Explore loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins
Welcome to loanDepot park, Major League Baseball's southernmost ballpark and third-youngest venue. Home to the Miami Marlins since 2012, it is one of seven MLB stadiums with a retractable roof.
Miami Marlins (originally Florida Marlins)
Established: 1993
Division Name: National League East
Ballpark: loanDepot park (opened 2012)
Miami, endearingly known as the “305” by locals, is unlike any other city in the world.
Occupied by the Tequesta tribe for around 2,000 years before contact with Europeans, Miami was named after the Miami River, derived from Mayaimi, the historic name of Lake Okeechobee and the Native Americans who lived around it.
Miami is the southernmost major metropolitan city in the 48 contiguous United States and one of the country’s youngest cities -- officially incorporated in 1896. But it has developed into the second-largest metropolitan area (6.14 million) in the Southeast after Atlanta, and the ninth-largest in the U.S. Northerners flocked to Miami in the early 1900s before a World War II boom led to the moniker, “The Magic City.”
Arguably the most influential migration to the city occurred in the 1960s as refugees fled Cuba. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Miami was a majority-minority city with the Hispanics comprising of 70.2 percent of the population. No wonder why it is considered the “Gateway to Latin America.”
Miami’s economy relies heavily on tourism, in large part because of its infamous beaches and PortMiami, the busiest cruise port in the world in both passenger traffic and cruise lines.
Major League Baseball arrived in South Florida in 1993, when the Marlins hosted the Dodgers for Opening Day on April 5, 1993, at Joe Robbie Stadium. The Marlins shared the facility with the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins until 2012, when they moved into their own ballpark, located in the Little Havana neighborhood west of downtown. The venue’s contemporary architectural style reflects the modern city it resides in.
Since 2020, loanDepot park has used Shaw Sports B1K -- an artificial turf surface -- rather than natural grass. The same can be found at Chase Field in Arizona and Globe Life Field in Texas.
loanDepot park (originally called Marlins Park until late 2021) has hosted the 2017 All-Star Game festivities, multiple World Baseball Classics, the Caribbean Series, a college football bowl game, concerts, Heritage Celebration Saturdays and more.
In 2023, the ballpark became the first venue in World Baseball Classic history to host games from all three rounds, and loanDepot park will once again host games from all three rounds in ‘26.
With close connection to Caribbean baseball and the Latin community, the Marlins affectionately refer to loanDepot park as the “Home of Béisbol.”
loanDepot park
loanDepot park location (via Google Maps)
Marlins schedule
Marlins roster
501 Marlins Way
Miami, FL 33125
Capacity: 37,442 (approx. -- smallest in MLB)
Dimensions: Left field, 345 feet; center field, 400 feet; right field, 335 feet
Park factors (2024)
100 = league average
Runs: 108 | Homers: 95 | Hits: 105
Features
LEED-certified loanDepot park sits on the former site of the Miami Orange Bowl (1937-2008), which the Dolphins and University of Miami Hurricanes called home. From 1956-60, the Miami Marlins Minor League Baseball team occasionally played games there.
The Marlins have found different ways to commemorate the Miami Orange Bowl.
On the East Plaza resides an art piece intended to show what the letters in the signage "MIAMI ORANGE BOWL" would have looked like as they naturally fell to the ground during the fall of the previous facility. Nearby along the left-field perimeter of the ballpark one can visit the seven-story “Homer” sculpture, which goes off at 3:05 p.m. ET every day in honor of the city’s area code.
Located off of Bobby Maduro Drive (NW 5th Street) and Marlins Way (NW 16th Avenue) are a couple of park benches made from some of the original seats. Near sections 24-25, a mural documents the storied history of the Miami Orange Bowl.
The final tribute is of the Open East "End Zone," which provides unobstructed views to the breathtaking and colorful Downtown Miami skyline beyond the sliding glass panels in left field.
With humid and wet summers, it became clear that a ballpark in Miami would need a roof to avoid rain delays and postponements. loanDepot park’s retractable roof, which takes 13-15 minutes to go from fully closed to open, has been a game changer. When the roof is open, it provides shade over the West Plaza.
Around the concourse, fans have no shortage of things to do.
In celebration of the franchise’s 30th anniversary in 2023, a Marlins Museum presented by Fanatics opened in left field with artifacts from the franchise’s history. There is the Bobblehead Museum, which displays more than 500 bobbleheads, behind the batter’s eye in center field. Two selfie stations can be found near the right-field foul pole along the main concourse.
Additional artwork can be found throughout the ballpark -- from a replica of a Joan Miró mural behind home plate to a reprint of Roy Lichtenstein's painting of "The Manager" near the main concourse. A nearly 40-foot reprint of Kenny Scharf's mixed media work "Play Ball!" is in a corner behind the team store.
For those interested in ballpark tours, click here.
Transportation
Miami isn’t the easiest city to get around, but there are various options to visit loanDepot park. A reminder that general gates open 90 minutes before first pitch.
• Traveling from Broward, Palm Beach, Boca, Aventura or Orlando? Book a HOME RUNNER Brightline train to MiamiCentral Station and enjoy complimentary round-trip shuttle service to and from loanDepot park.
• Fans using a ride-sharing service, including Brightline shuttles, must be picked up at East Lot 1 located at 1380 NW 6th Street, Miami. Rideshare applications will geofence to these areas and direct you within the app appropriately.
• On gamedays, fans using taxis can visit the Taxi Stand located at NW 16th Ave. between NW 5th St. & NW 6th St.
• Two Miami-Dade Metrorail stops are within a mile of the ballpark (Culmer and Civic Center).
• The Tri Rail South Florida Regional Transportation Authority has a connection via the Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre Station to MiamiCentral Station.
• There are eight Metrobus routes and the City of Miami Trolley Route.
Parking
For those with a car, loanDepot park has four parking garages located on the North and South sides of the ballpark and six surface lots located on the East and West sides of the ballpark, each operated in a free-flow parking model.
What that means is event attendees parking at the ballpark will use their vehicle’s license plate as their credential for parking. Vehicles will not be validated at the entrance to parking facilities through payment collection or parking pass scan. Instead, all cars will enter a parking garage or surface lot, subject to availability, and proceed to an available parking spot. Event attendees will then pay and register their vehicle’s license plate via the PayByPhone App using the garage-specific identification code found on surrounding signage. During the game, vehicles will be validated based on the registration status of their license plate.
Parking rates are dynamically priced. A prepaid parking pass through preferred partner, ParkWhiz, is the only method to guarantee on-site parking for Marlins home games at loanDepot park.
Concessions
loanDepot park offers an eclectic range of foods to appease one’s palette.
Outside of the typical ballpark fare, there’s everything from fried chicken sandwiches (Fowl Pole, Section 5) to Magic City BBQ (Section 8) to tacos (Oppo Taco, Section 8) to Asian fusion (Intentional Wok, Section 24). Or stop by the Change Up in Section 1, where there are new specialty food concoctions each homestand.
If you’re in the mood for local Latin flavor, visit Islas Canarias Coffee Counter (Section 34) for croquetas, empanadas and coffee. La Cocina presented by Goya (Section 40) features Caribbean-inspired food and is home to the Cubano Gigante (3-foot Cuban sandwich). Arepara by P.A.N. (Section 32) sells freshly pressed Carne Mechada, Polo Guisado and Cheddar Cheese Venezuelan arepas.
Plus, there are three specialty areas fans can enjoy:
The Recess Sports Lounge, which is in partnership with Miami’s RJ Hospitality, resides in left field adjacent to the Marlins’ bullpen. Not only does it include a traditional American menu infused with a Latin twist and an extensive lineup of handcrafted signature cocktails and craft beer but also a DJ spinning beats all game long. While tickets are available for seating in Recess, a game ticket is all that is required to access the area.
The Biscayne Bay Brew Hall, located in the atrium near Sections 15-16 on the Promenade level, is a 3,000-square-foot area that has a bar, communal tables, performance space and large video wall for fans to enjoy pregame and postgame – as well as during non-baseball events. Included in the wide selection of beer is the signature Marlins Lager.
Where the home run sculpture used to sit now stands the AutoNation Alley, which is a deck space for groups of 50-175 people with exclusive catering options available.
Of note: Concession locations only accept electronic payments, but there is a reverse ATM (cash to card) located at Section 3.
Entertainment
Everyone’s favorite fish, Billy The Marlin, has been the club’s mascot since the franchise’s inception, though his look has evolved over the years.
Billy, who stands 8 feet tall and sports a bill, hails from the Atlantic Ocean. Fans can meet him at Billy’s Boathouse located in Section 34 during the fifth inning of every home game. Billy also makes sure to appear around the community for charity events, watch parties and more.
In August 2023, Billy gained a new group of friends when the Marlins introduced a mascot race featuring three roosters wearing the various Marlins home jerseys: Pepito, Charlie (named after Hough) and Bobby (named after Maduro). Mia the hen later joined the crew during the 2024 season. The quartet races during the sixth inning of every home game.
Along with Billy The Marlin and the roosters, the Marlins Mermaids have been a mainstay for years.
Introduced ahead of the 2024 season, Fiesta Fridays are held at every Friday home game. The city’s iconic nightlife is brought to the ballpark with a postgame hora loca that features on-field dancing and happy hour deals.
Postgame concerts are held on the West Plaza (weather permitting) on select Saturday nights for Heritage Celebrations. When the roof is open, it provides a shaded and rain-protective setting. It is a popular pregame and postgame gathering space.
Where to stay
You can reach loanDepot park within 20 minutes from popular neighborhoods like South Beach, Brickell, Wynwood, Downtown Miami, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove. It’s all a matter of what vibe you’re going for. South Beach is a world-renowned tourist spot, while the Gables and Grove are more residential areas. It’s best to rent a car or rely on taxis/ride shares to get around.
Local attractions
Miami is home to some of the best beaches, though keep in mind most of baseball season overlaps with the rainy and hurricane seasons. Ocean Drive has beach views, cafe-style dining and Art Deco architecture that will have your friends and family back home experiencing FOMO. If you don’t want to get sand everywhere, there’s Venetian Pool in Coral Gables. Inspired by Mediterranean architecture, the former rock quarry is fed by spring water and features two waterfalls and cave-like grottos.
Art lovers, visit the Wynwood Walls street art museum and don’t forget to share the murals on Instagram. The neighborhood of Wynwood is walkable, with plenty of stores, bars and restaurants to explore.
Want to combine history with nature and art? Then stop by Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a National Historic Landmark that features a main house with original furnishings in 34 rooms, ten acres of meticulously landscaped gardens and the historic Vizcaya Village.
Not too far away from Vizcaya is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne. You can play golf or tennis or visit the beaches and Cape Florida Light, which is the oldest structure in Miami-Dade County and part of the National Register of Historic Places.
For those who want to be one with nature, there’s Everglades National Park. Home to rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile and the Florida panther, it is a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance and a specially protected area under the Cartagena Treaty.