Miami Voters Decide Future of Marine Stadium

The Miami Marine Stadium, a landmark of midcentury Brutalist architecture opened in 1963 as the nation’s only powerboat race venue and remains a symbol of South Florida. Designed by Hilario Candela, a Cuban refugee, it hosted icons from Elvis Presley to Gloria Estefan and Jimmy Buffett, and it featured as a backdrop in popular culture while drawing communities for Easter sunrise services and Cuban American celebrations. After suffering severe hurricane damage in 1992, the 6,500-seat arena has stood fenced off and graffiti-covered, though it remains listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Voters are weighing a proposal for the city to partner with a private company to restore the stadium on Virginia Key to its former glory, a decision framed by a sense of Miami’s unique history and identity. The stadium’s history includes a 1972 Nixon-Sammy Davis Jr. campaign appearance and the enduring memory of Candela’s design, with officials and residents emphasizing its connection to Miami’s past and future.