Miami Arena

History

Completed in 1988 at a cost of $52.5 million, the arena's opening drew business away from the Hollywood Sportatorium, eventually leading to that venue's demolition. The Miami Heat played their first home game there on November 5, 1988, a 111–91 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers; their first victory came a month and a half later against the Utah Jazz, 101–80. The arena also hosted the 1990 NBA All-Star Game, the 1991 WWF Royal Rumble, the 1994 NCAA men's basketball East Regional final, the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals between the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche, and the 1997 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls. By 1998, despite being only 10 years old, the arena showed its age, with low seating capacity compared to other NBA and NHL venues, and teams began seeking newer facilities with luxury suites and updated concessions. The Panthers moved to the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise in 1998, and the Heat moved to the American Airlines Arena on Biscayne Bay on January 2, 2000. After 2000, the arena became mostly inactive, though the Miami Manatees of the WHA2 played there in 2003 and the Miami Morays indoor football team in 2005. The arena was accessible via Metrorail at Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre station, and was sometimes called the "Pink Elephant" due to its pink walls and white elephant status.