February 18, 200422 yr MIAMI -- Spring Training for the defending World Series champion Marlins officially opens on Saturday, and already team president David Samson is envisioning record-size crowds for the first week of the regular season. For Samson it's not too early to steer attention to Opening Day, April 6, when the Marlins will play the Expos at Pro Player Stadium. In a pregame ceremony before the opener, the World Series championship flag will be hoisted. "We're expecting playoff-size crowds for the opener and the ring celebration," he said. In massive Pro Player Stadium, a crowd of 37,000 is chalked up as a sellout. But as was seen in last year's playoffs, more than 65,000 can pack the home of the Marlins and Miami Dolphins. Samson is keeping his fingers crossed that 60,000 tickets will be sold for the opener. This would be monumental, considering the game is starting at 1:05 p.m. on a Tuesday. Enter the Hotels.com Think Spring Sweepstakes While a packed house for the first game is expected, Samson is anticipating the wave of excitement to remain throughout the first weekend. On Saturday, April 10, the Marlins will play host to the Phillies. If ticket sales continue at their current pace, another 60,000 could be on hand that day to see the Marlins receive their championship rings. "We're expecting much bigger crowds," said Samson, "even in Spring Training. Season tickets [for Grapefruit League games]are up 50 percent." Since they assumed ownership of the Marlins in February 2002, Jeffrey Loria and Samson have diligently gone about rebuilding a disgruntled fan base that endured the heartbreaking dismantling of the 1997 championship squad. Loria and Samson took over the day pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training, but the organization wasn't able to effectively market or work on building a season-ticket base. The 2002 home opener was played before 23,877 at Pro Player Stadium. Last season, 37,137 were on hand when the Marlins squared off against the Phillies on Opening Day. With enthusiasm on the rise, Samson has set a goal of selling more seats -- either through season or individual game tickets -- before the April 6 opener than the team did for the entire 2002 season. In 2002 the Marlins ranked second from the bottom in attendance, luring 813,111. "We're all very positive," said Samson. "Our sponsor revenue is up." He added that it is possible for 1 million tickets to be purchased by April 6. The public will get its first glimpse of the 2004 Marlins beginning next week at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Pitchers and catchers report on Saturday, will take their physicals on Sunday and will be on the fields for their first workouts on Monday. Position players report on Feb. 24 and join in the workouts on Feb. 26. Rob Rabenecker, the general manager of Roger Dean Stadium, has been dealing with a rush of interest for the Marlins. The Marlins share the complex with the Cardinals, and Rabenecker sees an influx of attention that will rival past seasons. "We are anticipating much larger crowds for the Marlins," he said. "We went through the Mark McGwire phenomena in 1999, the spring after he hit 70 home runs. From a security standpoint, we will have similar precautions." The windfall of winning the World Series is expected to carry over this spring, as ticket sales are on the rise for Marlins games at Roger Dean Stadium. Tickets are still available for the team's first Grapefruit League game at home, on March 5 against the Orioles. The lone sellout right now is for March 28, against the Red Sox. According to Rabenecker, several games have only bleacher seats available. Marlins workouts are open to the public on the backfields behind the stadium. "The workouts are a great opportunity before the games start to see these guys up close, doing their workouts," said Rabenecker. "Part of the allure and the attraction of Spring Training is seeing these guys working out."
February 18, 200422 yr People are talking about the Marlins like never before.The bandwagon is still going strong. :thumbup
February 18, 200422 yr People are talking about the Marlins like never before.The bandwagon is still going strong. :thumbup I'll stop making fun of the bandwagon if they stay. We should be able to average 30,000 + in April!!! :blink:
February 18, 200422 yr I'm hoping they can average 45-50,000 a game for the first homestand against the Expos and Phillies. Now that would really be something to talk about !
February 18, 200422 yr 60K on opening day.....wow, that would be fantastic!! 65,000 would be better... :shifty
February 18, 200422 yr 60K on opening day.....wow, that would be fantastic!! 65,000 would be better... :shifty And to sell more tickets than the 2002 season.....prior to opening day....... Momentum is building, and that is just fantastic. Keep the faith. Build it and they will come. :notworthy
February 18, 200422 yr simply amazing if they can get 60 K twice in the first week. Man, I'd be stoked for that...
February 18, 200422 yr simply amazing if they can get 60 K twice in the first week. Man, I'd be stoked for that... THAT would be awesome.
February 18, 200422 yr All be there for the last expos game and the three phillies games. I come down for 5 days and go to 4 marlins games, not bad.
February 18, 200422 yr This article makes me feel confident, the Marlins will become an Elite team in baseball and stay in Florida.
February 19, 200422 yr I am planning to go to a few games htis year. For me it is hard to go to games since I am a teen, do not have a car, license and parents jumped on bandwagon and only care in September...lol oh well. I'll do my best!
February 19, 200422 yr My mother and father are big Marlins fans, but we have a distance issue. I must drive 2 hours 15 minutes or so to go to a Marlins game and an 1 hour 15 minutes to go to a Devil Rays game. It is alot of miles and I can't make many games, but I watch.listen to all that I can and visit about 8-15 a year.
February 19, 200422 yr My dad alway's find's time to take me to some games during the season,we have fun.me,my bro,and my dad,my mom never goes to the games(she goes to the mall,lol)
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