Over the weekend, thousands of people gathered at loanDepot park to celebrate Marlins FanFest. But this year it was about more than baseball, as the team has plans to develop an entertainment hub at the park.
For the last few months, workers have been improving vendor spaces and renovating stores. Kevin Barral, a writer for the Marlin’s website, “Fish on First,” had a lot to say about Miami Live, a new entertainment/dining hub coming in 2026. It will include large screens and places for people to gather.
“I think it’s great, it lines up with the World Baseball Classic next year and it’ll definitely bring a lot of people here,” Barral said. “It’s something that this ownership has promised for a while.”
Still, some fans shared mixed opinions about Miami Live. They were happy about the hopes for new jobs, community gathering places, and exposure for the Marlins. But they fear more construction will keep overcrowding Miami.
“I like the growth, but at the same time, a lot of the regular community has strayed away,” said Elliot, an avid Marlins fan who declined to give his last name. “It’s not the same Miami I used to live in.”
Fans enjoying the live music and activities at loanDepot Park (Photo by Rachael Oquendo/ Caplin News).
Either way, for lifelong fans like Henry Hernandez, the Fanfest provided a way for the community to get closer to the team despite their lack of success in recent years.
“Some good players got traded, but you gotta still have hope,” said Hernandez.
