The Miami Marlins havent been much on the field in recent years.
The franchise’s two biggest moves were trading Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees and getting sold to an ownership group led, in stature and celebrity appeal, by Derek Jeter. They might stink on the field right now — a 53-81 record says it all — but the culture of the franchise is changing.
In an unprecedented move, the Marlins are acknowledging their burgeoning Latino fan base and encouraging fans to bring instruments to the stadium next season, duplicating the pandemonia and heightened enthusiasm that the World Baseball Classic evokes.
Andre Fernandez on Twitter
The #Marlins are planning to theme a section in their right field stands ‘Comunidad 305’ starting next season that will cater to fans from several Hispanic cultures in the hopes it will create an animated vibe similar to the WBC…. @HeraldSports
In Latin American and Caribbean countries baseball is a much more festive activity than here in the U.S. Every baseball game is like a party with music blaring, people chanting. The enthusiasm level rivals that of a football game. This cultural passion adds to the excitement of the game and breaks the monotony of what can be a very methodical process.
VR 360: Dominican fans cheer on team
Virtual Reality 360: Fans from the Dominican Republic cheer on their team from Marlins Park in Miami. Check out http://MLB.com/video for more! About MLB.com: Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced on January 19, 2000, that the 30 Major League Club owners voted unanimously to centralize all of Baseball’s Internet operations into an independent technology company.
Shortly after announcing a new bilingual program where English speaking employees would have to learn Spanish, the organization announced the addition of Comunidad 305, a support section in right field where fans can bring musical instruments, flags and more to celebrate their culture and root for the team. Other new changes for 2019 include discounted seating options, watch parties for away games and themed nights with DJs and fireworks.
Yvonne Carrasco on Twitter
A lot of changes continue to be announced. Very nice! Especially like the new education program that focuses on players and managers becoming bilingual – English-speaking uniformed personnel learning Spanish. https://t.co/jPiLK1Uqff
The Miami Marlins are definitely on the cutting edge as it pertains to servicing Miamis Latino community and infusing the cultural aspects of Caribbean baseball into their everyday operations as an organization.
While the franchise rebuilds, the new culture of Marlins baseball is being established as well with a deeper connection to the fans. One that represents the Miami of old and new and will sustain the teams gates while they rise out of the ashes.
Andre Fernandez on Twitter
Marlins – Bowers: “I think people will see a significant change not just optically, but the feel and the vibe inside the building will feel different.” @HeraldSports
Baseball in general, has to keep evolving. As less American kids seem to want to play the sport, there is an international fan base that is heavily contributing to keeping the game lucrative and popular around the world. Most of baseballs biggest and brightest stars are foreign-born players with cultural connections and traditions that celebrate everything great about the game.
29 % of MLBs opening day rosters were foreign-born this season, from an all-time record 21 countries. The Dominican Republic leads the Major Leagues with 84 players born outside the United States. Venezuela ranks second with 74, and Puerto Rico is third with 19 players. After that is Cuba (17); Mexico (11), proving how vital and significant the Latino and Caribbean population is to the future of baseball.
MLBs conservative and single-minded approach to baseball games is changing and the Marlins are leading the way under the leadership of Derek Jeter.
