Help us bring the party back to Miami Marine Stadium!
We at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in collaboration with Heineken USA, are on a mission to jumpstart the restoration of this
historic venue after decades of deterioration. And with your support,
we’ll be one step closer to re-opening its doors so we can all enjoy the stadium again.
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Boat races that filled the Biscayne Bay with the
roar of hydroplanes. Concerts on a floating stage with legends like Jimmy
Buffett, Queen, Gloria Estefan, the Beach Boys, and Ray Charles. And parties
that raged all night long. That’s what went down at Miami Marine Stadium in its heyday when it was the center of cultural life in South Florida.
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But it wasn’t just the wild
entertainment that people marveled at. With its iconic concrete roof and unique
waterside location, the stadium was unlike any other place that existed in the
world. It’s a simple fact that remains true today, and it’s what inspires and
motivates us to help bring it back to life.
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Imagine sitting in one of these seats and watching a concert under
the stars. The Biscayne Bay’s cool breeze is on your face, and the
skyscrapers of downtown are dazzling in the distance. It doesn’t get
much more Miami than that, right?
That’s the future we want for Miami Marine Stadium, and it’s not hard to imagine because that’s the way it used to be.
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Today,
we’re closer than ever to making this vision a reality. Awareness is at
an all-time high, and important engineering studies are already
underway. But we need to move faster. We need to do more. We need to
actually start fixing the place up.
That’s the whole
point of our campaign. We’re here to raise money that will fund tangible
restoration projects at the stadium. Our first goal? To remove and
re-purpose what’s left of its worn and weathered seats so that new ones
can eventually be installed.
And depending on how much we raise, we might be able to do even more!
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With your generous backing, we’ll begin the critical
overhaul the stadium needs, including our first big project — removing and re-purposing its dilapidated seats.
Plus,
when you donate to our campaign, you’ll get some sweet perks in return, including graffiti prints, "Save Your Seat” t-shirts, tickets to exclusive events and concerts, and authentic seats from the stadium itself. How awesome is that?
The
biggest perk of all, however, is the satisfaction you’ll get from
bringing one of the most unique venues in the world back to life. So
many people have epic stories from the times they spent at Miami Marine
Stadium. Now it’s time for a new generation of memories to be made.
Be part of it...and claim your perks!
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Back by Popular Demand — Stadium Graffiti Print #1! We've made 50 more prints available, so claim yours today!
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Available Now — Graffiti Print #2! Get yours while supplies last!
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Last In Our Series — Graffiti Print #3! Complete your set today!
Not able to contribute right now? Don’t worry—there are plenty of other ways you can help the “Save Your Seat” campaign. Use the Indiegogo share tools to spread the word on social media. Tell your friends, show your family, post the campaign online—no matter the method, we need everyone’s help to restore Miami Marine Stadium!
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Built in 1963, Miami Marine Stadium was the first powerboat racing venue in the United States. This 6,566-seat grandstand also hosted hundreds of legendary concerts, events, and parties you would not believe—all with MIA’s ever-growing skyline in view. Then Hurricane Andrew washed ashore in 1992, and the once-visionary venue has sat vacant and abandoned ever since.
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1963: Miami Marine Stadium opens its doors. Its 326-foot roof was—at the time—the longest span of cantilevered concrete in the world.
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1967: Miami Marine Stadium features in Elvis Presley film "Clambake.”
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1972: Richard Nixon holds a campaign rally at Miami Marine Stadium where Sammy Davis Jr. infamously hugs him.
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1985: Jimmy Buffett brings Margaritaville to MIA for a raucous, two-night concert that ends with him plunging into the water.
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1990: The final boat race is held at Miami Marine Stadium after years of hosting world-class events that drew thousands.
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1992: Hurricane Andrew hits land and shutters the stadium.
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2009: The National Trust declares Miami Marine Stadium—vacant for decades—as one of America’s most endangered historic places.
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2012: The National Trust names Miami Marine Stadium a National Treasure. We’re in it for the long haul to help save this amazing place.
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2013: The City of Miami approves a comprehensive plan to restore Miami Marine Stadium as an entertainment venue, as it was in its heyday. The National Trust makes a grant to begin critical engineering studies.
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2014: The Miami International Boat Show—the largest boat show in the world—announces that it will relocate to the stadium site for its 2016 event. Finally, the boats are back!
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2016: Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado makes news by awarding as much as $4 million dollars in city funds to help restore Miami Marine Stadium. Soon after, the National Trust and Heineken join forces to raise even more.
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Where is my donation going?More than 75% of all funds raised
will go to projects to support the preservation of Miami Marine Stadium,
including our initial project to remove and re-purpose the stadium’s
seats. Fifteen percent will go to support the National Trust for Historic
Preservation for our ongoing work to restore the stadium and other
threatened historic sites around the country. Up to eight percent will cover Indiegogo costs and processing fees as described in Indiegogo’s
Terms and Conditions.
Why can’t I get a stadium seat if I live outside of Miami-Dade, Broward, or West Palm Beach counties?
We’re
working with a local delivery company and find it isn't feasible to ship the chairs outside this delivery area. We will refund donations for anyone who selects the
seats but does not live in these counties, unless you can provide us
with a local shipping address.
Tell me more about the graffiti prints.
These
photos were taken in 2014 at a series of National Trust sponsored
events designed to bring attention to both the plight of the stadium and
the rich culture of street art that has helped keep it alive. We’re
happy to share these unique photos with campaign backers who are
passionate about the restoration of the stadium.
Can I pick which graffiti print I receive?
Different
prints will be offered at different times during our Indiegogo
campaign. It will be clear which print is available and when. Keep an
eye on our campaign so that you can collect all three!
How will I get tickets to the finale concert?
Tickets
will be issued electronically at the end of our campaign to the
email address connected with your Indiegogo account.
Live Nation Worldwide, Inc. is
not a sponsor of the ticket offer, and is in no way responsible for the
administration of the ticket offer, the verification of qualified consumers or
fulfillment of tickets. All inquiries regarding the ticket offer should
be directed to Heineken USA and not to Live Nation Worldwide, Inc.
Tickets available while supplies last.
When will I get my perk?All
perks will be mailed in October at the conclusion of our campaign
except for donation badges and concert tickets. Donation badges will be
sent electronically to the email address connected with your Indiegogo
account within seven days of your donation. Concert tickets will also be
sent electronically to the email address connected with your Indiegogo
account at the conclusion of our campaign. The concert will be held in
September.
Can I visit the stadium?
Sadly, the
answer is no. The stadium has been closed to the general public since
Hurricane Andrew and remains completely off limits today for safety
reasons. The site is monitored by security guards 24/7, so don’t chance
it!
When will the stadium’s renovation be complete?
Saving
places takes time! With your support, though, a critical first step in
the process—removing the seats—will happen soon. Recently, the City of
Miami committed $4 million in funding for other important restoration
projects at the stadium. They also hired an architect to guide
the transformation. This is all part of their comprehensive plan to
bring the stadium back to its former glory.
What about the graffiti? Will it be removed when the stadium is restored?
Our
recommendation is that the restoration plan should definitely take into
account the murals and graffiti, which are an undeniable part of the
stadium’s story. Our hope is that the culture of street art is somehow
incorporated in the renovated stadium.
Is the National Trust involved in other restoration projects?
Yes!
We’re the country’s leading advocate for saving historic places, and as
such, we’re on the ground in communities across the nation. Visit our
website to explore other National Treasures like Miami Marine Stadium.
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