Miami Marine Stadium (Miami, Florida)

USA / Florida / Fisher Island / Miami, Florida / Rickenbacker Causeway (SR913), 3501
 water sports, 1963_construction
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The stadium was closed down after hurricane Andrew in 1992 because of fears that it would colapse. It still hasn’t, but it’s still considered unsafe.
The Miami Marine Stadium located on the Virginia Key was the first purpose built stadium for powerboat racing in the United States. The 7,500 seat stadium was built in 1963 on land donated by the Matheson family for "Water Sports".

Most recently, the stadium has been used as a set for USA Network's spy show Burn Notice.
The Stadium was host for many world class powerboat events including Unlimited Hydroplane, Inboard, Outboard, Performance Craft, Stock, Modified, Grand National divisions as well as other special event races. The Stadium was also the site of a number of nationally televised events including the Bill Muncey Invitational and the ESPN All American Challenge Series. The last major race in the Stadium was the 1987 Inboard Hydroplane national Championship.

The Stadium utilized a floating stage in front of the grandstand for diverse activities such as classical concerts, Rock and Roll shows and the annual Easter Sunrise Service.

Due to restrictions in use, political pressures from within the City of Miami, and the lack of proper promotion the Stadium saw a gradual decline in events. At the same time the City leased much of the Stadium grounds to numerous ventures including the Miami Rowing Club, and various marinas and restaurants. This created an atmosphere not conducive to the original intent of the Stadium, namely powerboat racing. Numerous proposals were floated before the Miami City Commission throughout the 1980s to no avail. One drawback was the restriction the Matheson family placed upon the Stadium when the land was donated for its construction. By the early 1990s powerboat racing in the Stadium was in reality only a memory.

www.criticalmiami.com/index.php?id=1089

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Coordinates:   25°44'34"N   80°10'11"W

Comments

  • This was one of the locations for the 1967 Elvis Presley movie - Clambake.
This article was last modified 8 years ago