loanDepot park, home of the Marlins, has hosted a wide range of events since opening in April 2012.
Here are the non-baseball sporting events to take place at the ballpark located in the Little Havana neighborhood.
Venezuela vs. Nigeria (Nov. 14, 2012)
The first non-baseball sporting event at the Marlins’ new ballpark featured an international soccer friendly in front of a crowd of 13,372. Venezuelan Miguel Cabrera, who was in attendance as a guest of honor, performed a ceremonial opening kick before play began.
The Marlins removed the mound, covered the infield dirt with sod and put down soccer markings to meet FIFA regulations. The regulation-sized pitch ran along the first-base line, with one goal between third base and home plate and the other in right field.
Nigeria, which was preparing for the African Nations Cup, won 3-1. The home run sculpture “Homer” went off after each goal.
Miami Beach Bowl (2014-16)
This collegiate football postseason game, which is now known as the Frisco Bowl and takes place in Texas, began in 2014 at Marlins Park and remained there for the next two years.
One goal post was situated in right field and the other in front of the Marlins’ dugout down the third-base line.
In the inaugural matchup, Memphis outlasted BYU, 55-48, in two overtimes. The following December, Western Kentucky used a strong second half to take down South Florida, 45-35. The final iteration saw Tulsa rout Central Michigan, 55-10.
Mexico vs. Senegal (Feb. 10, 2016)
This soccer friendly was played in temperatures that dipped into the low-50s and on a non-FIFA international date. After a scoreless first half, Mexico scored twice in the final 45 minutes for the win. Mexico used the match as a tuneup for its World Cup qualifier against Canada the following month, while Senegal faced Niger later that February in an African Nationals Cup qualifier.
Colombia vs. Haiti (May 29, 2016)
Even without star James Rodríguez, Colombia beat Haiti, 3-1, in a friendly used as preparation for the 100th anniversary of the Copa America that June.
Race of Champions (Jan. 21, 2017)
The head-to-head competition, which pitted 16 of the world’s greatest drivers against each other in identical cars, was held on U.S. soil for the first time in the event’s then-28-year history.
Juan Pablo Montoya was named Champion of Champions while competing with drivers from Formula One, NASCAR, IndyCar, Le Mans, Rallycross and Touring Cars. Kurt and Kyle Busch as well as Sebastian Vettel and Travis Pastrana were among the other drivers.
Pavement for the 1,778-foot track was laid earlier in the week and was removed following the three-day event.
Florida International University vs. University of Miami football (Nov. 23, 2019)
At the site of the former Orange Bowl, where the Hurricanes called home for decades during their journey to five national championships, the three-touchdown underdog Golden Panthers pulled off the 30-24 upset.
FIU had never led in three previous matchups with its crosstown rival, and this stunner turned into the program’s greatest win.
Miami Invitational (Dec. 8, 2025)
This inaugural event featured women’s and men’s singles matches with a mixed doubles tiebreaker in between.
American Amanda Anisimova (Women’s Tennis Association No. 4) beat Jessica Pegula (WTA No. 6), 6-2, 7-5, while Association of Tennis Professionals top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz edged João Fonseca (No. 24) 10-8 in their first meeting. In between, Pegula and Alcaraz bested Anisimova and Fonseca in a 10-point tiebreaker.
Before the friendly competition, Marlins Xavier Edwards, Tyler Phillips and Griffin Conine hit on the court and retired Brazilian soccer player Ronaldo did the same with Alcaraz.
NHL Winter Classic (Jan. 2, 2026)
The National Hockey League’s 44th outdoor game since 2003, when baseball stadiums, football stadiums and a golf course began being transformed for hockey, was scheduled to be played in the state of Florida for the first time.
The reigning two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were slated to host the New York Rangers.
The plan called to close the roof and crank the air conditioning for the four days it would take to build the rink and the seven days it would take to build the ice, then to open the roof for the practices and game.