Marlins Park previously hosted the '16 Miami Beach Bowl featuring Tulsa and Central MichiganGETTY IMAGES
Marlins Park will play host to a football game again this fall, as FIU will "serve as the home team" in a matchup against Miami on Nov. 23, according to David Wilson of the MIAMI HERALD. Marlins Park hosted the now-defunct Miami Beach Bowl from '14-16. Marlins President of Business Operations Chip Bowers said when new ownership took over in '17, it was "important that we open up our doors on a 365-day-a-year basis." Asked if that could include the return of a bowl game, Bowers responded, "We'd love to welcome back a bowl game if we can make that work." Bowers said that no discussions have "yet taken place" about a bowl game. But he added that FIU is "excited about the potential of bringing more games to the venue." Wilson notes the Marlins will "get to use this upcoming game as a test run." Bowers said that he expects the ballpark to "hold about 40,000 fans for the game." Capacity for the Miami Beach Bowl was 34,000. One end zone will "sit in front of the fence along the third-base line." The other will be "located just in front of the right field fence." The Marlins will also "set up bleachers in left field to seat about 5,000" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/17).
