Gameday

Dinner on Calle Ocho

Calle Ocho, or Eighth Street, is the main drag of Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood. The area has a vibrant feel to it as the streets are alive with live music, art pieces, monuments, and even a Cuban Walk of Fame. It is also said to be the best place to find Cuban food in the country.

Calle Ocho is an area that is best experienced by walking around, so set your GPS to the historic Domino Park and stroll before choosing a place to eat. There are a lot of great options there, but we recommend Old’s Havana (ask to sit in the back), Cafe La Trova, or El Pub as your best bets. Versailles Restaurant is another famous Cuban spot on Calle Ocho, but it is a little bit further west than most of the interesting parts of the neighborhood.

When you’re finished with dinner, loanDepot Park is just a mile straight north of the area, meaning you’ll be at the stadium in ten minutes or less even with traffic. For Calle Ocho, be aware that everyone will be speaking Spanish and may not be able to converse with you in English, but be assured that many locals who don’t speak Spanish still visit and enjoy the area.

Folklore Tower

There isn’t much of a tailgating or group gathering scene at Marlins games, but on the open plaza on the east side of the park’s grounds, the team is at least trying to create a pregame atmosphere. Their attempt takes the form of an art installation/bar that consists of four shipping containers stacked upon each other and painted with colorful depictions of Miami and its culture. Of the two shipping containers that are on the ground, one is a bar that offers beer, wine, and pre-mixed cocktails to drink outside the park or bring into the game. The other is a walk-through neon light display that could be a great spot for pictures. It may not be a ton, but it’s worth checking out before heading into the stadium, maybe even to hang around for one drink before the game.

Home Run Sculpture

Back before Derek Jeter bought the team, there was a gaudy, 70-foot tall metallic sculpture depicting Marlins, sunshine, and flamingoes in center field that animated and sprayed water every time the team hit a home run. It was exactly the type of silly, mostly stupid thing that can make a ballpark so fun.

The sculpture has since been removed, however, and now resides outside on the northeastern corner of the stadium near the third base entrance, like a discarded sofa on the side of the freeway (shame on you, Marlins!). Though it has fallen from its original prominence, it’s still a sight to behold, so you should stop by to give it a look.

Also, while you’re on your way there, you’ll notice an assortment of orange letters emerging from the pavement. These letters spell out “Miami Orange Bowl” and are an artistic homage to the original Orange Bowl, which occupied the site prior to loanDepot Park.

Biscayne Bay Brew Hall

Adjacent to the Home Plate Entrance is the Biscayne Bay Brewing Company Brew Hall. The Brewery offers a number of high quality beer options including a proprietary Marlins Lager brewed specially for the team. It also has a souvenir beer bat for fans wishing for a grown-up version of the classic ice cream helmet. 

This is a great place to grab a drink before the game as the Brew Hall is spacious and comfortable, with quite a few tables to sit at while enjoying your drink. The space also boasts an array of televisions, some classic arcade games, and, occasionally, live music. Despite it being within the stadium, though, we recommend this as a before-the-game stop because it’s the only bar in the building without proximity or a direct view of the playing field. 

The Bobblehead Museum

Just beyond the centerfield batter’s eye and adjacent to Section 34 lies loanDepot Park’s best known attraction. The Bobblehead Museum will excite young fans and older memorabilia enthusiasts alike as it houses nearly 600 unique bobbleheads, all with their heads wiggling in the perpetually oscillating display case. The Museum features bobbleheads from all 30 MLB teams with American League figurines on one side and those from the National League on the other side. The Marlins rotate in new bobbleheads from each team and fans will see examples of the wide variety of these gameday promotions, as the museum houses everything from all-time greats, to Marlins cult heroes, to zany one-off adaptations like Lou Brock riding a horse, or Chris Devenski on top of a dragon. The variety is truly incredible and all fans should take the time to look at the wide range of bobbleheads from across baseball and beyond.

Recess Sports Lounge

On the other end of the spectrum is the Recess Sports Lounge, or the Marlins effort to bring a bit of the Miami party scene into the stadium. Recess is a bar/club right next to the home bullpen just beyond the left field wall. It has a special food and drink menu, club-like lighting and atmosphere, a live DJ, and a variety of sports on TV. If that type of thing is your vibe, it’s a fun and unique place to watch a game. You’ll feel more like you’re in a Downtown Miami bar than a baseball game, so it’s perfect for fans whose main focus is consuming beverages and partying instead of watching baseball. 

Maybe the best part is that you don’t need a special ticket to get into the club (though you can purchase them, see Seating chapter for details), so you can go between Recess and your seat as much as you like. Note that the entrance to the lounge is near the Third Base Entrance of the park which is accessible throughout the game, and you will need to show a ticket and ID to get in. Also, you can’t take any food or drink into Recess from elsewhere in the stadium. For more on Recess, pop back over to its section in the Seating chapter.

Marlins Museum

Though it isn’t the most extensive in-stadium museum you’ll see (the Marlins history only goes back to 1993) the Marlins Museum is still worth a quick trip. Located in the left field corner behind the Marlins Crew sections, the museum is a hall with memorabilia and displays that’s designed to be walked through in quasi-chronological order. It houses memorabilia from the club’s origins, its two World Series titles, and its move into loanDepot Park in 2012. Most notably, the two World Series trophies are displayed prominently in glass cases.

Fans will also see five lockers representing three Marlins greats (Jeff Conine, Dontrelle Willis, and Andre Dawson) as well as Ichiro Suzuki (commemorating his 3,000th hit) and Luis Arráez (for hitting for the cycle in April 2023). These are nice, but the through-line connecting them is somewhat unclear, and there are some notable Marlins legends omitted. On the wall across from the displays is a depiction of important dates in the Marlins organizational timeline including championships, MVP and Cy Young Award winners and more. 

When you come to the Marlins Museum, make sure to check out JR’s Bar across the hallway as they often have drinks deals you can only find at a few spots throughout the park. Also, be aware that the museum forces you to exit into the team store next door, which is not a significant inconvenience but feels somewhat shameless from the team.

Autonation Alley

If you’re looking for a spot to hang out at that isn’t your seat, anywhere along the outfield terrace is great, but most people are drawn to the Autonation Alley. The view from here can feel somewhat remote, but the vibes are high and the drinks are flowing so it is a great spot to check out or maybe spend an inning or two. The obvious draw here is the massive Budweiser Bar (that gets the same deals as JR’s Bar), but the Cuban pastry and coffee spot next to it is an excellent and unique ballpark food option as well. This area is great for groups or for anyone looking to get their drink on.

Billy’s Kid Zone

Named after the Marlins’ ever-enthusiastic Marlin mascot, the Kid Zone in center field is a place to bring your young ones for a break from sitting still in ballpark seats. They can try their hand at hitting a virtual big fly at Billy’s VR Home Run Derby or they can play arcade games, take funny pictures or just run around in Billy’s Boathouse. As kids play areas go, the Kid Zone is honestly somewhat underwhelming, but the kids do really seem to have fun there. Also, it’s right next to the Bobblehead Museum, which is, of course, great for kids as well.

Selfie Spots

loanDepot has three great spots for selifes: a “Greetings from Miami” wall near the Kid Zone in center field, a baseball wall with neon signage near the Home Plate Entrance, and a funky two-sided mirror thing behind Section 1. Your Instagram post awaits!

Bar 201

I would normally include Bar 201 as a good spot to hang out during the game, but the Marlins have kind of neglected it. It’s a good space that offers drinks and an interesting, if partially obstructed view of the game, but it’s often mostly abandoned. The Marlins have turned the sections around the bar (201-204) into All-You-Can-Eat deals most days of the week and it’s a little confusing (even for the security staff) whether access is limited to just those ticket holders or not. But we know you’ll probably need a 200 level ticket regardless to get up there, because for some odd reason the Marlins are really strict about 100 level fans going to the 200 level.

Bacardi Bar

In a similar vein as Bar 201, the Bacardi Bar in right center field (between sections 36 and 38) is a spot that’s worth checking out, but probably not one where you’ll want to stay around for long. If rum cocktails are your thing, then you can’t miss buying them from here and there are some tables and a railing to stand and hang out at. However, the view from this location is just not good. Your view will be equally split between overhang, the seats below you and the actual field. Fans should take a stroll to the Bacardi Bar to get a drink, then stroll right back to their seats. 

Orange Bowl History Pillar

If you’re into history and want to know more about the history of the lot on which the stadium sits, check out the Orange Bowl History Pillar near Section 27 down the third base line. The pillar shows a timeline adorned with illustrations and historical images of the University of Miami’s classic stadium.

Tours of loanDepot Park

Unfortunately, the Marlins do not offer tours on game days, meaning they likely won’t be held when you take a trip to see the Marlins at home. Otherwise, tours are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm and tickets can be purchased on the team website.

Batting Practice

The doors to the park open 90 minutes before first pitch if you’d like to witness the end of batting practice. We recommend standing in the outfield plaza near the Autonation Alley if you’re interested in chasing down batted balls. You can also purchase on-field Batting Practice Passes that give you earlier access to the park and access to the field. These tickets must be bought in addition to your game ticket and will cost $125, $100, or $75 depending on access level.

Autographs

Autograph seekers should show up to the park when the doors open to catch players while they are still out on the field and should purchase seats in the sections closest to the field. Marlins staff will likely turn you away if you try to access the seating zones closest to players without a ticket from that zone. Even if you have a ticket from the lower bowl seats, you will need to have a seat in the lower segment of the section (lettered rows instead of numbered) to access the area closest to the dugout. The field level clubs and PNC Club tickets will get you close as well.

Mascot Pictures

For kids (or anyone else) wishing to get a picture with Billy the Marlin, he is available in Billy’s Kid Zone in center field for the entirety of the fifth inning. The line isn’t usually too long so don’t feel like you have to head over there early. Also, if you show up to the game early, Billy and his buddy Pepito (a mascot rooster in a Marlins uniform) will be walking around and are always excited to take a picture.