Marlins Cry Uncle, Close Upper Deck Seats

Florida attempts optical illusion by stuffing its fans into lower bowl

With their attendance numbers trailing every other team in Major League Baseball, the Florida Marlins announced this week that they will close the upper deck seats at Sun Life Stadium for the remainder of the season.

Team spokesman P.J. Loyello called the move an "operational decision," saying the number of upper deck tickets sold did not justify the cost staffing ushers, concession and security personnel in those sections.

"We don't sell a whole lot of upper deck seats," Loyello told the Miami Herald,

The Marlins are averaging 17,101 fans per game, or 43.7% of capacity, both of which are the worst in MLB.

The nosebleed seats were already closed off for most games, as the Marlins had only sold upper deck tickets for Friday and Saturday evening games. Season ticket holders with upper deck seats will be moved to infield box seats at no extra charge.

Loyello thinks moving all fans in attendance to the lower level of Sun Life Stadium will create "a better atmosphere" at the park. "It looks better, and it's better ambiance."

Of course, no matter where they put the few fans who actually show up to the games, the Marlins will still be playing in a half-empty (or more) stadium. No optical illusion can change that.

David Hill is a Miami native and co-founder of Marlins Diehards, the only Florida Marlins blog with perspective on the eccentricities of Marlins fandom.

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