Miami Arena opened on July 13, 1988, in downtown Miami as the city’s first modern multipurpose venue, built at a cost of about $52.5 million. Designed by Lloyd Jones Fillpot Associates, the arena gave Miami its own home for major league sports after decades of relying on older facilities, and it quickly became the anchor for the city’s new NBA and NHL franchises.
For about a decade, Miami Arena was the beating heart of South Florida sports, hosting the Miami Heat, the expansion Florida Panthers, University of Miami basketball, and even an Arena Football League team. But its relatively small seating bowl and lack of modern luxury suites made it obsolete almost as soon as bigger, glitzier arenas opened elsewhere in the late 1990s, and the building was demolished in 2008 after sitting largely empty for years.
- Florida Panthers played here 1993–1998. See every Panthers arena →
- Miami Heat played here 1988–1999. See every Heat arena →
Stats at a Glance
- Teams: Miami Heat (1988-1999), Florida Panthers (1993-1998)
- Location: 721 NW 1st Ave, Miami, Florida
- Opened: July 13, 1988
- Demolished: September-October 2008
- Capacity: About 15,200 for basketball, up to 16,600+ for concerts
- Notable event: Hosted the 1990 NBA All-Star Game
Home to Two Expansion Franchises
Miami Arena made history by hosting two major league expansion teams in its first decade. The Miami Heat played there from the franchise’s 1988 debut through 1999, and the Florida Panthers skated there from their 1993 inaugural season through 1998, even hosting the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals against the Colorado Avalanche. The University of Miami basketball program and a short-lived Arena Football League team, the Miami Hooters, also called it home.
From All-Star Host to Vacant Lot
Despite hosting the 1990 NBA All-Star Game and a 1997 Eastern Conference Finals series between the Heat and Chicago Bulls, Miami Arena’s modest seating bowl and lack of modern suites left it outclassed within a decade. Both the Heat and Panthers departed for newer arenas by 1999, and after years of standing largely vacant, the building was imploded and cleared between September and October 2008, its downtown lot eventually redeveloped.
Explore more: Explore more historic and current stadiums.
12 x 10.5 x 6 in. — built to the common stadium clear-bag size. Check your venue's rules.
USB-charged warmers for cold night games — no disposable packets.
Keeps chili hot from the tailgate to the fourth quarter.
Miami Arena FAQs
What teams played at Miami Arena?
The Miami Heat (1988-1999) and the Florida Panthers (1993-1998) were its two major tenants, along with University of Miami basketball and the Arena Football League’s Miami Hooters.
When did Miami Arena close and get demolished?
It closed to regular events around 2003-2008 as it sat mostly vacant, and was demolished in stages between September and October 2008.
How many people could Miami Arena hold?
Capacity was about 15,200 for basketball and roughly 14,700 for hockey, with configurations for concerts reaching over 16,000.
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Photo: Averette at English Wikipedia / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.