Pro Player is a Proper Place for Baseball

 

MIAMI -- South Florida is no place for summertime baseball. It's way too hot, "cooling off" to 85 or so on an August night. Evening thundershowers are the default weather forecast. And, of course, football season is just around the corner.

 

Because of the terrible weather, I suspect, Pro Player Stadium is often low on the list of ballparks baseball fans want to visit. That's too bad. Despite the dismal fan base, despite the infamous post-1997 fire sale, despite the fact that the Stadium isn't in Miami or Fort Lauderdale but smack-dab in-between, despite it all -- this is a fine ballpark for baseball.

 

Pro Player is, and always has been, a football stadium to the core. But the fact is that it works for baseball, and is the best all-purpose stadium I've ever been to.

 

Chances are, the Marlins will eventually move. Sure, an exciting phenom like Dontrelle Willis brings out good crowds, but even though the Marlins are in the wild-card race, Florida ranks 28th in the majors in average attendance.

 

It's too bad. Pick up the park and move it 500 miles north, and you've got a real winner.

 

The ratings:

 

1. Seat comfort: Cup holders even in the Fish Tank, plenty of elbow and leg room, great views of the field. For $4, these seats may be the best bargain in baseball. Points: 5

 

2. Quality of hot dogs: They have regular dogs and foot-longs with all the fixins', they have kosher dogs, and they have veggie dogs. Since Pro Player is ranked No. 5 in PETA's list of "Top 10 Veg-Friendly Ballparks," I went for the veggie version. But I did it with caution: (Me: "Are the veggie dogs any good?" Vendor: "They're fresh.") Um, OK. Cold bun, warm, freshdog. 3

 

3. Quality/selection of other concession-stand fare: They've got pizza, ice cream, fries, chicken tenders, bottled water, crab cakes, Mrs. Fields cookies, cappuccino ... for a new park, it's not the most varied selection. But they should be rewarded for a hearty Cuban sandwich (pork, ham, Swiss, mustard, and pickles on Cuban bread) and conch fritters, decent nods to local tastes. 4

 

4. Signature concession item: The Cuban and the conch fritters remind you where you are. And they're well appreciated. 4

 

 

5. Beer: At the Smirnoff bar, they've got about 10 domestic varieties on tap, running $5.50 for your regular (Bud) and $5.75 for your premium (Sam Adams). Also offered: wine and cocktails. Average prices, average selection. 3

 

 

6. Bathrooms: 40 for the men, 40 for the ladies. And ... S-p-o-t-l-e-s-s! No lines, plenty of soap and paper towels. Who could ask for anything more? 5

 

 

Billy the Marlin must be excited his team's in the wild card race.

7. Scoreboard: Pro Player has two big video scoreboards, one directly opposite the fish tank and a bigger one above right center. Video quality is excellent. Pitch type/speed is displayed on a tiny board along the third-base line -- it took me five innings just to figure out it was there. That's the only demerit. And this ballpark may have the best out-of-town scoreboard in the majors; it's huge, easy to read, and doubles, in its location in left field, as the "Teal Monster." 4.5

 

 

8. Quality of public address system: Superb. 5

 

 

9. Fun stuff to do besides the game: Well, Billy the Marlin is about as cute as you can make a fish with a killer snout. And he makes himself available. He traveled the main concourse, stopping to have his picture taken with kids of all ages. He walked the aisles, posing happily again. A real kid-pleaser.

 

Also: excellent video replays -- fast and clear; great choice of music, with generous cuts of "You Can Call Me Al," "Land Down Under," and other tunes not usually heard at ballgames.

 

There's a guide to "Rain Delay Activities," which include a speed pitch booth, karaoke, baseball trivia put-putt, baseball video bingo, and photo ops with Billy the Marlin. Great idea, but there was no rain delay the night I was there.

 

There are the usual fan contests between innings, but overall, the Marlins don't overdo it. Nor do they underdo it. Which is to say: they've got it right. 5

 

10. Price/selection of baseball souvenirs: Tiny shops sell a few items at the usual (high) prices. 0

 

 

11. Ticket price/availability: An hour-and-a-half before game time I went to the ticket window and scored a $4 fish tank seat that placed me 13 rows up in right field, close enough to clearly see Juan Encarnacion's gold necklace and rate his bubble-blowing ability. 5

 

 

12. Exterior architecture: If Pro Player Stadium could talk, it would say "I belong here." There are palm trees, and tropical colors that make you feel like you're in Florida. Nothing cute, nothing fancy, which seems to fit the real reason (football) the stadium exists in the first place. 3

 

13. Interior Architecture: It's strange to go to the permanent home of a major league baseball team and see so many homages to football. Names of the great Dolphins dominate the second-tier awning. The Dolphins logo is engraved on the row-end seats. It's huge, to accommodate football crowds. It was, in fact, originally built for football, then renovated for baseball in the early 1990s.

 

That said, this is a very good park in which to watch baseball. Site lines are great all around. There's little indication, on the field, that football is played there. You're plenty close to the action. The turf is in good shape, able, according to the authorities, to drain so much water so fast that it can sustain a monsoon and return a firm playing surface half an hour after the last drop falls.

 

The field also has a few built-in quirks: the "Teal Monster," and the "Bermuda Triangle," a notch in left-center that provides for lots of triples. 4

 

14. Access: If you're driving (and you are), this is a strange one. Freeway access is easy, but you're going to a baseball game, and you're looking for Dan Marino Blvd. Parking should be a breeze, but there are no signs that say "Park here" or something like that. Just arrows, which convey no information.

 

After I paid my $9, I wound up going the wrong way and ended up in the season-ticket holders parking section. The parking attendant, as befuddled as I was about how to get to the low-rent parking area, gave me a choice spot. My departure was fast and easy, but word is when there's a decent crowd (say, when Dontrelle is pitching), traffic gets way backed up. 3

 

 

15. Ushers: The usher-to-fan ratio may be the highest in the majors, because there are ushers standing guard at empty and near-empty sections. They're very friendly, and really seem to enjoy being there. 5

 

 

16. Trading-up factor: Considering that only 12,392 fans were in the stadium, it was a little harder than expected. In the second inning my move to a first-base line seat was OKed by an accommodating usher, then rescinded after only a few minutes -- he explained that he could get in trouble for letting me in. But in the fifth I was able to just walk down to good seats behind home plate, and by the end of the sixth I'd traded in my 13th-row bleacher seat for the 17th row behind home plate. 4.5

 

 

17. Knowledge of local fans: Somehow or other, the few fans in attendance managed to make Pro Player sound like it was packed. Incredible enthusiasm in all sections of the park, and a real knowledge of the game -- cheers/applause for all the hard but "routine" plays, appreciation for an excellent pitching duel between Josh Beckett and Houston's Tim Redding. In the fifth, a Beckett sacrifice bunt rolled right along the first-base line, literally on the line, and Jeff Bagwell waited it go foul. It never did. Beckett had a bizarre base hit, and the crowd just went crazy. 5

 

18. Seventh-inning stretch: You got Billy the Marlin dancing on one dugout, and the Marlins Mermaids boogeying on the other. There was the standard organ version of "Take Me Out," but the place really rollicked to "Crocodile Rock." 5

 

 

19. Pre-and-postgame bar-and-restaurant scene: I didn't see much. Plenty of places to grab a bite, but if you want a scene, chances are you're driving about 20 miles to South Beach. 1

 

 

20. Wild card: Kudos to the Marlins for having good, very cheap seats -- I was there on a Friday night, and it was (unofficial) family night in the bleachers. A family of four could get good seats for a total of $12 (kids bleachers are $2). Add on the price of parking, and you're still under what you'd spend taking your family to a movie. That's the way it should be.

 

An extra shout out to the few, but dedicated, Marlins fans.

 

A double shout out to Juan Encarnacion, who tossed plenty of balls into the right-field bleachers and gave lots of good-natured nods to us folks in the cheap seats.

 

And finally -- heck, this park is just plain underrated as a baseball venue. Forget about the tens of thousands of empty orange seats. Be prepared for the heat. Focus on the fans around you and the play on the field and the great prices and easy access and kind-of-funky Latino mojo, and you've got a good time. 4

 

 

TOTAL SCORE FOR PRO PLAYER STADIUM: 78

I totally disagree with this. I hate the seats at this park, unless you're sitting somewhere behind home plate. Otherwise, your view is blocked by fans standing up, or you have to break your neck to see the game. The staff is horrible at the game, they won't even let little kids get autographs from the players. Tell me what you think below.

I've only been to the Pro once and that was in 93 so I don't remember too much exept I was behind the plate and it was a good view. I thought the article was great though. Thats probably the biggest list of praises ever levied against the Pro. If it helps bring more people out then great, even if they are just coming out for the Cuban Sandwich and Conch Fritters. I'm hungry.............

I've been there like 20-30 times and have never seen Conch Fritters or Cuban sandwiches. I'm not sure what that's about. I'm also surprised he didn't mention the fact that half of the food stands close early, or weren't open at all.

I agree with everything except the friendly usher part.

what are Conch Fritters?

There is no Pan Con Lechon in JRS. But I always eat before so I don't mind. My only real beef with JRS, besides the fact that some ushers are hicks with two missing teeth telling people to learn how to speak english completely forgetting they are in Miami, is that its so damn far away. Just move the stadium (not happening but w/e) to downtown and you've got yourself a damn good park.

 

I'm really hoping when they build the new stadium, they stay similar to JRS. I want the same exact field, same dimensions, even the same damn Teal Monster in left. Pitchers Parks kick butt!

I hate the ushers. The last game I went to, on a Wednesday (July 3rd), Josh Beckett was at a table signing autographs. Since they were free, I got in line, but was quickly pushed away by one of the lousy ushers, who don't give a damn about the fans at all. That really pissed me off.

I'm gonna make me a Cuban Sandwich right now.................damn, no pickles

It would also help if the stadium wasn't so far away.

It would also help if the stadium wasn't so far away.

C'mon, it's really not that far. I live in Kendall and it takes me 30-40 minutes on the way up, depending on traffic on the expressway, and about 20 minutes back.

 

Also, think logically here. If you place a stadium in downtown, traffic might not get any better and you might have the same travel times, unless the stadium is easily accessible by Metro-Rail. Then we have a different story.

 

Its current location is convenient for Broward fans, as well.

C'mon, it's really not that far. I live in Kendall and it takes me 30-40 minutes on the way up, depending on traffic on the expressway, and about 20 minutes back.

 

Also, think logically here. If you place a stadium in downtown, traffic might not get any better and you might have the same travel times, unless the stadium is easily accessible by Metro-Rail. Then we have a different story.

 

Its current location is convenient for Broward fans, as well.

Practically every other stadium in a major city has rail access to their ballpark. I mean, it would be perfect. Fans would use MetroRail to get there, spending money to help out the city, AND there would be less cars on the road. It's win-win. There was a site proposed near the Miami River a few years back that had rail access, but I think it's been forgotten.

Uh-Oh, here we go again.

 

Marlingirl, have you ever tried getting there during traffic? My friend Santi and I got in the car and like true guy's guys we took care of our stomachs first. Took us forty minutes to traverse the first 10 minutes of the usual trip. And another thing, Broward fans simply don't go to the games.

 

Future, there is no such thing as a win-win situation. There is ALWAYS a way to lose. And if you think you have a win-win situation, bring it to me and I'll show you a way it loses. The Miami River site fell through ages ago, and its basically all hinging on the government for the new park.

again...............what are conch fritters????

i agree wholeheartedly with the article. any knock on the Pro has very little to do with its functionality as a baseball stadium IMO. Yeah you've got to turn your head a little to see if you're sitting down the lines, big deal.

 

you can certainly argue that the place is so huge it'll just never fill up and thus always seems like it's empty. fair enough, but as far as a multi-purpose football-baseball stadium, i think it does the job just fine.

 

would i love a traditional-looking baseball only park? you bet.

is Pro Player as bad as it's reputation? not even close.

 

FishFan, Conch fritters are the signature food of Key West. They are made from conch, animals which live in those large seashells that sound like the ocean when you put it to your ear. The conch meat is placed in batter, shaped into a small ball and deep-fried. yum.

I think the Pro is not bad at all,the prices are great now that the Fish tank is moved into the outfield,I mean $2 for lower level seats is great comeon..and I live on ives dairy rd. so its only like 10 minutes away,the music is great and when the Pro is packed its a really good time.

I'm glad that the prices are good to watch baseball down here, it's so expensive to go to a Panthers, Dolphins, or Heat game. Baseball is a huge bargain by comparison.

he was right on about the fans. We are definitely some loud fans, regardless of the attendance #s.

indeed FG

Never been there, so I can't say. However, I've read so much and heard so much about how bad the ballpark is for baseball, it was quite surprising for me to read such a thumbs-up review.

Let's see...

 

This seats...He obviously didn't sit along the left or right field lines. We had season tix there the the first couple of years, and, man, those seat sucked. Eventually, after a couple months, we stopped sitting there altogether and just headed for the outfield seats. The outfield reserved and the Fish Tank are easily the best deal in baseball. Still, a lot of the parks built for baseball that I've been to have some crappy sightlines, especially Camden, where the upper deck hangs over a large part of the lower deck. So, if you're in the last 10 rows of the lower deck, you basically can't see anything that happens 15 feet in the air.

 

The food...conch fritters? Cuban sandwich? I've never seen anyone eat that s***. The signature item are those chips, I forget their name, that you can only get along the 3rd base line. You can get stuck waiting there for over 2 innings when the crowds get over 30,000.

 

Stadium access...for baseball, this is the easiest stadium to get to of any I've ever been to. It's a 20 minute ride for me. As opposed to a 5 minute ride to the rail station, a 5 minute wait for your train, and a 20 (or more) minute train ride. If you're in Manhattan, you better leave yourself about an hour to get to Yankee Stadium. In Philly, better get there on time, or you'll be parking well over a mile from the stadium. The Pro is a bit of a pain for football, but for baseball, nothing's easier.

 

And, yeah, for whatever reason, the fans at the Pro seem to produce more Decibels Per Capita than the fans at any other park I've been to.

Yankee Stadium is a mad house to get to.... and its in a bad neighborhood to boot....

 

yes, the PRO is pretty damn easy to get to...

FishFan, Conch fritters are the signature food of Key West. They are made from conch, animals which live in those large seashells that sound like the ocean when you put it to your ear. The conch meat is placed in batter, shaped into a small ball and deep-fried. yum.

 

thanks HC, i especially liked the graphic to go with it, lol, now back to baseball, ive only been at the PRO a few times, and yes, everytime i was there the crowd was great, allbeit small.....dunno enough about anything else to pass my judgment, although i know for Dolphin games it can be a biatch to leave the stadium....

This seats...He obviously didn't sit along the left or right field lines. We had season tix there the the first couple of years, and, man, those seat sucked. Eventually, after a couple months, we stopped sitting there altogether and just headed for the outfield seats. The outfield reserved and the Fish Tank are easily the best deal in baseball. Still, a lot of the parks built for baseball that I've been to have some crappy sightlines, especially Camden, where the upper deck hangs over a large part of the lower deck. So, if you're in the last 10 rows of the lower deck, you basically can't see anything that happens 15 feet in the air.

 

The food...conch fritters? Cuban sandwich? I've never seen anyone eat that s***. The signature item are those chips, I forget their name, that you can only get along the 3rd base line. You can get stuck waiting there for over 2 innings when the crowds get over 30,000.

I agree. I didn't even know that they sold those items. Your opinion of the seats on the baselines is something else I agree with. They aren't great. If you sit somewhere behind home plate, it's fine.

FishFan, Conch fritters are the signature food of Key West. They are made from conch, animals which live in those large seashells that sound like the ocean when you put it to your ear. The conch meat is placed in batter, shaped into a small ball and deep-fried. yum.

 

thanks HC, i especially liked the graphic to go with it, lol, now back to baseball, ive only been at the PRO a few times, and yes, everytime i was there the crowd was great, allbeit small.....dunno enough about anything else to pass my judgment, although i know for Dolphin games it can be a biatch to leave the stadium.... Marlins games 97 and before were also a pain in the butt to get out of.

hell, last saturday night(pavano vs astros) was a pain in the butt to leave from.... but as long as the fans come out, im more than happy to get into a traffic jam