Want to play trumpet and have all you can eat at Miami Marlins games? Here's how

This year, baseball fans can bang on their drum in between all-you-can-eat nachos at Miami Marlins games.

If that sounds different from any other stadium atmosphere in the country, good! That's just what the Marlins are hoping for as MLB Opening Day approaches this week.

Filling LoanDepot Park in Miami has been a challenge since the stadium opened in 2012. The Marlins ranked 29th out of 30 MLB teams in attendance in 2023 with 14,356 fans per game, and they haven't risen higher than fourth-worst since 2012. So the Marlins announced over the offseason two new offerings available nowhere else in major sports leagues nationwide: tickets that grant fans all-you-can-eat food and the ability to bring in musical instruments to play throughout the game.

Parks and arenas in every sport across the country offer ticket bundles and special theme nights in the name of putting fans in the seats every night. But the Marlins are tapping into something deeper after seeing raucous crowds turn up whenever an international tournament comes to South Florida, namely the World Baseball Classic and the 2024 Caribbean Series. Plus, who can turn down all-you-can-eat hot dogs?

So if building off last season's playoff appearance and the arrival of trash-talking shortstop Tim Anderson aren't enough to bring you to the ballpark on Opening Day, here's what you need to know about the new Marlins stadium experiences:

Marlins All You Can Eat tickets: How much, what food is included

The biggest buzz around Marlins games this year is around the team's new all-you-can-eat package. Fans can take in the game and have as much ballpark food and non-alcoholic drink as they want for no extra cost.

The all-you-can-eat tickets give fans seats in select sections in right field. Tickets for the game Friday, March 29 vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates are $52, while tickets for the game Saturday, March 30 are $71. Here are the food options available in the package:

• Hot dogs

• Chili dogs

• Nachos with cheese

• Chili nachos

• Cheeseburgers

• Popcorn

• Peanuts

• Cookies

• Non-alcoholic drinks

• Water

There are some restrictions. The food and drinks are cut off after the seventh inning, and fans can't take their food and drink out of the designated all-you-can-eat area. Beer is available at an additional cost and it's not all you can drink. The offer also is not available for all home games this season: Visit the Marlins website for more details and to buy all-you-can-eat tickets.

Why are there instruments at Marlins games?

In 2019, the Marlins had a section that allowed fans to bring in flags and play instruments during select games in previous seasons. This year, they're expanding that to all seats at all games.

The Marlins' stadium has been home to some of the most jovial and passionate fan experiences in recent years, but not during the MLB season. The 2023 World Baseball Classic and the Caribbean Series in February were especially memorable as fans of other nations were allowed to bring their own baseball traditions to the U.S.

“We know how special baseball is for our community, many with roots in the Caribbean, and we are going to bring that passion and energy back in a special way,” said Caroline O’Connor, Marlins president of business operations, in a news release. “We want fans dancing, playing their drums, waving their flags, and chanting along to every pitch!"

What instruments can I play at Marlins games?

According to Andy Slater of Fox Sports 640, here are the instruments that will be permitted at the ballpark, most of them percussion:

• Bongos

• Congas

• Cowbell (only the percussion instrument, not ringing cowbells)

• Maracas

• Tambourine/pandereta

• Trumpet

• Afuche/cabasa (a shaker with steel-ball chains wrapped around a wooden cylinder, Latin American)

• Buleador (a sitting drum, Puerto Rican)

• Claves (two wooden sticks struck together, Cuban)

• Guiro (an open-ended, hollowed gourd with notches grooved in, rubbed with a stick, Puerto Rican)

• Guira (a perforated metal cylinder played with a stiff brush, Dominican)

• Matracas (also known as a ratchet, Spanish/Latin American)

• Pandeiro (a large handheld drum, Puerto Rican)

• Tambora (a two-headed drum, Dominican)

Instruments will be allowed at all games in all seats this season.

Marlins Beerfest

The Marlins are also bringing back some fan favorite packages. Marlins Beerfest tickets grant access to a sampling of domestic, international and local draft beers 2 hours before the start of the game. Beerfest are held before Saturday home games throughout the season. Beerfest tickets for Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates are $30.

Marlins Bark at the Park

Dog-lovers will want to take note of this year's Bark at the Park dates, when they can bring their favorite furry friends to the stadium. These tickets for the first Bark at the Park game of the season — Monday, April 1 vs. the Los Angeles Angels — cost $15.

Those who want to participate in Bark at the Park must sign a waiver in advance, and some breeds are not recommended. See the Marlins ticketing site for details.

When is MLB Opening Day 2024?

The 2024 MLB season begins Thursday, March 28. The Miami Marlins host the Pittsburgh Pirates with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

Marlins tickets, home schedule for Opening Day 2024

Want to check out the new amenities at Miami Marlins games? Here is the home schedule for the first week of the MLB season, including links to buy basic tickets for as little as $5.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: MLB Opening Day: What to know about Marlins all-you-can-eat tickets