Florida Marlins

Future Home of the Marlins

Florida Marlins baseball is another baseball venue for Florida baseball fans in the Englewood area. While the Tampa Bay Rays play in the American League, the Marlins play National League baseball which to some baseball purists is “real” baseball. They base this claim on the fact that there is no designated hitter in the National League.

A little more than a month later, on April 17, 1995, the Devil Rays and the City of St. Petersburg sign a contract on a 30 year lease for the ThunderDome as the home field for the Devil Rays. Before they played their first game under the roof of the ThunderDome, on October 3, 1996, the structure received a new name, Tropicana Field.

Billy the Marlin photo "Billy" the Marlin

The Marlins have experienced a more successful stint as a Major League baseball franchise in south Florida than most expansion sports franchises. But their arrival on the south Florida baseball map was not an easy trek.

It all started essentially in 1985 when Major League Baseball’s new agreement allowed for the National League to expand by two teams. It took more than five years of investigations and studies just to get to the point where a short list of cities was created. One of regions on that short list was south Florida. group headed by H. Wayne Huizenga.

Ultimately, on June 10, 1991 Denver and South Florida are chosen as the successful locations for baseball expansion. The south Florida group was headed by H. Wayne Huizenga. Less than two years later, on April 5, 1993, before a sellout crowd at Joe Robbie Stadium, veteran knuckleballer Charlie Hough threw the pitch in Marlins history.

Marlin Fans photo Marlin Fans

On February 15, 1998, the Devil Rays opened their very first spring training camp.

In what must be the shortest time between a franchise’s inaugural season and its first championship season, the Marlins captured their first World Series on October 26, 1997. The series was a “nail biter” right until the end when the Marlins became World Series champions after a two-out single in the 11th inning of the seventh game.

In 2003 the Marlins repeated as World Series champion defeating the New York Yankees.

Today, the Marlins play in Land Shark Stadium and this is a great sports venue to visit if you are looking for a great day trip or a mini-vacation from your retirement or vacation home in Englewood.

I have taken advantage of directions posted on the Florida Marlins’ website to help you find your way to see some great Florida baseball action.

Directions

Directions to Land Shark Stadium - From Ft. Lauderdale/West Palm Beach

(POINTS NORTH)

Florida Turnpike South to Exit # 2X (Land Shark Stadium Toll Plaza) to the east side of Land Shark Stadium
Florida Turnpike South to Exit # 47 (27th Avenue/University Drive); south on 27th Avenue/University Drive to the west side of Land Shark Stadium
I-95 South to Ives Dairy Road, head west (right) for 5 miles; Land Shark Stadium will be on your right hand side.

Directions to Land Shark Stadium- From Fort Myers/Naples

(WEST COAST)

I-75 East to I-595 East, to South on Florida Turnpike, to exit # 2X (Dolphin Toll Plaza), to the East side of Land Shark Stadium
I-75 East to I-595 East, to South on Florida Turnpike, to exit # 47 (27th Avenue/University Drive), south on 27th Avenue/University Drive to the west side of the Stadium

Directions to Land Shark Stadium - From Miami

(POINTS SOUTH)

I-95 North, to North on the Florida Turnpike, to Exit # 2X (Dolphin Toll Plaza), to Land Shark Stadium
I-95 North to Ives Dairy Road, West on Ives Dairy Road for approximately 5 miles, Land Shark Stadium will be on your right
North on the Palmetto Expressway (Route 826) to NW 27th Avenue (Route 817), proceed North on NW 27th Avenue to NW 199th Street (Dan Marino Boulevard), turn right at NW 199th Street to Land Shark Stadium

Florida Marlins baseball, just another reason why we Enjoy Englewood Florida.