Scots find romance and revelry at Miami Marlins game

On a humid summer evening in southern Florida, the third-floor concourse of LoanDepot Park became an unlikely setting for romance. Amid the cacophony of 'We've Got McGinn...' booming through the marching crowd at the Miami Marlins vs. Texas Rangers game, one lady smiled while holding a sign aimed at her target audience as they engulfed her. 'Looking for a Scot' was the simple message etched next to a saltire and a Cuban flag with a kiss. It worked instantly. The fact she snagged a cuddle off a passing and opportunistic Tartan Army foot soldier shows the direct approach sometimes works. Whether he remembers it until he reads this is another thing.

Warmth towards the invading Scots

While not everyone in the US has gone to the trouble of scrawling their love for the Tartan Army on a bit of cardboard, the warmth towards the invading Scots during this World Cup burns hotter than the searing Florida sun. Here, it was another city, another ball game featuring the Texas Rangers, another invasion and another iconic night of rampant revelry. Years of relentless school games of rounders are being put to extremely good use by the Scotland support, who bounced into their second ball game in a little over a week. This time the iconic and antique bleachers of Fenway Park in Boston were swapped for this domed colosseum in the heart of downtown Miami.

Billy Gilmour steals the show

Outside, Nick Morgan played his anthem 'No Scotland No Party' on stage to thousands of Scots in a blurry sea of bedlam and perspiration. Inside, the star of the mercifully air-conditioned show wasn't giant mascot Billy the Marlin. It was wee Billy the Scot. The Tartan Army, who helped swell the crowd to 20,008 – the biggest Monday night gathering under this roof since 2017 – rose to their feet pre-match as Billy Gilmour emerged from the side of the field. With a brace around his knee and a Marlins top around his chest, the injured Scotland and Napoli midfielder slowly hobbled to the mound, took his time, then hurled the ceremonial first pitch. It was met with the gusto and celebration normally reserved for a statue being crowned with an orange traffic cone. Oor Billy grinned from ear to ear as he waved back to the crowd before hobbling back off.

A unique cultural exchange

A cynic would say this is an opportunity to cash in on a captive audience rolling into town after seeing the Fenway love-in. And yes, there's an undoubted benefit to the footfall and the beer sales which flow with it. But, just like at the Red Sox, this felt like a unique experience. Another baseball match, but a wholly different snapshot of a once-in-a-lifetime trip – filled with football, friends, foot-long hot dogs and dodgy first-base runs. This was a night at the ball park to be cherished in years to come. So much effort had gone into ramping up the experience. We had a tartan menu in the food kiosk. A man with a Dundee United tattoo on his leg told of how his mince and tattie hot dog was a nine out of 10, but not quite as good as the football at Tannadice. There's no accounting for taste. DJ CP, a lovely fella plonked at the far side of the arena in charge of the tunes with a Scotland flag flung around his shoulders, explained how he was excited at playing 'Bits and pieces' for the crowd, as well as the Beatles. Even one home fan told of how she'd moved her season ticket seat for the night to the Scotland section. She had also brought along mini traffic cone trinkets to hand out. As the sun faded through the giant glass wall behind the Home Run Harbour and the ice cream stall, the soaring Miami skyline dimming with it, the Scots ramped up the atmosphere.