LoanDepot Park facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
LoanDepot Park
Construction

LoanDepot Park in November 2024
LoanDepot Park Location in Miami Show map of Miami LoanDepot Park Location in Florida Show map of Florida LoanDepot Park Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Former names	Marlins Park (2012–2020)
Address	501 Marlins Way
Location	Miami, Florida, United States
Coordinates	25°46′41″N 80°13′11″W / 25.77806°N 80.21972°W / 25.77806; -80.21972
Public transit	Free City of Miami Trolley from Civic Center Marlins Shuttle from Culmer
Parking	Four main parking garages and six surface lots
Owner	Miami-Dade County
Operator	Miami Marlins LP
Capacity	36,742 37,442 (with standing room) 34,000 (football)
Record attendance	37,446 (March 11, 2017 World Baseball Classic. USA vs Dom. Rep.)
Field size	Left field line – 344 ft (105 m) Left-center power alley – 386 ft (118 m) Center field – 400 ft (120 m) Right-center power alley – 387 ft (118 m) Right field line – 335 ft (102 m) Backstop: – 47 ft (14.3 m)
Acreage	928,000 sq ft (86,200 m²)
Surface	Grass (2012–2019) Shaw Sports B1K (2020–present)
Broke ground	July 1, 2009 (Start of construction preparations) July 18, 2009 (Ceremonial groundbreaking)
Opened	March 5, 2012 (High school baseball game) March 6, 2012 (exhibition game) April 1, 2012 (spring training game) April 4, 2012 (regular season)
Construction cost	US$634 million ($808 million in 2022 dollars )
Architect	Populous
Project manager	International Facilities Group
Structural engineer	Bliss & Nyitray, Inc (bowl and track) Walter P Moore (roof)
Services engineer	M-E Engineers, Inc.
General contractor	Hunt/Moss Joint Venture
Main contractors	MARS Contractors Inc. John J. Kirlin, LLC. Structal – Heavy Steel Construction, A division of Canam Group (roof)
Tenants
Miami Marlins (MLB) (2012–present) Miami Beach Bowl (NCAA) (2014–2016)

LoanDepot Park (also known as loanDepot park) is a cool baseball stadium in Miami, Florida, USA. It has a special roof that can open and close! This park is the home field for the Miami Marlins, a team in Major League Baseball. It was built on the old site of the Miami Orange Bowl and opened in March 2012.

LoanDepot Park is known for being very eco-friendly. It was even certified as the "greenest" MLB park in 2012. It's one of only a few MLB stadiums with a retractable roof. The stadium can hold about 37,442 fans, making it one of the smaller parks in Major League Baseball.

This stadium has hosted many exciting events. These include games from the World Baseball Classic, the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and even soccer matches. It's a modern stadium with a unique design that celebrates Miami's culture.

History of LoanDepot Park

Why a New Stadium Was Needed

The Miami Marlins used to play at Dolphin Stadium, which was mostly for football. You can see football lines on the field in August 2007.

Before LoanDepot Park, the Marlins played at a stadium called Joe Robbie Stadium. This stadium was built for the Miami Dolphins football team. It was not ideal for baseball games. Fans often complained about the views and the hot, rainy Miami weather.

The Marlins wanted their own stadium just for baseball. They dreamed of a park with a roof that could open and close. This would protect players and fans from the heat and rain. After winning two World Series titles in 1997 and 2003, the team pushed even harder for a new home.

Building the Park

The perfect spot for the new stadium turned out to be the old Miami Orange Bowl site. This famous football stadium was torn down in 2008. Building the new baseball park began in July 2009. It cost about $634 million to build this amazing stadium.

When the new stadium opened in 2012, the team changed its name. The Florida Marlins officially became the Miami Marlins. This marked a new era for baseball in Miami.

New Owners and a New Name

In 2017, a new group of owners took over the Miami Marlins. This group was led by baseball legend Derek Jeter and Bruce Sherman. They made some changes to the stadium, including new colors and moving the famous home run sculpture.

In 2021, the stadium got a new name: LoanDepot Park. This happened when the team sold the naming rights to a company called LoanDepot. Before that, it was known as Marlins Park.

Design of LoanDepot Park

A Modern Look for Miami

LoanDepot Park seen from the north side.

The first pitch at Marlins Park on April 4, 2012, as the Marlins played the St. Louis Cardinals.

LoanDepot Park is special because it's one of the first baseball stadiums with a "contemporary" design. This means it looks very modern and unique. The team's former owner, Jeffrey Loria, wanted a stadium that looked forward, not back. He wanted it to be "different and experimental."

The architects from a company called Populous helped bring this vision to life. They designed a building that looks like art. It has smooth, white curves and glass, like water meeting land in Miami. You won't find old-fashioned red bricks or green seats here!

Celebrating Miami's Culture

The Bobblehead Museum is located inside the stadium.

LoanDepot Park is designed to feel like Miami itself. The outside is bright white with steel and glass. This matches the modern buildings and art deco style found in the city. Even the parking garages have colorful tiles inspired by Miami's Little Havana neighborhood.

As you walk into the park, the paths are green and blue, like grass and the sea. The seats are a deep blue, like the ocean. The field itself is a natural green. This design helps connect the stadium to Miami's beautiful landscape.

Pastel, Miami-Deco-inspired wall tiles in the parking garages connect the stadium to its Little Havana surroundings.

The stadium is full of bright colors, inspired by artist Joan Miró. Different areas are marked with green, red, yellow, and blue. There are also cool art pieces, like the home run sculpture. You can even find a bobblehead museum inside!

The park also has a fun area with a swimming pool and a bar, bringing a touch of South Beach inside. You can enjoy local foods like Cuban sandwiches at the Taste of Miami food court. There were even aquariums behind home plate, filled with tropical fish!

Green and High-Tech Design

An LED show lights up the super columns during night games. The roof has a special lining to reduce heat.

LoanDepot Park is very modern and uses lots of technology. For example, the menu boards at food stands can switch between English and Spanish. All the advertisements are digital, not static signs.

The stadium is also a "green building," which means it's good for the environment. It uses special materials that are safe for air quality. The white roof reflects sunlight to keep the stadium cooler. Big glass windows let in natural light, saving electricity. Most of the construction waste was recycled.

The park saves millions of gallons of water each year with special urinals. It even uses local farms for its food supply. In 2012, LoanDepot Park became the first MLB stadium to get a LEED Gold Certification. This means it's one of the most eco-friendly stadiums in baseball!

Challenges with the Field and Roof

A panorama view of LoanDepot Park.

When the park first opened, the grass had trouble growing because the roof was often closed. The groundskeepers used special lights to help it. The original Bermuda grass was later replaced with Platinum TE Paspalum, which grows better in the shade.

There were also a few small leaks in the retractable roof when it first opened. Workers fixed these leaks over time. It takes about 14 minutes to open the roof and 7-8 minutes to open the glass panels.

Stadium Updates for Better Play

In 2016, the park changed its outfield walls. They were lowered and moved closer to home plate. This was done to help players hit more doubles and home runs. The "Bermuda Triangle" area in center field was also removed.

In 2020, the field surface was changed to artificial turf. The center and right-center field fences were moved in even more. These changes aimed to make the park a more exciting place for hitting home runs.

In January 2025, the Marlins announced plans for "Miami Live!" at the West Plaza. This new area will have dining and entertainment spaces, opening in 2026.

Cool Features of LoanDepot Park

The east side of the stadium with the windows retracted, offering views of Downtown Miami.

The Marlins' $2.5 million home run sculpture. It used to be part of "The Bermuda Triangle" in the outfield.

The Budweiser Bar and The Clevelander area in left field.

The stadium has many unique features that make it special:

Retractable Roof and Glass Panels: The huge steel roof can open and close in about 14 minutes. There are also large glass panels that slide open. These offer amazing views of Downtown Miami and let in a cool breeze. When closed, the air conditioning keeps the stadium at a comfy 75°F (24°C).
Home Run Sculpture: This colorful sculpture behind left-center field was designed by artist Red Grooms. It shows flamingos, seagulls, and palm trees. When a Marlins player hits a home run, the sculpture moves, lights up, and sprays water! It was moved outside the park in 2018 and now activates every day at 3:05 PM, honoring Miami's area code.
Aquatic Home Plate Backstop (2012–2020): For a few years, there were two bulletproof aquariums behind home plate! They held hundreds of gallons of seawater and tropical fish. They were removed after the 2020 season.
Clevelander Bar and Swimming Pool (2012–2019): This fun area in left field had a swimming pool, music, and seating. It was a popular spot for groups to enjoy the game. It was replaced in 2020 by a sports lounge called the Bullpen Bar & Grill.
Bobblehead Museum: You can see hundreds of bobblehead dolls from all over baseball, all jiggling together!
Orange Bowl Tribute: A special art piece uses letters from the old "Miami Orange Bowl" sign. They are rearranged to form new words as you walk around them, like "ORANGE BOWL" and "GAME WON."
Parking and Trolley: The stadium has four main parking garages and six lots. The garages are color-coded to match different parts of the stadium. Free trolleys take fans to and from nearby train stations on game days.
Entrance Art: The west entrance plaza has colorful pathways created by artist Carlos Cruz-Diez. The patterns seem to change as you walk on them!
Column Lights: The four huge columns that hold up the roof have special LED lights. They glow and fade, making the columns seem to appear and disappear.
Art Replicas: You can find large copies of famous artworks by artists like Joan Miró, Roy Lichtenstein, and Kenny Scharf throughout the stadium.

A side view of the home run structure at LoanDepot Park.
One of the columns at LoanDepot Park that supports the roof when the roof is opened.
Baseball in Motion by Dominic Pangborn.

Exciting Baseball Moments

LoanDepot Park has seen many memorable baseball games.

In March 2013, the stadium hosted games for the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
In September 2013, Marlins pitcher Henderson Álvarez threw a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers. It was a very exciting game that ended with a wild pitch!
The first rain delay at the park happened on April 6, 2015, when the roof was open during a game.
On June 20, 2016, a record eight home runs were hit in one game at the park.
In March 2017, the stadium hosted more games for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
LoanDepot Park was the proud host of the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in July 2017. This was a big event for Miami baseball fans!
In March 2023, the park hosted Pool D and the knockout rounds of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, including the championship game. It will also host parts of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
On October 12, 2024, the Savannah Bananas played a fun game of Banana Ball to a sold-out crowd.

Other Fun Events

LoanDepot Park isn't just for baseball! It hosts many other cool events.

College Football

The Miami Beach Bowl college football game was played here every December from 2014 to 2016. On November 23, 2019, the FIU Panthers played against the Miami Hurricanes in a college football game.

Soccer Matches

The stadium hosted its first non-baseball event with a soccer match on November 14, 2012. The field was set up for soccer by covering the infield dirt. It has hosted several international soccer games:

Date	Winning Team	Result	Losing Team	Tournament	Spectators
November 14, 2012	Nigeria	3–1	Venezuela	Friendly	13,372
February 10, 2016	Mexico	2–0	Senegal	Friendly	15,588
May 29, 2016	Colombia	3–1	Haiti	Friendly	22,011

Ice Hockey

The stadium will host the 2026 NHL Winter Classic on January 2, 2026. This will be an outdoor ice hockey game between the New York Rangers and the Florida Panthers. It will be the southernmost outdoor NHL game ever!

Concerts

Many famous musicians have performed at LoanDepot Park:

Date	Artist	Opening act(s)	Tour / Concert name	Attendance	Revenue	Notes
April 27, 2016	Beyoncé	DJ Khaled	The Formation World Tour	36,656 / 36,656	$5,252,615	Lil Wayne, Future, Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, Yo Gotti and 2 Chainz joined DJ Khaled during the opening act.
August 8, 2017	Guns N' Roses	Sturgill Simpson	Not in This Lifetime ... Tour	37,834 / 37,834	$4,102,883
November 23, 2024	Pink	Sheryl Crow KidCutUp	Summer Carnival
July 30, 2025	Chris Brown	Summer Walker Bryson Tiller	Breezy Bowl XX Tour

Other Events

On April 20, 2013, the park hosted "America's Night of Hope" with Joel Osteen.
In January 2017, it hosted the 2017 Race of Champions, a racecar competition with all-star drivers.
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony led a benefit concert called “One Voice: Somos Live! A Concert For Disaster Relief” on October 14, 2017. It raised money for people affected by natural disasters.
LoanDepot Park has hosted exciting Monster Jam events since February 2018.
Jehovah's Witnesses held their "Love Never Fails" convention at the stadium in May and July 2019.
The field was used for the Opening Night of Super Bowl LIV on January 27, 2020.
Kanye West hosted a listening party for his album Donda 2 in February 2022.
The stadium served as the finish line for season 37 of The Amazing Race, which aired in spring 2025.

Firsts at LoanDepot Park

Here are some of the "firsts" that happened at LoanDepot Park:

Statistic	Spring Training Exhibition April 1, 2012	Opening Night April 4, 2012
Attendance	27,152 (limited)	36,601 (sellout)
Ceremonial first pitch	—	Muhammad Ali
First pitch	Ricky Nolasco (hit)	Josh Johnson (strike)
First batter	Derek Jeter	Rafael Furcal
First hit	Derek Jeter (double; 1st inning)	Carlos Beltrán (single; 1st inning)
First out	Curtis Granderson (groundout to 1B)	Rafael Furcal (groundout to SS)
First home run	Gaby Sánchez (solo) off CC Sabathia	—
First strikeout	Mark Teixeira (swinging) by Ricky Nolasco	Josh Johnson (swinging) by Kyle Lohse
First win	George Kontos	Kyle Lohse
First loss	Chad Gaudin	Josh Johnson

More Notable Firsts

Statistic	Date	Player(s)/Team(s)
First game	March 5, 2012	Christopher Columbus High School 6, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School 4
Ceremonial first pitch	March 5, 2012	Ex-Mayor Manny Diaz and Archbishop Thomas Wenski
First home run (regular season)	April 13, 2012	J. D. Martinez (Houston Astros) off Edward Mujica
First Marlins home run (regular season)	April 15, 2012	Omar Infante off J. A. Happ (Houston Astros)

Images for kids

The super-columns are nearly complete, with one crossbeam in place for the retractable roof, February 6, 2010.
The stadium site on July 2, 2010. The interior bowl is being built on the west side.
The main center roof being constructed on November 6, 2010.
Construction progress on February 15, 2011.
The adjacent parking structure on February 15, 2011.
The stadium site two weeks before the final roof panel was completed on March 13, 2011.
The stadium site on August 13, 2011, seen from the Dolphin Expressway.
Construction on August 25, 2011.