Marlins Home Games Moved to Puerto Rico
Marlins-Mets will be in San Juan
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SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 11: Bernie Williams #51 of Puerto Rico waves the Puerto Rican flag after a 5-0 win against The Netherlands during the 2009 World Baseball Classic Pool D match on March 11, 2009 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Florida Marlins versus New York Mets rivalry will have a Puerto Rican flavor in June, and not because several of the prominent stars are from there.
It's because the games will actually be on the island.
A person familiar with the decision tells The Associated Press the three-game series, scheduled for June 28-30, has officially been moved from Miami to Puerto Rico.
The shift to San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium had been discussed for months pending an agreement between Major League Baseball and the players' association.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement was scheduled for Thursday.
The Marlins join the Miami Dolphins in selling out the home fans by robbing them of home games in order to boost their profile internationally. The Dolphins traded a home game for a trip across the pond to play in England.
Florida will remain the home team, but we don't think the team will be offereing flight vouchers for season ticket holders who were thinking they would only have a short drive to Sun Life Stadium to boo the Mets.
Puerto Rico has the second-most active Latin American born players on MLB rosters, only trailing the Domincan Republic.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC 6 Miami
Posted Wednesday, Mar 17, 2010 - 3:31 PM EST
