11 Most Endangered Historic Places
Miami Marine Stadium
Year Listed: 2009
Location: Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida
Current Status: Endangered
Threat: Deterioration, Development, Neglect
Latest News
May 9, 2011: The Miami Marine Stadium Floating Stage Competition concluded last week and yielded innovative designs from around the world. Learn more.
Significance
Completed in 1963, Miami Marine Stadium, on Virginia Key, is both a South Florida landmark and an icon of modern design. Built entirely of poured concrete and featuring a dramatically cantilevered folded-plate roof, the stadium, which has been closed for 17 years, is a sentimental favorite of many Miami residents who experienced their first concerts under the stars over Biscayne Bay. With its 6,000-by-1,400-foot water basin in the shape of a Circus Maximus, the stadium, named for Coconut Grove pioneer and boating enthusiast Ralph Munroe, has all the trappings of an acquatic mid-century hippodrome. The 6,566-seat arena was designed by Hilario Candela, a Cuban-born architect, who at age 27 conceived a stadium that would, decades later, be viewed as a masterwork of civic architecture and modern construction. Seventeen years ago, after the stadium was damaged by Hurricane Andrew, an engineering study commissioned by the city indicated that the damage was modest and could be repaired for approximately $2 to $3 million. Unfortunately, the repairs were never carried out, and the stadium, a prime target for development, has suffered from years of deterioration and neglect.
Framing views of downtown Miami, the stadium’s distinctive sculptural, zigzag canopy seems to float over the water while its columns appear to levitate over Biscayne Bay. A venue for classical and rock concerts, operas, political rallies, speedboat races, regattas, wake board competitions, swimming competitions and religious services, the stadium once was the place to see and be seen. On any given night, hundreds of audience members on private boats would surround the floating barge that served as the stadium’s stage in order to catch a show.
Updates
March 2011: The stadium was a prominent feature of the "Meet MiMo" conference held March 11-12 by the Dade Heritage Trust. Additionally, DawnTown has partnered with Friends of Miami Marine Stadium to hold a competition for the design of a floating stage.
July 22, 2010: The Miami City Commission approved the Virginia Key Master Plan, based on the work of a University of Miami Architectural Studio led by Jorge Hernandez, Architecture Professor and Co-Founder of Friends of Marine Stadium, and Hilario Candela, Miami Marine Stadium’s architect. Learn more.
April 2010: The Miami-Dade County Commission voted to allocate $3 million from the remaining $10 million of their Historic Preservation Fund towards the rehabilitation of the Miami Marine Stadium. Read more.
November 2009: New Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado promises to save Miami Marine Stadium. “We will rebuild the Marine Stadium,” said Mayor Regalado in his swearing in speech. “Our city is full of opportunities and the time has come to recognize its treasures and have faith in their potential.” Read more.
September/October 2009: Miami Marine Stadium was named to the World Monuments Fund Watch List and Jimmy Buffet endorses efforts to restore it. Check him out!
June 24, 2009: Miami Marine Stadium has taken an important step toward potential restoration. World Monuments Fund and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have joined with local supporters in Miami and have raised the $50,000 necessary to commission an engineering study that will help determine the cost of its restoration. The partners expect the results of the study, due later this fall, to help guide decision making about the future of the facility. Read more.
April 2009: The City of Miami, which is now developing a Master Plan for Virginia Key, remains lukewarm about preserving the stadium and questions its viability as a performing arts venue.
Send your stories about Miami Marine Stadium to two amazing Girl Scouts who are compiling these experiences for a book about the Stadium at ifseatscouldtalk@gmail.com. You can also share your stories with us in the comments box below.
Site videos produced by Polivision Productions.
Submitted by tid bit at: October 28, 2010
Vintage hydroplanes & runabouts once again in the Miami Marine Stadium, what a great way to listen to Jimmy Buffet and eat "MONTY'S" seacow & conch fritters. KEEP BOAT RACING in the Stadium. Hats off to the MATHESON Family [still heavly involved in antique boats,go to Mt. Dora/Tavares] for donating MOST of Key Biscayne for boat racing,beaches and parks.Sad to see the commercial tennis center.
Submitted by national trust at: October 5, 2010
Sunny FLA, contact Friends of Miami Marine Stadium; here is their website, http://www.marinestadium.org/. Also try the Dade Heritage Trust, http://www.dadeheritagetrust.org/.
Submitted by Sunny FLA at: October 2, 2010
I am doing a project for school on the sea stadium. I would to speak to some one about the detailson the vaildity of my concepts. Can you remecond someone? Thanks
Submitted by DRIFTWOOD at: September 14, 2010
Home to see old hydroplane races and events like the ORANGE BOWL POWER BOAT and SAIL BOAT REGATTA'S once aqgain,
Submitted by lee at: August 11, 2010
PLEASE, help ' Save the the MIAMI MARINE STADIUM, ' the Palm Beach Classic Boat Racing Boat Assoc. is planning a HISTORIC/VINTAGE Hydroplane and Sailboat Regatta March 8-10, 2011. Email pbtideyachts@aol.com Tom Davis, Max Tochner,Jeff Rowe or David M. Goldstein [561]346 4630, [561] 635 9447, [912] 275 1357. P.O.BOX 3115 Palm Beach,Fl. 33480. For more info Google Tom Davis TIDE ferrari Racing Palm Beach or Tom Davis TIDE hydroplanes. P.S. Please, also HELP save the Royal Ponicana Play House in Palm Beach.
Submitted by grove native at: June 17, 2010
POWER BOAT RACES,A NEW MONTY'S BAYSHORE RESTURANT.CAR AND CLASSIC BOAT SHOWS.
Submitted by tid bit NATIVE at: June 17, 2010
Hope to see the stadium back to its orgional use, HYDROPLANE RACING, Orange Bowl Regatta,Gold Coast Marathon Retro,concerts,skinny dipping and enjoying the best sunsets in South Florida. HISTORIC,CLASSIC & VINTAGE BOAT RACES !
Submitted by cris at: March 24, 2010
hi fredy from cris and the crew with love we have been watching you for some time now keep up the good work...
Submitted by Ron at: January 30, 2010
I use to love to race at Marine Stadium. I raced Tunnel boats in the 80's. The races there were some of the best I ever saw. Would love to see it back to it's prime.
Submitted by Janine at: October 28, 2009
A really gorgeous piece of sculpture. And to think that one can be in it and hear lovely music while enjoying great music in the moonlight... How could any city think of losing that?!
Submitted by Charlie at: September 30, 2009
Miami Marine Stadium is not just historically and architecturally important, it is a beautiful structure. There is no question that a refurbished Marine Stadium would be economically feasible to the city, paying for it's upkeep with the income from activities held there, but in the past private economic interests have outweighed public and historical needs since the land was worth much more to a developer. Hopefully, with the real estate meltdown, it just isn't economically feasible anymore to tear this gem down to build another monstrous residential high rise or retail space and the city will do the right thing. The art deco district, once a run-down urban waste was refurbished and marketed properly and Miami is now known for it, why not add the Marine Stadium as a recognizable landmark? We really have to get over this "new city" thinking where only the new is worthwhile and anything over a couple of decades is worthless!
Submitted by GeoDaddy at: August 29, 2009
I would like to see the owners of the Marlins and Dolphins to take the steel from the Miami Baseball stadium and the steel from the Marine stadium and incorporate these pieces into building a brand-new baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins. I have an idea how you could incorporate a surrounding aquarium inside the baseball stadium. Think about it. If you built this stadium, Maimi would have an "Ocean Front" complex. It would be cool. The Landshark Stadium could be solely for the Miami Dolphins and the Hurricanes.
Submitted by racer's edge... at: August 15, 2009
My family spent over 25 years in and out of The Miami Marine Stadium for one reason or the other. Day or night, it was always a glorious experience!..Concerts by moonlight on the bay, and year after year of Powerboat racing on the weekends. I just die to think they have just let it waste away. It's PRICELESS! Bring it back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Toddd at: August 11, 2009
I'd like to see the stadium come back. With all the trillions in union bailouts paid for by the taxpayer, maybe we could spare a couple of million to refurbish something that will actually provide good for Miami.
Submitted by coming down at: June 5, 2009
It would make an ideal site for a gravel crushing pit.start with the stadium
Submitted by Anonymous at: May 8, 2009
I believe that they should built the Baseball Stadium in there.
Submitted by ms val at: May 5, 2009
your letter brings good news to my heart I have many wonderful memories as I gew up in miami and loved any event at the marina and it was sad to see it destroyed with graffitt I met joe dimaggio there at the races water skied drank at andy and charlie hancock hut and had the biggest bonefires ever and jimbos etc; saw the beachboys ,.steppenwolf and I am proud to be a part of history. thanx for all your effort and love for miami. ms val
Submitted by Lady J at: April 28, 2009
I saw MANY concerts there, and it was a fabulous venue--under the huge Miami moon, cooled by the balmy breezes off the Bay. In fact, this was the first place I ever saw a streaker when that was popular!
Submitted by HarveyV at: April 28, 2009
It would be convenient if one could easily find the controls to view the images in the slide show at one's own pace. No sooner do I get through reading the text than the images changes with no time to really look at it. I looked for a pause button but I didn't see one. I use Netscape as a browser. Perhaps I'll have better luck with windows.