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Remember how the Miami Marlins spent hundreds of million of dollars to build a new stadium with a fancy retractable roof? Remember how one of the main selling points was the fact that it tends to rain a lot in South Florida, and playing in the roofless Sun Life Stadium caused numerous delays?
Well, today is the first day of the new MLB season, and the Marlins have already become the butt of the baseball world's jokes by having the game delayed by rain — you know, despite having that high-tech roof.
An unexpected squall moved over Little Havana this afternoon as the Marlins hosted the Atlanta Braves. The roof at Marlins Park is designed to close in 13 minutes, but the team didn't move fast enough despite the looming clouds. The rain hit just as the roof began to shut, and the umpire had to call a rain delay to wait for the roof to close.
Not only is it the first rain delay in Marlins Park history, but also Miami is the first team in MLB history to experience a rain delay in a stadium with a retractable roof. The Sun-Sentinel notes that owner Jeffrey Loria could be seen sitting in the stands with his head in his hands during the fiasco.
Sorry for the delay, folks. That's why we have a roof.
We'll be back to #OpeningDay momentarily.
— Marlins Park (@MarlinsPark) April 6, 2015
The delay lasted 16 minutes, and to make matters worse, it happened during one of the Fish's rare sold-out crowds.
Twitter, of course, couldn't help but laugh.
Strange But True: The Marlins are in a rain delay.
The Marlins have a retractable roof.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 6, 2015
The Marlins have the first rain delay of 2015 as they forgot to close their retractable roof http://t.co/HbgyESAY4J pic.twitter.com/e0doZ1S3AZ
— SB Nation MLB (@SBNationMLB) April 6, 2015
Buys new 640 MILLION dollar stadium with a retractable roof to protect against bad weather... Still has a rain delay @Marlins #OpeningDay
— Kristian Gonzalez (@kristiang6) April 6, 2015
"I'd keep playing. I don't think the heavy stuff's gonna come down for quite awhile" - Marlins weather spotter
— Jeff (@Gerb3X) April 6, 2015
How inept do you have to be to have a rain delay in a retractable roof stadium? #Marlins
— William Qualkinbush (@QualkTalk) April 6, 2015
Hahah @Marlins fans booing because they are having a rain delay in a retractable roof stadium hahaha #GoBraves
— ZackJamesCole (@ZackJamesCole) April 6, 2015
the Marlins had a rain delay because they forgot to close their roof and haven't scored because they forgot to play Giancarlo Stanton
— Matthew Kory (@mattymatty2000) April 6, 2015
To end the rain delay, Giancarlo Stanton can create a makeshift roof with $100 bills.
— pwnteam (@pwnteam) April 6, 2015
Marlins past opening day debacles have included hot dog shortages, the Muhammad Ali thing, and most of the 2000s.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) April 6, 2015
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