In the present day, the stadium has become a utopia for graffiti artists and skaters, who used to flock to its roof over a shady catwalk. The final hit came with Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which caused engineers to find cracks in the foundation of the stadium. By the time the 90’s rolled around, it had little prominence in the Miami spotlight. The last race it ever hosted was the 1987 Inboard hydroplane national championship. The stadium could accommodate seven thousand people and hosted hundreds of events in its lifetime, its most significant including multiple performances by Gloria Estefan, a 1967 filming for Elvis Presley’s film, Clambake, and appearances to multiple events by former President Richard Nixon.īy the time the 1980s rolled around, the Miami Marine Stadium went through a decline in popularity, stemming from the constant barrage of hurricanes and competition with other venues. This stadium, which was made with a combination of concrete and steel, resulted in a structure which managed to withstand multiple hurricanes throughout the years, and continues standing to this day. Against all odds, the stadium was completed under budget, at $960,000. With the agreement of the city, they went ahead with his plan.Īfter six months of construction, the Ralph Munroe Marine Stadium opened on December 27, 1963. ![]() In response to the city’s objections that the stadium should be built for no more than $1 million, Candela promised that if it went over budget he’d build it for free. Meanwhile, Candela felt that the stadium should be constructed with concrete to protect it from both the salt air and water. At the time, there was conflict between the City of Miami and the architect, as the city was looking for something simple that wouldn’t cost too much. The outstanding piece of architecture was designed by architect Hilario Candela, a 28-year-old Cuban immigrant. The stadium was built to be the world’s first arena specifically designed for powerboat racing, while also hosting a variety of other events, such as concerts and regattas. This all came at a period in time when water sports were exploding in popularity throughout America. Meant to be a monumental racecourse for speedboats and water shows, it was originally dreamt up in 1962, after the City of Miami hired a Chicago firm to draft up a master plan for a new park located on Virginia Key, right off the Rickenbacker Causeway. ![]() Among one of the many forgotten historic treasures in Miami is the marine stadium.
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