The Iconic Miami Marine Stadium

Who in South Florida hadn’t seen a concert, powerboat race or just partied here on a boat at Miami Marine Stadium.

“The first time I played it,  I fell in love with it.   How could you not.   You’re on a floating stage surrounded by people in boats and those incredible sunsets.         It was such a unique place to play in” said Jimmy Buffett.

There was a space between the barge which was the stage and the first seats in the grandstand.   After two sweaty performances Buffett jumped from the stage into the water with swimmers, boaters, surfers and floaters. A diversified amount of floating objects from large yachts to inner tubes.

Designed by architect Hilario Candela, then a 28-year-old recent immigrant from Cuba,  he set Marine Stadium’s grandstand on the north side of the causeway so that spectators would have their backs to the sun while watching boat races in the basin.

The stadiums dramatic cantilevered roof housed 6,566 seats and is located on Virginia Key in Miami.

While the arena was intended specifically for watching powerboat racing, the groups Queen and Gregg Allman with a 24-piece Orchestra played the venue back in the ’70s.

At a cost of $2 million it opened in December of 1963.

Sadly the stadium was abandoned in 1992 when officials declared it unsafe following Hurricane Andrew.

It became a haven for graffiti artists and taggers, creating the unique aesthetic that currently adorns the structure.

Currently Renovations are in progress