Miami Marine Stadium Listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places List

The Miami Marine Stadium has been put on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 most endangered historic places list.

The Miami Marine stadium was built in 1964. It was designed by Hilario Candela, A Cuban American architect. If you have ever driven on the Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami the stadium is hard to miss. A unique piece of architecture that once was the place of many great Miami events. Many South Floridians have found memories of weekends spent watching powerboat races on the weekends at the Miami Marine Stadium. After hurricane Andrew ravaged the city in 1992 the stadium has been closed. Hurricane damage made the stadium structurally unsound, repairs to fix the stadium were never made. Now the only events that go on at the stadium are the graffiti artists spray painting the walls.

Miami Marine Stadium was home to more then power boat races. It was also home to many concerts. Sammy Davis Jr performed there in 1972. President Richard Nixon was on hand to greet Sammy Davis Jr in front of the crowd. In 1985 Jimmie Buffett tapped a concert performance from the stadium. In 1991 talk show host Phil Donahue tapped a show in front of the Miami audience.

The city of Miami is redeveloping a master plan for Virgina Key. With the master plan being made the future if the stadium is in jeopardy. A group has now formed to try to save the stadium called The Friends of Miami Marine Stadium. This group is raising awareness on this unique and historic stadium and why it deserves to be preserved. The Friends of Miami Marine Stadium is holding a benefit on May 7th at the Bayside Hut. More information on the event can be found here. Many fundraisers and demonstrations are planned by the group in efforts to save the building.

Miami residents are divided on what should become of the stadium. Many residents wonder if the City of Miami should spends millions of dollars to repair the structure or just demolish it. If you did not live in Miami when the Miami Marine Stadium was in it's prime this may seem like a waste of money. The stadium is a skeleton of what it once was it could be again. As a Miami resident, I ask if the stadium gets torn down what will replace it? The city of Miami is filled with high rises and surely another is not needed.

The other buildings and places listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 most endangered historic places list: Enola Gay Hangar in Utah that once housed a nuclear bomber; Century Plaza Hotel in California, Mount Taylor in New Mexico; Lana'i City, Hawaii; Cast-Iron Architecture in Galveston, Texas; Memorial Bridge in New Hampshire and Maine; Ames Shovel Shops in Massachusetts; Human Services Center in South Dakota; Unity Temple Oak Park, IL; Dorchester Academy in Midway, Georgia.

Sources
www.marinestadium.org
www.marinestadium.org/party Friends of Miami Marine Stadium "A party to benefit the restoration of Miami Marine Stadium"
NY Times "Preservation Group Lists Most Endangered Places"
Miami Herald "Move to save Miami Marine Stadium gets historic boost"
National Trust for Historic Preservation 11 most endangered historical buildings
Wikipedia Miami Marine Stadium
Amazon.com Jimmie Buffett "Live by the bay" tapped at Miami Marine Stadium