Miami

Miami Marine Stadium Undergoing Major Face Lift for Boat Show in 2016

There are major changes coming to the Miami Marine Stadium all in preparation to bring the Miami International Boat Show to the run-down facility.

Architect Hilario Candela, who designed the Marine Stadium when John F. Kennedy was president, said more than 50 years later, a desperately-needed renovation is coming. The planned renovations have proven to be enough to attract the boat show in 2016.

There were concerns the Boat Show might have to be moved while the Miami Beach Convention Center was undergoing renovations.

“The boat show is coming back as the first of many, many wonderful events to occur right in the stadium,” Candela said. “The boat show began in Miami and after 40 some years; it’s returning because of the stadium.”

The renovation is expected to take about two years to complete and will cost approximately $30 million. No public funds will be used to complete the reconstruction. Besides the new stadium, there will also be a museum and park all on the current property to make it a must-see in South Florida.

“It’s going to have the latest technology,” Candela said. “The most wonderful opportunity for the people of Miami to use it and the rest of the world to use it as a fantastic destination place.”

The group set up to restore the stadium still has plenty of work to do. The group has to work out all of the legal details with the city. So far, they’ve raised $15 million and have been working on the project for five years to get to this point.

An official announcement on the plans is expected Thursday.

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