Move Back
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The Miami Marine Stadium in its current state. Graffiti overwhelms the building's 1963 Miami Modernist architecture.![MMS_2]()
Here the Miami Marine Stadium sits on the coast before Hurricane Andrew deemed the venue unsafe.![MMS_01]()
Designed in 1963, the Miami Marine Stadium was strongly influenced by previous modernist Latin America architecture.![MMS_3]()
Hilario Candela's Miami Marine Stadium is located in Virginia Key, just outside of downtown Miami.![MMS_4]()
The expressive cantilevered roof is a hallmark of the architecture's Modernist movement in 1960s Europe and Latin America.![MMS_5]()
Inside the stadium glittering pillars upheld the now forlorn structure.![MMS_6]()
Guests would peer over the bay onto the floating stage during the stadium's heyday.![MMS_7]()
The Miami Marine Stadium was capable of holding over 6000 guests.![MMS_09]()
The stadium's roof has been described as "origami-swanlike" and is considered a serious at risk icon.![MMS_8]()
The stadium was once home to a number cultural and political events, from powerboat races and Jimmy Buffett concerts to President Richard Nixon and Sammy Davis Jr.![MMS_9]()
In 2008 the Miami Marine Stadium was granted historical designation, preventing it from future demolition.![MMS_10]()
In 2010 the World Monuments Fund named the Miami Marine Stadium on their watch list of monuments threatened by neglect or overdevelopment.![MMS_11]()
Hilario Candela was the first Cuban exile to design and build in Miami.![MMS_12]()
The Miami Marine Stadium overlooks the water where boats and fans would cluster to watch performances.![MMS_13]()
Thousands of people would flock to the Miami Marine Stadium to watch powerboat races.![MMS_14]()
The Miami Marine Stadium was the first venue in the United States to be purposefully built for powerboat races.![MMS_15]()
The National Trust for Historic Preservation also put the stadium on its "most endangered" list in 2009.![MMS_16]()
The Friends of the Miami Marine Stadium are looking to raise $30 million in private funds to restore the stadium back to its original stature.![MMS_17]()
Restoring the building will not be easy after Hurricane Andrew tore through Florida's coast in 1992.![MMS_18]()
The Miami Marine Stadium has hosted bands such as Queen, Air Supply, The Beach Boys, and Boston Pops.![MMS_02]()
Graffiti lines the steps inside the stadium. Its long exposure to the environment may make it more difficult to restore.![MMS_20]()
Covered in vandalized walls, the Miami Marine Stadium estimates, but is ultimately unclear, as to how much restoration costs will eventually add up.![MMS_22]()
Today the stadium sits empty near downtown Miami's endless skyscrapers.![MMS_23]()
In the future the Friends of the Miami Marine Stadium hope to restore the modernist architecture to its former icon as an entertainment center.![MMS_24]()
Expanding the addition to the grounds and parking lot, the Miami Marine Stadium has been granted a $3 million worth of funds from Miami-Dade County.![MMS_06]()
Singer Gloria Estefan recently donated half a million dollars toward the Miami Marine Stadium's restoration fund.![MMS_25]()
Looking forward, the Friends of the Miami Marine Stadium want to return the venue back to the Hispanic community for public access.![MMS_26]()
The Miami Marine Stadium looks to host the city's concerts and events once again.![MMS_04]()
In 1985 Jimmy Buffet played an enormous concert at the Miami Marine Stadium. He was the first celebrity to later endorse the stadium's restoration to his fans.![MMS_03]()
The building's restoration was significantly held back due to how hard Miami was hit in the recent recession.![MMS_08]()
In 1967 the Elvis Presley movie "Clambake" was filmed at the Miami Marine Stadium.![MMS_05]()
Dedicated as the Ralph Munroe Marine Stadium on December 23, 1963. Stadium was built at a cost of $1 million; basin was dredged for approximately $900,000.![MMS_07]()
Friends of Miami Marine Stadium was created as an all-volunteer organization in February 2008 to advocate for restoration of the Marine Stadium, under the Dade Heritage Trust.![MMS_27]()
Unlike any other building, the Miami Marine Stadium hopes to foster Miami's Latino community for many generations to come.Modern Monument: The Miami Marine Stadium's Past, Present And Future
Fox News Latino looks at the Miami Marine Stadium through the years, including recent efforts to restore it.
Move Forward
- Modern Monument: The Miami Marine Stadium's Past, Present And Future
