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| Location | 701 Arena Boulevard, Miami, FL 33136 |
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| Coordinates | 25°46′51″N 80°11′44″W / 25.78083°N 80.19556°WCoordinates: 25°46′51″N 80°11′44″W / 25.78083°N 80.19556°W |
| Opened | July 1988 |
| Closed | 2008 |
| Demolished | October 21, 2008 |
| Owner | City of Miami (1988–2004) Glenn Straub (2004-2008) |
| Construction cost | $52.5 million |
| Architect | HOK Sport |
| Capacity | Basketball: 16,640 Ice hockey: 14,696 |
| Tenants | |
| Miami Heat (NBA) (1988–1999) Florida Panthers (NHL) (1993–1998) University of Miami (NCAA) (1988–2003) Miami Matadors (ECHL) (1998–1999) Miami Hooters (AFL) (1993–1995) |
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The Miami Arena was an indoor arena in Miami, Florida that was in existence from 1988 until 2008.
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History
Completed in 1988 at a cost of $52.5 million, its opening took business away from the Hollywood Sportatorium and eventually led to its demise. The arena was the home of the Miami Heat from 1988-1999, the Florida Panthers from 1993-1998, the University of Miami basketball teams from 1988-2003, the Miami Hooters of the Arena Football League from 1993-1995, the Miami Matadors of the ECHL in 1998, the Miami Manatees of the WHA2 in 2003, and the Miami Morays indoor football team since 2005.
It also hosted the 1990 NBA All-Star Game, the 1991 Royal Rumble the 1994 NCAA Men's Basketball East Regional Final and the NHL's 1996 Stanley Cup Finals. The 2001 Christmas Eve episode of Monday Night Raw featuring The Rock was also held here.
On January 2, 2000, the Heat moved to the American Airlines Arena located three blocks east of Miami Arena on the shore of Biscayne Bay. The Panthers also left Miami Arena to play at what is now the BankAtlantic Center located in Sunrise, Florida right near Florida's largest outlet mall, Sawgrass Mills.
Most of the concerts that were held at Miami Arena are now held at newer venues, including the BankAtlantic Center, American Airlines Arena or the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Since then, the arena became mostly inactive. The arena was sold in a public auction in 2004 to Glenn Straub, an investor from Palm Beach County, Florida, for $24 million less than the $52 million the city of Miami paid for its original construction. Miami Arena was sometimes called the "Pink Elephant", because it was a White Elephant with pink colored walls.
The arena was easily accessible via mass transit, with a Metrorail stop at Historic Overtown/Lyric Theater station just across the street (once known as Overtown/Arena station). Miami-Dade city buses also service the arena area downtown.
On August 3, 2008, Straub announced in a television interview that the interior of the arena had been cleared out and that the building would be demolished by the end of the month. Miami officials have pitched an idea to the Florida Marlins that would move the site of their proposed $515 million New Marlins Stadium from the site of the Miami Orange Bowl to the Miami Arena site. The Marlins are against this proposal as it would delay stadium construction and could cause the new stadium to not open in time for the 2011 season. Straub has proposed a land swap that would result in him owning the Orange Bowl site in Little Havana, which he has ideas for its redevelopment.
On September 21, 2008, the roof of the Miami Arena was imploded. While the exterior walls remained standing after the implosion, demolition continued until the falling of the west wall on October 21, 2008.
Concerts / Events
- Bryan Adams - December 4, 1992
- Aerosmith - April 22, 1990 (Pump Tour) - opening act was Joan Jett
- Aerosmith - February 2, 1994 (Get A Grip Tour)
- Backstreet Boys - July 10, 1998
- Bon Jovi - February 9, 1989 (New Jersey Tour)
- Bon Jovi - Feb 1993 (Keep The Faith Tour)
- Bon Jovi - September 9, 1995 (These Days Tour)
- Garth Brooks - April 18–20, 1996 (World Tour II)
- Mariah Carey - November 3, 1993 (Music Box Tour)
- The Cure - June 3-4, 1992 (Wish Tour) - opening act was The Cranes
- The Cure - August 30, 1996 (Swing Tour)
- Def Leppard - February 2, 1993 (Adrenalize Tour)
- Depeche Mode - May 31, 1990 (World Violation Tour) - opening act was Nitzer Ebb
- Depeche Mode - October 2, 1993 (Devotional Tour) - opening act was The The
- Depeche Mode - November 13, 1998 (Singles Tour)
- Duran Duran - January 14, 1989 (Big Thing Tour)
- Gloria Estefan - October 1, 1988 (Released on VHS as the Homecoming Concert)
- Gloria Estefan - March 1-2, 6-7, 1991 (Into the Light Tour)
- Gloria Estefan - September 20-22 and 24, 1996 (Evolution Tour) Sept 20 and 21st Filmed Live HBO Telecast also released on DVD)
- Grateful Dead - October 14, 1988
- Grateful Dead - April 6-8, 1994
- Billy Idol - September 29, 1990 (Charmed Life Tour) - opening act was Faith No More
- Janet Jackson - March 1, 1990 (Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour) - (Her first concert)
- Janet Jackson - January 20, 1994 (Janet. Tour)
- Billy Joel - March 12, 1990
- Kiss - August 3, 1990 (Hot in the Shade Tour)
- Kiss - October 31, 1992 (Revenge Tour)
- Kiss - September 17, 1996 (Reunion Tour)
- Maná - October 25, 2002 (Revolución de Amor Tour)
- Metallica - March 14, 1992 (Wherever We May Roam Tour)
- Luis Miguel - February 16-17, 2002 (Mis Romances Tour)
- Motley Crue - January 21, 1990 (Dr. Feelgood World Tour '89 - '90)
- Nine Inch Nails - November 20, 1994 (Further Down The Spiral Tour) - opening act was Marilyn Manson
- Nine Inch Nails - May 17, 2000 (Fragility 2.0 Tour)
- Robert Plant - July 14, 1988 (Non Stop Go Tour in support of Now and Zen album - opening act was Cheap Trick)
- Prince - August 15, 1997 (Jam of the Year Tour)
- Ratt - April 28, 1989 (Reach For The Sky Tour)
- Rush - February 22, 1990 (Presto Tour) - opening act was Mr. Big
- Shakira- April 22, 2000
- U2 - March 1, 1992 (Zoo TV Tour) - opening act was Pixies
- Yes - July 7, 1991 (Union Tour)
Seating Capacity
- Basketball: 16,640
- Ice hockey and arena football: 14,696
- End-stage concerts: 5,723 and 16,508
- Half-house concerts: between 6,351 and 9,120
- Amphitheatre concerts: 6,380
- Theater concerts: 3,642
- Banquets: 500
- Luxury suites: 26
References
1. ^ "Miami Arena" Ballparks.com. Retrieved on 2009-07-21.
External links
| Preceded by none |
Home of the Miami Heat 1988 – 1999 |
Succeeded by AmericanAirlines Arena |
| Preceded by none |
Home of the Florida Panthers 1993 – 1998 |
Succeeded by BankAtlantic Center |
| Preceded by James L. Knight Center |
Home of the Miami Hurricanes basketball team 1988 – 2003 |
Succeeded by BankUnited Center |
| Preceded by Astrodome |
Host of the NBA All-Star Game 1990 |
Succeeded by Charlotte Coliseum |
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