FL's Miami Marine Stadium Has Been Called Historic & "Endangered." Developers May Be Interested.

Photo byBumbiti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you are a Floridian, you are probably well aware that as Florida becomes more populated, some of its historic places are at risk of becoming casualties of demolition and new development. This can be especially true of highly desirable areas in the Sunshine State's more populated cities. Unfortunately, abandoned, historic places are arguably doubly vulnerable because they are sitting empty. There's an abandoned place in South Florida that has been called beautiful, endangered, and a treasure. But developers are reportedly interested in it.

About Miami Marine Stadium: The stadium is an outdoor structure (now abandoned) that kisses the water right outside of desirable downtown Miami. As you might imagine, in its prime, it offered beautiful views of downtown Miami and Miami Beach that are highly desirable (and pricey) today.

The structure today is only a shadow of its former self. It's not in use and is covered in graffiti. However, some see the beauty in this. For example, the travel publication The Discoverer's Daily Passport named it one of the "most beautiful" abandoned places.

The Rise And Fall Of The Stadium: The structure was designed by Cuban architect Hilario Candela with the purpose of hosting powerboat races. However, its usage would eventually evolve and it would host concerts from rock and roll bands like Queen, Steppenwolf, and Queen.

The structure would meet its destruction in the early 90s when Andrew barreled through the Miami area. As a result, the structure was heavily damaged and believed unsafe.

Historical Accolades: In 2009, the National Trust for Historic Preservation put the stadium on a list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The Trust named it a national treasure in 2012.

Reported Developer Interest: According to the Miami Herald, a high-powered investment group has reportedly approached Mayor Francis Suarez and other city officials about the possibility of developing a water-oriented sports and amusement park on the stadium site.

No formal plans have been submitted and representatives from the developer and officials have not commented. This is a developing story and I will update it if more details become available.