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Residents of the city of Miami will hold the fate of one of the most iconic buildings in South Florida in their hands: the Miami Marine Stadium, closed since 1992, will be the focus of a special referendum scheduled for August 18, as reported by Telemundo 51.
The measure, identified on the ballot as item 172, aims to approve an amendment to the municipal charter that would allow for a management contract of up to 40 years with Global Spectrum L.P., a subsidiary of Oak View Group, to manage the stadium and the adjacent area known as "Flex Park."
Emi Guerra, co-founder of the Breakwater Hospitality group, was straightforward about what is at stake: "It will be a place for the public, for residents, and we need them to vote 'yes' on 172 in August to bring this stadium back to life."
The commissioner Damian Pardo, who led the process before the City Commission, explained the structure of the agreement: “It would involve a 40-year contract; the first five years would be focused on generating revenue and stabilizing income to create a special bond of 65 to 85 million to fully restore the stadium. These plans have the necessary permits and are ready; it’s just a matter of the voters going out and supporting this measure.”
Under the agreement, the city would receive 93% of the gross profits from events, 85% of the sponsorship revenue, and up to 10 million dollars allocated for restoration costs.
Ricardo López, director of the architectural firm RJ Heisenbottl, described the current condition of the structure: "This gem of modern architecture is made of concrete and steel and is built on the shore of the sea and over the water; what needs to be done are structural repairs, the steel is heavily rusted."
The stadium, inaugurated in December 1963 in Virginia Key, was designed by the Cuban exiled architect Hilario Candela, who was born in Havana in 1934 and fled Cuba in 1960. Its cantilevered concrete roof measuring 326 feet - 99 meters without a single column - was the longest in the world at the time. Candela passed away on January 18, 2022, in Coral Gables at the age of 87, without witnessing the restoration of his work.
For almost three decades, the venue hosted boat races, concerts by the Beach Boys, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, and Jimmy Buffett, and even a rally by President Richard Nixon in 1972. It was closed after Hurricane Andrew, although subsequent engineering studies confirmed that the structure suffered no significant damage.
The previous restoration attempts have been numerous and unsuccessful. In 2018, a $42 million plan was announced that never came to fruition.
In September 2025, a new attempt failed when the then CEO of Oak View Group, Tim Leiweke, was indicted for alleged bid rigging in Texas. OVG paid $15 million in penalties, and Leiweke was pardoned by President Trump in December 2025, allowing the process to resume.
Even the singer Gloria Estefan, who performed there in the 80s with the Miami Sound Machine, led a campaign in 2013 to restore the venue.
"The Miami Marine Stadium is a beautiful and unique place. I am excited to work with National Trust & Friends of Miami Marine to restore it and make it as beautiful and significant as it once was," said the artist in a statement.
At that moment, the plan under discussion included a renovation of the structure, as well as the creation of a maritime center, a museum, and a seaside park as a public space for concerts, triathlons, boat races, festivals, shows, and community events.
Don Worth, an advocate for the preservation of the stadium, summarized the main argument in favor of restoration: "There is nothing like it in the world; it would be a wonderful outdoor venue that would bring joy to residents; it is an iconic place, a symbol of Miami."
The registration deadline to participate in the referendum is July 20, and early voting will be held from August 3 to August 16.
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