I recently had the opportunity to visit the new Miami Marlins Park prior to the start of the 2012 baseball season. We went to watch the FIU Panthers play the Miami Marlins on their new home field. It just so happens that the Miami weather decided to prove that the rooftop was in fact a necessity on that night. The slight drizzle didn’t stop us curious fans from attending the game though.
The outside architecture is stunning…and that’s about where the wow factor ends. We ended up in some real messy traffic on the way to the ballpark. After getting off of the highway, we came across the first of about 5 police roadblocks. There wasn’t an easy way to make it to one of the four parking structures, that seemed so close that you could touch them. After arriving at the gate, the staff was only collecting pre paid parking slips. So apparently there was no way to just park and attend the game. If you hadn’t purchased the parking pass online, you would have to find roadside parking or pay a resident to park in their personal driveway. Anyone remember the Orange Bowl parking dramas? So glad we haven’t improved upon the ridiculousness of that era. {sarcasm}
Again, I must say…the outside of the ballpark is beautiful. Then we walked through the gates and into the building. I wish I could show you a picture of the inside design, but the bright primary color-coded walls and matching glitter floor might have damaged my camera lens. It was like walking into Chuck-E-Cheese. Then there was the home run sculpture, I can’t think of a way to describe it. Ugly. That’s all I can say. Rainbows, flamingos and Marlins on pendulums. Reading Rainbow style. {wish I was joking}
Instead you can see the amazing retractable roof. It was opened minutes after the last out.
I can’t tell you about the traffic heading home because I stayed to take some photos of the outside of the ballpark. We might have been the last car leaving the parking garage. #justsayin
