Mark Light Milkshakes photo
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The beloved Mark Light Milkshakes released their annual menu last week, ahead of the University of Miami (UMiami) baseball team’s 2026 season opener on Friday, February 13.
Now entering its 41st year at Mark Light Field, the iconic milkshake stand remains one of the most enduring traditions in Miami Hurricanes athletics.
Created by Mitch Freedman in 1985, drinking a Mark Light Milkshake before a Hurricanes baseball game is a rite of passage as familiar to ’Canes fans as the crack of the bat or the Miami heat.
Mark Freedman photos
From Simple Scoops to a Campus Institution
What began as a small operation serving just a handful of classic flavors has, over four decades, evolved into a legendary game-day destination. For generations of UMiami students, alumni, and visiting fans, a trip to Mark Light Field isn’t complete without a shake in hand. The stand’s longevity has made it synonymous with Hurricanes baseball itself, blurring the line between concession stand and campus institution.
The newly released menu serves as both a celebration of UMiami and a nod to key figures associated with the school and its athletic program. It reflects the stand’s history while leaning fully into the playful excess fans have come to expect.
The Classics, the Crowd Favorites, and the Kitchen Sink
Alongside traditional flavors like chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, coffee, and caramel, the stand continues its tradition of inventive, named shakes. Longtime favorites like the Rag Arm (strawberry with hot fudge), Grandma Debbie (vanilla with magic brownies), and Baseball Buddy (vanilla with peanut butter and fudge) return, while more extravagant creations reaffirm the stand’s anything-goes philosophy.
“The Kitchen Sink,” for example, is aptly described as “everything we have.”
The 2026 menu also highlights its popular “Super Shakes,” including combinations like Apple Pie, Red Velvet, Grasshopper, and Jelly Donut, blending classic desserts into drinkable form. For truly ambitious chocolate lovers, the 8 Laterals packs eight chocolate mix-ins into a single shake, offering a sugar rush worthy of extra innings.
Mark Light Milkshake photo
Coach’s Corner and a Taste of Miami Culture
A dedicated “Coach’s Corner” section pays homage to figures closely tied to the program, with shakes like The Wizard, Coach L Final Four, and The Coach Mario, a Cuban coffee-inspired creation that nods to Miami’s cultural roots. It’s a reminder that Mark Light Milkshakes isn’t just about novelty – it’s about storytelling, memory, and community.
Last season marked the stand’s 40th anniversary, a milestone that underscored its rare staying power in college sports. While menus and ingredients have evolved, the core appeal has remained unchanged: real ice cream, real ingredients, and a sense of joy that cuts across generations. First-time visitors line up next to fans who’ve been ordering the same shake for decades, all coming together for the same pregame ritual.
Mark Light Milkshake photo
Reaction to the menu release has already begun to roll in online. Local sportscaster Alex Solana commented, “I’ll take one of each,” echoing the enthusiasm of fans who flooded the post with celebratory reactions ahead of opening day.
As Hurricanes baseball prepares for another season, Mark Light Milkshakes once again signals that spring in Miami is right around the corner. Wins and losses may vary, but one thing feels certain: as long as baseball is played at Mark Light Field, the line for milkshakes will keep forming.
Mark Light Milkshakes at Mark Light Field. 6201 San Amaro Dr., Coral Gables; instagram.com/marklightshake.
