Miami voters to decide fate of iconic Marine Stadium

Miami residents head to the polls on Tuesday to decide the future of the Miami Marine Stadium, a landmark of midcentury Brutalist architecture that has sat vacant and decaying for over three decades.

Opened in 1963, the 6,500-seat venue was the only powerboat racing stadium in the United States and a symbol of South Florida's postwar optimism. Designed by Hilario Candela, a Cuban refugee who was in his late 20s at the time, the structure is known for its massive cantilevered roof and sweeping views of the city skyline across Biscayne Bay.

The stadium's history is rich with cultural touchstones. Elvis Presley filmed scenes for the 1967 movie "Clambake" there. Gloria Estefan and Jimmy Buffett performed on a floating stage, with Buffett recalling a 1985 concert that ended with him jumping into the water. Richard Nixon and Sammy Davis Jr. appeared together at a 1972 campaign rally. The site also hosted Easter sunrise services and celebrations of Our Lady of Charity, a figure important to many Cuban Americans.

The venue has been closed since 1992, when Hurricane Andrew caused serious damage. Although listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, it is now fenced off and covered in graffiti.

Tuesday's referendum would allow the city to enter into a management agreement with a private company. The plan includes developing the parking area into a flex park with public recreational facilities and event space. The city would retain full ownership and collect event revenue to fund repairs, while paying the company a management fee. Officials say the project will not be funded by taxpayers.

Miami Commissioner Damian Pardo said the stadium "encapsulated a time period in Miami that's incredibly unique" and connects with residents on a personal level. He noted that the city previously lacked the capacity to run a major event space.

Project architect Richard Heisenbottle said the structure remains safe, thanks to galvanized steel rebar used in its original construction. Construction documents have already been permitted.

Not everyone supports the plan. The Brickell Homeowners Association has raised concerns about noise and traffic affecting residents and wildlife, preferring a park with more green space.

Donald Worth, co-founder of the group Restore Miami Marine Stadium, has led preservation efforts since 2008. "The architecture gives it the wow, the history gives it its soul," he said. Buffett's daughter Savannah continues to work with the group.

Emi Guerra of Breakwater Hospitality Group, which is working with the selected company, compared the venue's potential to Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheatre. "There's just something here that can't be duplicated, and that's the view," he said.