25 Years After Marlins Inauguration: MLB and NFL Shared Stadiums a Thing of the Past

(Photo: Sun Sentinel)

Now at their fancy home at Marlins Park, the Miami Marlins are celebrating their 26th season in Major League Baseball. 25 years ago in 1993, the franchise then known at the Florida Marlins began play at Joe Robbie Stadium.

In the first season of Marlins baseball, the stadium was shared by the newest team in the Major Leagues and the established NFL franchise, the Miami Dolphins. That, at the time, was the norm. For the two South Florida franchises, it was the case until 2012 when the Marlins were renamed and relocated to the state-of-the-art Marlins Park in downtown Miami.

Today, only the Oakland Raiders and Oakland Athletics share a stadium. With the Raiders set to move to Las Vegas, it won't be long before that's no longer the case either.

 In 1993 however, 12 different Major League Baseball and NFL franchises shared a stadium.

Here's a look back at which stadiums and organizations they were:

  • Riverfront Stadium: Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals 
  • Cleveland Stadium: Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Browns 
  • Mile High Stadium: Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos 
  • Astrodome: Houston Astros and Houston Oilers 
  • Anaheim Stadium: California Angles and Los Angeles Rams
  • Joe Robbie Stadium: Florida Marlins and Miami Dolphins
  • Metrodome: Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings
  • Veterans Stadium: Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles
  • Three Rivers Stadium: Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Jack Murphy Stadium: San Diego Padres and San Diego Charges
  • Candlestick Park: San Francisco Giants and San Francisco 49ers
  • Kingdome: Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks
ALSO WORTH NOTING

It's also worth adding that while Lambeau Field was their home stadium, the Green Bay Packers played the 1993 opener against the Los Angeles Rams at County Stadium in Milwaukee. That was the home of Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers.

Since then, three Major League Baseball teams have either relocated or changed their name. In addition to the Marlins, the California Angels are now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Montreal Expos have since became the Washington Nationals.

When the Marlins came along in 1993, they were the only Major League Baseball team in the Sunshine State. In 1998, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks expanded the league to 30 teams. In 2008, Tampa Bay shortened its name to the Rays.

Since the Marlins' inaugural season, four NFL teams have changed their names or relocated. The Phoenix Cardinals are now the Arizona Cardinals; the Los Angeles Raiders have moved to Oakland; the San Diego Chargers have moved to Los Angeles and the Houston Oilers have become the Tennessee Titans. 

The Los Angeles Rams left the city for St. Louis in 1995 and have since moved back. The Cleveland Browns became the Baltimore Ravens in 1996 before restarting the franchise in 1999. The Ravens are one of four new franchises since then, along with the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.

Mike Ferguson is the founder of Marlins Memories. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.

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