Accompanied by Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, Muhammad Ali delivered the game ball to the mound as part of the opening ceremonies.
Steve Mitchell/US PRESSWIRE
MIAMI (AP) -- Commissioner Bud Selig offered a one-word review of the Miami Marlins' new ballpark.
"All you can say is, 'Wow,'" Selig said.
His critique came 90 minutes before the first pitch of the first game Wednesday in the Marlins' season opener against the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.
The ballpark's retractable roof, which is expected to be closed for all but about 10 games, was opened 30 minutes before the start. When the Marlins were introduced, each starter was accompanied by a young lady dressed as Latin showgirl.
The surprise guest delivering the ceremonial first pitch: former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. He emerged from behind the center-field gate in a cart alongside team owner Jeffrey Loria, and when they pulled up next to the mound, Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez gently took the ball from Ali's right hand.
A few minutes later, Carlos Beltran of the Cardinals got the first hit. Moments after that, World Series MVP David Freese opened the scoring with a two-run single.
Selig lobbied for years in support of Loria's campaign for the ballpark. There was considerable local opposition to the $634 million project, which was financed primarily with tax money, but Selig predicted critics will eventually be swayed.
"Given what went on here, this is a very special day," he said. "Five years from now, you won't find anyone against this. You can debate the economic advantages, but new ballparks just have enormous sociological value. It makes that city a better place to live."
Two other teams still seek new homes - the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland A's.
After finishing last in the NL in attendance each of the past seven years, the Marlins have had brisk ticket sales, and Loria said he's certain fans will continue to come as the season progresses. He said the Marlins enjoyed good attendance in their first season, and again in 1997 and 2003 when they won the World Series.
"They come when they're given a good club," Loria said. "And we've given them a very good club this year. It's a team where I expect us to be there in the end."
Selig is also optimistic about the Marlins' long-term future.
"They've got potential they never had before," he said.
New manager Ozzie Guillen said attendance ultimately will depend on the team.
"To keep people excited, we've got to win games," Guillen said. "That's how you keep the excitement in any city, with any ballpark."
In anticipation of bigger crowds, the Marlins nearly doubled their payroll this season to more than $100 million, and they expect to contend for the NL East title.
Regardless of the team record, the ballpark roof should make baseball more appealing in South Florida. Steamy weather and the frequent threat of rain made baseball outdoors a tough sell, Loria said.
"It's impossible to play baseball in Miami in the summer," he said.
Selig described the new ballpark as distinctive. Among its unique features is a colorful home-run sculpture beyond the center field wall, which some have called gaudy or worse.
The 73-foot-tall art work commissioned by Loria, a New York art dealer, springs into motion when a Marlins player homers, with blue marlins diving into splashing water.
"It's a statement about Miami," Loria said. "It's a lot of things going on at once. It's just meant to make you smile while the local hero is running around the bases, hopefully with people in front of him."
Not all of Loria's players like the sculpture. When left-hander Mark Buehrle was asked about it, he jokingly looked over his shoulder.
"Is Jeffrey around here?" Buehrle said with a smile. "I prefer not to comment."
Said Guillen: "Mr. Loria made it. It's beautiful."
Otherwise, players have raved about almost every aspect of the ballpark, although many say it's too early to predict whether conditions will favor pitchers or hitters.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said the ball didn't carry well during his team's workout Tuesday.
"It was a graveyard," he said. "We couldn't get the ball out of here."
After the Marlins' two exhibition games against the New York Yankees, Guillen said the park seems to be playing fairly. And he loves the design and details.
"This may be the best ballpark in baseball," Guillen said.
Also raving was Marlins newcomer Carlos Zambrano. The right-hander spent the past 11 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, which means he came from the oldest ballpark in the NL to the newest.
"Wrigley has tradition and people would go there, even if we were in last place," Zambrano said. "This is a new experience for me, and it's going to be great for the players."
Zambrano said the two 450-gallon fish tanks behind home plate, visible from the mound, might have a positive effect on his notoriously short temper when he pitches.
"That's a unique thing," he said. "I think fish tanks help people relax."
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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