MIAMI (Jan. 16, 2019) – Football returns to Marlins Park for the first time since 2016 as FIU announced on Wednesday that it will host crosstown foe Miami at the historic site on Nov. 23, 2019.
Representatives from FIU and Marlins Park held a press conference on Wednesday at the future site of the game to officially announce the location.
With an expected capacity crowd at Marlins Park, the only way to guarantee a ticket is by purchasing or renewing 2019 FIU football season tickets. Season tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased online at tickets.fiusports.com or by phone at 305-FIU-GAME.
"We are very excited to be able to provide our fanbase and the local football fanbase a marquee matchup," Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment
Pete Garcia said. "40,000 people will be able to witness a football game at a site where many historic games have been played from Super Bowls to National Championships. This is where football in the city of Miami originated."
The rivalry on the gridiron renewed last season, with the Panthers and Hurricanes battling it out at Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 22, 2018. UM came out on top, but not before FIU scored 17 unanswered points to close out the game.
With the announcement of FIU hosting Miami on Nov. 23, the Panthers will join Rice and Middle Tennessee as the only C-USA teams to host a Power-5 opponent in 2019.
About Marlins Park: Marlins Park, a state-of-the-art retractable roof ballpark located in the heart of Miami, opened in 2012 and is home to the Miami Marlins. During its brief existence, the venue has played host to a variety of diverse events; including community functions, charity walks, concerts, conferences, Monster Jam, football games and soccer matches. Offering fans the most incredible baseball experience and unobstructed views of Miami's skyline, the ballpark is the first retractable roof structure in the world to earn LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The venue was constructed on the site of the memorable Orange Bowl in Little Havana, which opened in 1937. The Orange Bowl was home to the original Miami Marlins, Miami Dolphins, and the football programs from Florida International University and University of Miami. Marlins Park also played host to the Miami Beach Bowl from 2014-16.
About FIU Football: Entering its 18th year of football in 2019, the FIU Panthers are coming off a program-best nine wins a season ago. FIU capped 2018 with a 35-32 victory over Toledo in the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl to finish the season 9-4 overall. Under legendary head coach
Butch Davis, the Panthers have earned back-to-back bowl appearances and 17 wins in the last two years.
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