Rumor: 2011 Mets-Marlins Rematch in Puerto Rico?

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

joecapMARLINS: Word flitering in #Mets clubhouse that they may open 2011 season against #Marlins in San Juan, says @AdamRubinESPN

joecapMARLINS: "New to me,'' says one #Marlins official on report they'll open 2011 in San Juan vs #Mets

/Twitter

[Omar]

How about they take the home games away from the Mets this time

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

joecapMARLINS: #Marlins official says the team will open the 2011 season in Miami, not in Puerto Rico #Mets

/Twitter

I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.
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Sounds like we would again be the team losing the home games.

JoeFrisaro: #Marlins #Mets Since it is Marlins home game, and team says they will be opening in Miami not San Juan, make your own judgment

/Twitter

[Omar]

You know, I wouldn't be against the Marlins losing home games each year to publicize the team in places across Latin America. In fact, we need to try and push for this as much as possible. Let's go to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, etc. at least once a year.

However, continuously doing it against the Mets does nothing for us and it hurts us twice - at the box office and in popularity. Playing a team full of Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico boosts them, not us, and it costs them nothing. How about we get to play the Braves in the DR? Or the Nationals in Mexico City?

[lou]

How about they take the home games away from the Mets this time

Excellent. Or even a 1-1 split.

Like, how they played 2 games in Japan a few years ago. They could easily "open" the 2011 season in Puerto Rico with a 2 game series, and just turn one 4 game home series into a 3 game series for each team.

[Chewford]

If our first home game was in Puerto Rico, I would be so incredibly pissed.

[Party]

You know, I wouldn't be against the Marlins losing home games each year to publicize the team in places across Latin America. In fact, we need to try and push for this as much as possible. Let's go to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, etc. at least once a year.

However, continuously doing it against the Mets does nothing for us and it hurts us twice - at the box office and in popularity. Playing a team full of Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico boosts them, not us, and it costs them nothing. How about we get to play the Braves in the DR? Or the Nationals in Mexico City?

There are venues, but most of them were built in the '50s and '60s. It would depend on how modern some of these facilities are. Marlins would be foregoing a lot of revenue if they moved a two or three game series from a state of the art facility in Miami into an antiquated Caribbean and South American ballpark where weak currencies will be exchanged.

Puerto Rico:

Estadio Hiram Bithorn (18,000)

Estadio Roberto Clemente Walker (12,000) In Carolina.

More modern than Hiram Bithorn but it has a small capacity. Hosted the Serie del Caribe a few years back.

Dominican Republic:

Estadio Quisqueya (14,000) Santo Domingo, DR

Was the DR's primary stadium for events such as the Serie del Caribe. Is being renovated.

Estadio Cibao (18,000) Santiago, DR

Is in the DR's second largest city. Renovated in order to host 2008 Serie del Caribe, which was the first one held in DR to be outside of Santo Domingo.

Mexico:

Foro Sol (25,000) Mexico City. Hosted WBC games in 2009.

Estadio Monterrey (27,000) Monterrey, Mexico

It is the closest thing to a major league stadium you will find in Central and South America. It opened in 1990 and hosted the first regular season game outside of the US and Canada (1996).

Venezuela

Estadio Universitario (25,690) Caracas, VEN
Estadio La Ceiba (30,000) San Felix, VEN
Estadio Luis Aparicio "El Grande" (23,900) Maracaibo, VEN
Estadio Metropolitano (22,000) San Cristobal, VEN (Newest ballpark in Venezuela)

Cuba

Cuba has a few stadiums that seat 30,000+ but they are outside of Havana such as Cienfuegos (my favorite Cuban city name, translates 100 Fires). So I am not going to include these because a series in Cuba is many many years away.

Estadio del Cerro (55,000) Havana, Cuba.

Home of the AAA Sugar Kings in the 50s. Hosted MLB teams for spring training in the 40s and 50s. Hosted the Orioles in 1999. Is known as 'The Colossus of Cerro'.

I don't see the Marlins playing in Cuba or Venezuela under the current political climates. It would alienate most of the rabid fan base from Cuba and Venezuela, which makes up a large part of the crowd the Marlins are hoping to tap in the new ballpark (especially the increasing number of wealthy Venezuelans moving into South Fla).

If the Marlins made this into a yearly event, it should be the series right before the All-Star break to make it as easy as possible for the players.

[lou]

If our first home game was in Puerto Rico, I would be so incredibly pissed.

If it's March 30-31, regular opening day April 3rd for everyone else and the Marlins (and Mets) each go back home to open, who cares?

It would assure Marlins two first game of the seasons in a row, because MLB usually gives new stadium opening night.

Exposure? Legitimizing these guys? Thinking to hard?