NewsSeating being set at new park
Bowl frame taking shape as construction continues
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
11/06/09 11:56 AM EST
This is part of an MLB.com/Marlins.com exclusive series with Marlins president David Samson chronicling the progress and developments of the new retractable-roof stadium that is scheduled to open in 2012. Throughout the series, which will run weekly in the offseason, fans are encouraged to e-mail David at D.Samson@Marlins.com with their thoughts.MIAMI -- Where people will sit in the Marlins' new home is currently being decided by the officials building the retractable-roof ballpark that will open in 2012.
It's the latest step in the construction of the 37,000-seat stadium on the Orange Bowl grounds in Miami's Little Havana section.
This week, officials spent a majority of their time finalizing sections and their numbers, along with row numbers and seat numbers.
"What that means is you go through every seat in the ballpark, and you assign a row and a seat number and a section number to it," team president David Samson said. "It takes a lot longer than one would think, because you want to have the sections relate to each other, both from side to side and top to bottom."
Construction began on July 1, and currently standing on the site are several large super columns, which will support the roof. The bowl frame of the park is starting to arise as well, and the area where the team offices will be are rapidly emerging from the ground.
Fans can follow all stages of construction via the new ballpark webcam on www.marlins.com .
According to the seat configuration, Section 1 will be near the right-field foul pole. From there, the numbers run clockwise, past the main concourse, all the way around to Section 40, which is at the left-field foul pole.
The section behind home plate will be No. 14. Directly above it, at the Club Level, will be Section 214. The corresponding Upper Deck section will be 314.
"What's interesting is, again, I went up to the Administration Level, which is where the offices are," Samson said. "You can't see the field from the team offices. But even standing in those offices, you can see downtown. You are over the tree line. So the views of downtown are simply going to be magnificent. When you're standing on site, you can't really tell because you see only trees."
Through the operable glass walls, fans in the higher sections will get a scenic view of downtown, with the roof open or shut.
The Marlins also are finalizing a marketing center location.
"This is going to be a special office where we will invite clients to come view not just the construction of the ballpark, but it will have a mock-up of the ballpark," Samson said.
Clients will see how suites will look, as well as all parts of the state-of-the-art facility. It will be a full sales and marketing center, which is set to open in April 2010.
In terms of actual construction, the super columns on the north side are at their maximum height. On the south side, those super columns are expected to reach their maximum by the end of November.
"In less than three weeks, each of the super columns will be fully finished," Samson said. "That's a big step."
Technically, what is being built first on the grounds will support what will be finished last, which is the roof itself.
"You build [the roof] onsite and lift it up," Samson said. "We are actually working with [construction company] Hunt/Moss on an updated video, showing the construction sequence. We showed one at groundbreaking [in July]. Now we're looking into another one as well."
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
