The ballpark's ticket office "opened two hours before" FanFest as "hundreds began lining up to buy single-game tickets for Games 2 through 81." The Marlins said that they "sold 130,000 tickets Saturday." As part of Fanfest, there were two "town hall meetings where players, manager Ozzie Guillen and team president David Samson fielded questions and requests from fans." Asked who will throw out the first pitch on opening night, Samson said, "That will remain a surprise." Navarro noted there was "mixed reaction to the 73-foot statue in center field that will light up and spin when a Marlin takes an opposing pitcher deep." As for the stadium food, many fans "seemed to like the menu and weren’t scared by the prices." Traffic "didn’t appear to be much of a concern Saturday, although the 5,700 parking spots near the stadium did fill up fast." The Marlins "kept the roof open" during FanFest and closed it at the end of the event (MIAMI HERALD, 3/4). In West Palm Beach, Joe Capozzi noted despite the previous complaints about the location of the ballpark, "many people who live north of Miami-Dade County sounded like the extra commute might be a worthy sacrifice after the Marlins bolstered their roster with a winter spending spree." Samson said that the team had already sold at "at least 15,000 season tickets, including many from Palm Beach County, before FanFest." Capozzi noted most fans Saturday "walked to the microphone to thank Samson and owner Jeffrey Loria for getting the ballpark built" (PALM BEACH POST, 3/4). Samson said of the "renewed enthusiasm" surrounding the Marlins: "There is much greater interest and we're a much better team. It's just a whole different vibe, with all the attention we're getting." MLB.com's Joe Frisaro noted the "merchandise stores and vending areas were packed" Saturday. The two aquariums, "literally built into the wall behind home plate, now have fish that are protected by shatterproof glass." Samson "hinted to look for the aquariums to be featured as part of a reality TV show, which is not 'The Franchise'" (MLB.com, 3/3).
FIELD OF DREAMS: In Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Davis wrote no one has "more reason to be excited" about the ballpark than Loria. Loria said, "You have no way of understanding what [the] space looks like until the space is built. Now that it's all around us, you can walk around and see all of the possibilities. The ballpark was built so that people can use their eyes, not only for baseball but their surroundings. That's what's going to make it special." However, the home-run sculpture "has already generated considerable criticism." Loria said, "Once it starts working it's going to be ours, and people will understand. All great works of art are always curious to people. They're not quite sure what they're going to see" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 3/3). In Miami, Clark Spencer noted, "Almost everything about the re-christened Miami Marlins is new. New name. New manager. New uniform and colors. New ballpark. New players. New attitude." The Marlins "outspent the New York Yankees over the winter on free agents." It has been "only six years since the Marlins were the brunt of jokes," with a $15M payroll. Marlins P Ricky Nolasco said, "To be a part of it and see the changes they’ve gone through in the last six years is pretty impressive and pretty cool to be a part of. It doesn’t feel like this is the seventh year. It feels like just a couple of years ago we were all rookies." Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who was fired by the Marlins after the '06 season, said, "The stadium finally appears to give them some financial stability to hold onto players. And I’m happy for them. When you have a fan base, the fan base wants to know that guys are going to be there and the guys they grew up rooting for when they were rookies and (in their) second year, they want to know they’re going to be there a long time, and it looks like they’re finally going to have the ability to do that" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/4). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde wrote if the franchise facelift "doesn't work, it won't be for lack of planning." The Marlins are "starting over," and they are "starting it right." They have "made bold moves on the roster, big moves in the marketing and the best move of all into this stadium." It does not mean there are "enough baseball fans in South Florida," but it does mean there is "no other reason if attendance remains among the league's worst" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 3/4).
WORTH NOTING: The MIAMI HERALD's Spencer notes the "psychedelic home run sculpture in deep left-center could pose a problem for some hitters, specifically left-handed batters facing right-hand pitchers with sidearm deliveries." But Marlins execs said that there is "no reason for concern" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/5). Meanwhile, MLB.com's Frisaro noted the '15 All-Star Game "remains a top priority for the Marlins." Samson said, "We're still planning for 2015. We're going to work with the Commissioner and apply." When the Marlins were "negotiating with the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County to secure their new ballpark, MLB stressed that it would strongly consider giving the market an All-Star Game." Along with eyeing the '15 All-Star Game, the Marlins "also anticipate being a host site for the 2013 World Baseball Classic." Samson said, "We expect to host the World Baseball Classic here. It's just a matter of whether we host the second round or the finals. But the World Baseball Classic and Miami? It's just a natural" (MLB.com, 3/3).
