Former site of the Miami Arena (Miami, Florida)

USA / Florida / Miami / Miami, Florida / Arena Boulevard, 701
 arena, historical layer / disappeared object
 Upload a photo

The Miami Arena was an indoor arena in Downtown Miami, Florida. Completed in July 1988 at a cost of $52,500,000, its opening took business away from the Hollywood Sportatorium and eventually led to its demise. The venue was the home of the Miami Heat from 1988-2000, the Florida Panthers from 1993-1999, the University of Miami basketball teams from 1988-2003, the Miami Hooters from 1993-1995, the Miami Matadors in 1998, the Miami Manaatees in 2003, and the Miami Morays in 2005.

The arena 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.

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 the arena to play at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. Most of the concerts held at this arena are now played at newer venues, such as the American Airlines Arena, the BankAtlantic Center, or the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Since then, the arena has been mostly inactive. The arena was sold in 2004 in a public auction to Glenn Straub for $28,000,000. Miami Arena was sometimes called the Pink Elephant because it was a white elephant with pink-coloured walls.

The arena was easily accessible by mass transit, with a Metrorail stop at Historic Overtown/Lyric Theater Station just across the street (once known as the Overtown/Arena Station). Miami Dade city buses also service the arena area downtown.

As of August 2008, the interior of the arena had been cleared out and on September 21, 2008, the roof of the arena has been imploded and its exterior walls remained standing. Demolition of the arena was completed in October 2008.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   25°46'52"N   80°11'41"W

Comments

This article was last modified 5 years ago