Two months from opening, Miami Marlins stadium is “92 percent” done

Less than two months from its scheduled opening and three months from opening day, the Maimi Marlins stadium is about 92 percent complete, according to the Miami Herald, and workers are scrambling to ensure they reach the finish line in time. In the first week of March, a fanfest, a high school baseball game, and two Marlins spring training games against local colleges are set to take place in the brand new downtown stadium.

For now, the 8,300-ton retractable roof is already in place, as are the six transparent panels above the left field wall that showcase the Miami skyline. The Marlins expect the roof to be closed during most games. Construction is also complete on the two giant aquariums, the swimming pool and a multicolored, 74-foot sculpture behind center field that the franchise expects to become an iconic feature of the park. But the stadium still lacks a corporate sponsor, and therefore a name.

The new stadium has already proven a big boon to the franchise’s ticket sales, which since inception in 1993 have been notoriously lackluster. Marlins President David Samson said the team will likely rank in the top 10 in season ticket sales, after ranking near the cellar in previous years. [Miami Herald]