Marlins Ballpark History: Miami Gardens to Little Havana

A Marlins home-game archive covers two locations. The early franchise played in the stadium also used by the Dolphins. Today's club plays at the Little Havana ballpark that opened as Marlins Park and later became loanDepot park.

That is more than a naming distinction. It changes where the games happened and where a visitor should go. Someone reading about a 1990s World Series game should not assume the current ballpark hosted it.

The football stadium years

The Marlins began using the Dolphins' stadium in 1993. Their inaugural 6–3 win over Los Angeles took place at Joe Robbie Stadium on April 5 that year.

The same venue appeared under other names in later baseball accounts. Pro Player Stadium, for example, belongs to the historical setting of the 1997 and 2003 World Series home games discussed in our memorable-games feature. Those stories belong to the former home, not the Little Havana ballpark.

A new ballpark in 2012

The Marlins' new home opened in 2012 in Little Havana. MLB's Opening Night broadcast records the April 4,2012 occasion.

For readers building a personal baseball itinerary, this is the key move. The team's history traveled with it; the physical setting changed. You can appreciate an older championship while recognizing that a current game is an opportunity to experience a different ballpark.

Marlins Park becomes loanDepot park

The March 31,2021 naming-rights announcement established loanDepot park as the venue's new name.

Marlins Park and loanDepot park therefore refer to the same ballpark in different periods. A friend saying “Marlins Park” may mean the current building by its original name. A 1997 game article naming Pro Player Stadium means the earlier venue. The year and the name together resolve the confusion.

Use history for context, current information for planning

Historical maps, photographs, and seating descriptions can be interesting without being reliable instructions for today's visit. Check your actual event and current ballpark guide before choosing seats or transportation.

For a current Marlins game, begin with the team's schedule and our loanDepot park experience guide. Use our Little Havana outing article if you want to build additional neighborhood time around the game. If your interest is the team's past, follow the memorable home-games article and keep its two settings in mind.

This approach preserves both parts of the story: the earlier stadium where fans built their first memories, and the later ballpark where new visitors can form their own.