Marlins Park Gets Its Grass
MIAMI (CBSMiami) — The Miami Marlins can't "play ball" without a field but that all changed Thursday when crews began rolling out the playing field for Miami's new Major League Baseball park.
With Marlins Park at 94-percent completion, workers began laying the first few thousand square feet of grass by rolling out huge, 50-foot rolls of sod that are four feet wide.
"We said day one, it's Little Havana's turn and that's what happened, it's been built," said Miami Marlins President David Samson.
With just 62 days left until doors officially open, each day the ballpark looks more and more like home base for the Miami Marlins.
"We will now install grass," declared Samson as the first squares of bright green grass were laid onto the ground.
Once complete, the field will consist of 110,000 square feet of Bermuda grass, and installation will take about three days.
"The fact that their laying the sod means that they're ready to play," said Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.
The Marlins chose a Bermuda grass that's shade-resistant for their ballpark, which has a retractable roof.
"We need the sun and the rain to get this Bermuda grass, which is called Celebration, to reach three quarters inch thick," said Samson. "Today is the day this ball park comes to life."
Officials say the retractable roof will remain open until opening day in order to get plenty of sun which will help the grass to grow.
Opening night is April 4 against the St. Louis Cardinals, however, the team has a few exhibition games scheduled.
The first is March 6th against the University of Miami. Those tickets have sold out.
Tickets still remain for the exhibition game against FIU on March 7th.
The Marlins will also play a pair of exhibition contests against the New York Yankees on April 1 and 2. Single game tickets for the Yankees games will go on sale to the public on February 18th at 10 am and can only be bought online at www.marlins.com.
