Marlins Park represents a step forward for baseball stadiums

Posted by IronPlanet on Apr 4, 2012 5:28:00 AM

At first glance, those comparing the brand-new Marlins Park in downtown Miami to the historic Camden Yards in Baltimore may not find much in common. However, the two buildings have more linking them than one might imagine, writes USA Today.

Marlins Park is likely the last new Major League Baseball stadium that will be built for five to ten years, according to the news source, finishing off an era of baseball stadium designs that harken back to Camden Yards. The field is almost unanimously described as beautiful by all who have been there, and most say it offers a nostalgic feeling for an older time. Yet unlike a stadium like Fenway Park, Camden Yards is actually relatively new - it was originally built 20 years ago, in 1992.

Since then, 16 stadiums have been built, and they've all been handled by the architects of Camden Yards, a firm called Populous.

"The essence of Camden Yards is embodied in every building since," Earl Santee, senior principal for the firm, told the news source.

That might be hard to imagine when first looking at the $515 million ultramodern complex that the Marlins will soon be moving into. The 928,000-square-foot stadium was constructed by Hunt/Moss Joint Venture general contractors with assistance from MARS Contractors. The massive facility will seat more than 37,000 people and houses a number of features that fans of a more traditional park like Camden Yards may not recognize.

For example, the new stadium will house two large aquariums in the walls behind home plate, and massive video screens all over the park. There are no advertising billboards anywhere - everything is digital video. And perhaps the most distinguishing feature is the 71-foot structure that will spew water and fireworks whenever a Marlin hits a home run.

It's hard to reconcile all of that with the ballparks of yesteryear. Camden Yards was only built 20 years ago, but places like Fenway were likely built when companies didn't even have access to construction equipment like cranes to get the job done. It simply wouldn't be possible to build Marlins Park in any other year but 2012.

However, Populous tells the news source the technology in the stadium isn't what's important - it's about the relationship to the city. Camden Yards works because it's built in Baltimore's inner harbor - a place where steel trusses and brickwork don't look out of place. Marlins Park may be over-the-top and massive, but it fits right in with the surroundings of Miami. Aquariums, statues that shoot water and hallways lined with artwork from local painters make the new stadium fit right in with the city that the Marlins will soon call home.

"We used Miami as an excuse to do things that other cities couldn't get away with," Marlins president David Samson told the news source. "We did that with our uniforms, our logo, with the design of the ballpark … Everywhere you look, it's things that if they were anywhere else, people would say, 'You can't do that.' In Miami, people say, 'Oh, that's Miami.' You have to take advantage where you are."

Contractors who hope to work on a massive project like a stadium will have to ensure that they can make it economically viable, especially since stadiums are typically partially funded by the public. IronPlanet offers construction company owners a wide range of used construction equipment like cranes and excavators that can help contractors keep costs down. The site's IronClad Assurance also ensures that buyers know exactly what they're bidding on, as they can view full inspection reports.

Topics: Construction, Industry Headlines