Ballpark Roadtrip: Sun Life Stadium

The New York Mets infielder Fernando Tatis and coach Razor Shines go through some drills during batting practice before the Mets and Florida Marlins game at Sun Life Stadium on Thursday, May 15, 2010. The stadium has been home of the Marlins since 1993.

A 10-foot mounted blue marlin is on display in the entrance of the Founders Club of Sun Life Stadium. The stadium opened in 1987 and is located 16 miles northwest of downtown Miami.

The 2003 World Series trophy and Bret Barberie's 1993 Marlins jersey are on display in the main entrance of the Florida Marlins entrance. People with Founders Day tickets have access to the exclusive Marlins Hall of Fame and restaurants.

The side of seats on the field level with the Marlins logo. Previously known as Joe Robbie Stadium, Pro Player Park, Pro Player Stadium, Dolphins Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, and Land Shark Stadium.

Marlins mascot Billy the Marlin entertains the crowd prior to the start of the Mets and Marlins game. Billy stands eight feet tall and made his debut on February 25, 1993.

A vendor, who did not want to be identified, sells peanuts across the empty aisles at Sun Life Stadium. The seats are small and cramped - thank goodness the stadium was empty for baseball.

The Marlin Mermaids attempt to motivate the small crowd before the start of the Mets and Marlins game. The Mermaids are available for your next party or corporate event with photograph sessions, autograph sessions, and/or dance performances. It's baseball and they are cheerleaders in a football town.

Many seats on the field level have had the back part of the seats replaced with blue backings. Many seats are damaged and rusting away from the rainy and humid climate in southern Florida. Sun Life's seating capacity is 38,560 for baseball. The upper level is closed for baseball.

It is suggested that you eat before or after the game. The food at the ballpark is not great, although a vendor suggested the boars head honey mustard chicken sandwich which wasn't bad for $11.00. I had a hot dog, which I threw out, and the popcorn was cold and salty.

Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana warms up in the bullpen prior to the start of game. The countdown board in the background shows the number of home games for the Marlins before they move to their own ballpark in April 2012.

A view looking at the visitors dugout at Sun Life Stadium as grounds crew prepare the field. The new Marlins ballpark is being built on the Orange Bowl site in the Little Havana section of Miami.

The new ballpark will have a retractable roof, a natural grass playing field and 37,000 seats, including approximately 3,000 club seats and 60 private suites.

Major League Baseball's first all-male dance team, the Marlins Manatees, entertains the crowd between innings. If you can't dance, like to eat and dress up in bizarre outfits at times, auditions are held early spring.

Marlins pitcher Anibal Sanchez displays his pitching form as the Mets' Jason Bay takes his lead from first base as Gaby Sanchez covers first base. Tickets in the front row near the visitors dugout cost $95.00.

One of the food courts on the first base side of the stadium complete with kids area and fan zone. The area is as sterile and lifeless as it looks. I imagine this area is filled with energy and excitement during the football season.

In passage ways around the stadium are visual timelines on the history of Miami teams like the Dolphins and University of Miami Hurricanes that played at the Orange Bowl and the current stadium.

A view from right field looking towards home plate in the 8th inning of the Mets and Marlins game. Johan Santana and Josh Johnson were in a 1-1 all pitching duel. Attendance was announced at 16,229, but it looked to be half of that amount with more Met fans in attendance than Marlin fans.

Sun Life Stadium and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross deemed it too expensive to fix the out-of-town scoreboards in left field. So you will have to use your wireless device to keep up with other action in the big leagues.

Billy the Marlin gets some help from some youngsters leading the crowd in a rendition of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch.

Walking through the passage ways during the game I did not see any people or open concessions. Parts of the stadium are closed for baseball. Some guards and personnel mention that the crowds are quite rowdy during football season, especially when the Jets and Dolphins play.

In April 2006, the stadium unveiled the two largest hi-definition video boards in professional sports and a new fascia LED ribbon-board, the largest in the world, but these have since been surpassed in size.

Ballpark - D - It's a football stadium. You can get around parts of stadium because they are blocked off. Seats are falling apart and you can't walk around.
Fans & Atmosphere - They are already talking football; it's a Dolphins and Hurricanes town, not a baseball town. Talking to one fan, all he was concerned about was the Dolphins.
Food - Nothing worth eating except the boars head sandwiches for $11.00 dollars! They wouldn't allow me to bring in a large bottle of water.
Mascot - Billy the Marlin.
Staff - Helpful security staff despite all restrictions. Some nice concessions vendors.
Team Tradition - Get youngsters, build team, win World Series, sell players.
Location: 16 miles northwest of downtown Miami, Florida.

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