First Impressions of Marlins' Park

Last night finally saw the return of real, this actually means something baseball (I refuse to acknowledge the A’s / Mariners opener in Japan as “opening day”). Kyle Loshe looked like an ace, the Marlins looked like they might want to move the fences in next season (that is a seriously huge outfield) and all in all, it was an enjoyable evening for baseball.

I don’t care to recap an opening day game between two NL teams though. What I do care to recap is that new ballpark known as ‘Marlins' Park’ (Fans have taken to calling the new stadium ‘The Tank’ which I absolutely love. Henceforth, Marlin’s Park will be known as ‘The Tank’).

To put it simply… ‘The Tank’ is one ugly park. I can look past painting everything neon green, I can look past the giant vacant ‘window’ in left center (it’s supposed to showcase the Miami skyline, and when the camera is in the right spot, it actually does – but for a majority of the camera shots last night, it just looked like a giant hole). I even like the addition of fish tanks behind home plate. While I don’t see the appeal of a nightclub in left field, I can understand the audience they’re shooting for – so even that dubstep pumping atrocity doesn’t bother me.

What DOES bother me is how much the new ballpark doesn’t really feel or look like a new ballpark. Once the game started and ESPN began showing different shots of the park, instead of reveling in the awe of a brand new stadium, all I felt myself asking was “That’s it?” Frankly, I find the design of ‘The Tank’ lacking – it’s essentially a giant, day glow plastic shell with a fancy roof. It doesn’t ‘feel’ like a ballpark. Take for example Target Field, Camden Yards, Citizens Bank Park, PNC Park, Busch Stadium or Safeco Field. All of those parks are relatively new or renovated. All of them ‘feel’ like a baseball Mecca. They look like architectural tributes to America’s pastime. ‘The Tank’ looks more like an architectural tribute to Miami.

Camden Yards

PNC Park

ATT Park

Safeco Field

Target Field

Busch Stadium

Marlins' Park...one of these things is not like the others

(The above photos still cannot fully convey the point I'm trying to make. Each of the other parks seems warmer, more friendly and conducive to baseball. You can especially tell the difference when you watch the games on TV or in person. Something is just 'off' with the new park. You can sort of see it in photos, but it's really apparent live).

In the end, that may be what the Marlins were going for. Build a park for their audience. After all, they’re attendance has been horrendous over the past few years despite putting a fairly decent team on the field. (The Rays have it worse, however, as they have one of the best teams in baseball that no one comes out to watch). Time will tell if the Marlins decision to build a neon temple to Miami was a smart move. If it attracts the Miami audience they’ve been missing all of these years, then it was a savvy business decision. I worry, however, that they may have alienated their core fan base – classic baseball fans.

I have a dream of traveling America with a yet-to-be-born offspring, going to each and every major league park. It’s safe to say that we will likely avoid the state of Florida all together as Tropicana Field is well known as the worst park in baseball and ‘The Tank’ looks like a dance club that I have zero interest in touring.

The Twins start play tomorrow (at the beautiful Camden Yards) and open at the (equally beautiful) Target Field on April 9^th. Let’s go Twins!