Former Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria Slams Derek Jeter Over Destroying Ballpark 

The Miami Marlins were bought by American businessman Jeffrey Loria in 2002. He controlled the team for 15 years before selling it to a group led by Derek Jeter in 2017. During a recent interview with the Miami Herald, Loria alleged that Jeter “destroyed the ballpark.”

Former Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria Slams Derek Jeter Over Destroying Ballpark

One of Loria’s main grievances with Jeter was the removal of a sculpture that would burst into flames anytime the Marlins hit a home run or won a game.

Loria strongly attacked several of Derek Jeter’s decisions made by the team’s previous co-owner in his new book, “From the Front Row: Reflections of a Major League Baseball Owner and Modern Art Dealer,” as well as in a recent interview with the Miami Herald.

“Destroying public art was a horrible thing to do,” Loria said.

“I asked the artist about getting it back, and I told him I would help him find a new home for it,” Loria said. “He didn’t want to get involved. Now it will rot outside where it is… condemned to neglect and outdoor decay.”

The removal of a vibrant statue that used to explode whenever the Miami Marlins hit a home run or won a game was one of the key criticisms the prior owner had for Jeter. In Loria’s opinion, the former shortstop “destroyed the stadium” by choosing to have it taken away.

The famous home run sculpture that formerly stood behind the centre-field wall is being referred to by Loria. The multicoloured sculpture, which Loria commissioned from a friend as part of a $2.5 million agreement with the county, used to do a variety of things every time a Marlins player hit a home run, like light up, spin, and shoot water out of fountains.

Now 82 years old, Loria ran the Marlins from 2002 to 2017. For $1.2 billion, he sold the business to an ownership group that included Jeter. The former shortstop for the Yankees and Hall of Famer Jeter sold his shares in the Marlins and left his position as team CEO in 2022.

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