South Florida Fans Embracing the Miami Marlins

For years the Marlins’ franchise has been known for not only a sub-par product on the field, but also for the lack of support from the fans off of it. From the days of 60,000+ empty orange seats at Joe Robbie Stadium, to crowds of well under 5,000 in the new Loan Depot Park, the Marlins have consistently ranked in the bottom three of the MLB in attendance, frequently coming in dead last. Poor performance on the field, lack of trust in management, and a number of other issues have played a part in the empty stands.

Miami is an event town and fans aren’t going to show up if a team doesn’t give them a reason. The Marlins have made just one playoff appearance since 2003 and their unwillingness to pay their stars has created a chasm between the fanbase and Marlins’ management. Recent changes at the top of the organization and an improved product on the field have South Florida rallying around this exciting team.

The Marlins averaged 11,203 fans per game last season, above only Oakland in the MLB attendance rankings. The Fish finished the season 24 games under .500 and never seemed competitive. Over the offseason, Miami started moving in the right direction and made some much-needed additions. The Marlins upped their 26-man payroll nearly 40%, going from $49.3 million in 2022 to $68.6 million in 2023. Along with the franchise’s investment, the on-field success of the team has also increased, and the fans have taken notice.

The Marlins are currently 14 games over .500 and sit atop of the wild card standings. South Florida has embraced this new look ball club and Loan Depot Park has seen the largest crowds in years over the past few weeks. In their last nine home games, the Marlins are averaging over 17,000 fans per night. That’s an increase of roughly 52% from last year’s average of just over 11,000. The excitement around the franchise and inside the ballpark is higher than it has been in a long time.

The outpouring of support from fans in recent weeks shows that there is a market for baseball in Miami, you just have to put out a product worth supporting. Like all other South Florida teams have seen with their recent success, if you win, people will show up. The Marlins are finally on the right track, and it has been incredible to see them consistently playing in front of crowds of 20,000+ recently.

Marlins’ players have fed off the energy created by the fans and have been energized by the atmosphere in Miami. This group of Marlins’ players seem to have a different mindset than many in the past. Rather than complain about attendance and lack of fan support, this group embraced the challenge of reviving the franchise and the fans are rewarding them.

The Marlins’ next home game isn’t until July 21^st due to the All-Star break, followed by back to back road series. Once the fish return home, everyone in South Florida should try to get out to Loan Depot Park for a game and support one of the most talented and exciting teams in baseball.

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