Miami-Dade County

Remember these old sports stadiums in South Florida? Take a look

By Miami Herald Archives
In 1988, Heat players and assistants, framing Coach Ron Rothstein and team officials at the entrance of Miami Arena.
In 1988, Heat players and assistants, framing Coach Ron Rothstein and team officials at the entrance of Miami Arena. C.W.Griffin Miami Herald File

Miami is getting a new sports stadium in April.

Nu Stadium at Freedom Park will be home to the Inter Miami soccer team and superstar Lionel Messi.

We have seen sports stadiums and arenas come and go in South Florida through the years.

The Marlins moved to their new Little Havana home, on the site of the old Orange Bowl, in 2012.

The Miami Heat and the Florida Panthers played in the old Miami Arena for their first few years. That arena in Overtown has been demolished, replaced with places to play along the Miami bayfront and in Sunrise.

The Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami Hurricanes played football in the Orange Bowl for decades. Then a new stadium in Miami Gardens came along. And that recently renovated stadium hosted the Marlins until a new baseball stadium rose on the site of the old Orange Bowl in Little Havana.

The Baltimore Orioles once played at Miami Stadium, renamed Bobby Maduro Stadium, in Allapattah. That stadium is gone. And the Orioles and New York Yankees trained at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, also gone. And a refashioned soccer stadium for Inter Miami is on the site of old Lockhart Stadium, former home of the Strikers.

And remember when the James L. Knight Center hosted UM basketball games and Miami Marine Stadium was the site of powerboat races?

What about the Hollywood Sportatorium, better known for rock concerts than the indoor soccer and wrestling.

Then there was the Homestead baseball complex, where the Cleveland Indians planned to train. Then Hurricane Andrew happened in 1992. The stadium was rebuilt, but it never drew interest from another team and the city could no longer support it. Once a jewel, it was demolished.

Here are some pictures of the lost stadiums of South Florida from the Miami Herald archive:

Miami Bobby Maduro Stadium

Former spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles and home of the Miami Orioles minor league team

Bobby Maduro Stadium in 1998.
Bobby Maduro Stadium in 1998. JON KRAL Miami Herald File
Rolando Llanes, UM professor of architecture, at Bobby Maduro-Miami Stadium in March 1996.
Rolando Llanes, UM professor of architecture, at Bobby Maduro-Miami Stadium in March 1996. Al Diaz Miami Herald File

Homestead baseball stadium

Planned spring training home of the Cleveland Indians

The Homestead sports complex from another view in 2012.
The Homestead sports complex from another view in 2012. Miami Herald File
The Homestead baseball complex on April 25, 2012.
The Homestead baseball complex on April 25, 2012. Miami Herald File
In June 2001, another day passes over the Homestead Sports Complex, which was built for by the city hoping to attract professional baseball teams for spring training, but instead has turned into an economic loss for the city of Homestead.
In June 2001, another day passes over the Homestead Sports Complex, which was built for by the city hoping to attract professional baseball teams for spring training, but instead has turned into an economic loss for the city of Homestead. Richard Patterson Miami Herald File

Miami Arena

Original home of the Miami Heat and the Florida Panthers

The Miami Arena in downtown Miami is shown Monday Aug. 28, 1995. The arena, built seven years ago with taxpayers’ money, hoped to attract an NBA and an NHL team to the pink building. Since then the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers have moved in and have since decried its shortcomings. Too few seats, not enough luxury boxes and a prohibitive lease for the Panthers have both teams demanding a new arena.
The Miami Arena in downtown Miami is shown Monday Aug. 28, 1995. The arena, built seven years ago with taxpayers’ money, hoped to attract an NBA and an NHL team to the pink building. Since then the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers have moved in and have since decried its shortcomings. Too few seats, not enough luxury boxes and a prohibitive lease for the Panthers have both teams demanding a new arena. Miami Herald File
Dan Majerle makes a shot between Penny Hardaway, left, and Rony Seikaly during first half action at Miami Arena in April 1997.
Dan Majerle makes a shot between Penny Hardaway, left, and Rony Seikaly during first half action at Miami Arena in April 1997. Miami Herald File
Miami Arena interior.
Miami Arena interior. Albert Coya Miami Herald File

Hollywood Sportatorium

Home to indoor soccer, wrestling, boxing but bvetter known as a concert venue

Fans line up at the Hollywood Sportatorium for Elvis tickets in 1977.
Fans line up at the Hollywood Sportatorium for Elvis tickets in 1977. Miami Herald File
A dragster pulls weighted sled at the Sportatorium.
A dragster pulls weighted sled at the Sportatorium. Chuck Fadely Miami Herald File
Seating area at the Sportatorium.
Seating area at the Sportatorium. Miami Herald File
The Sportatorium.
The Sportatorium. Miami Herald File

Orange Bowl

Former home of the Miami Dolphins and University of Miami Hurricanes

View of the inside of the Orange Bowl stadium on July 14, 1988.
View of the inside of the Orange Bowl stadium on July 14, 1988. Mary Lou Foy Miami Herald File
The Orange Bowl stadium in February 2008.
The Orange Bowl stadium in February 2008. Al Diaz Miami Herald File
North side Orange Bowl, with Northwest Seventh Street in the foreground.
North side Orange Bowl, with Northwest Seventh Street in the foreground. Bob East Miami Herald File
The Miami Orange Bowl
The Miami Orange Bowl Miami Herald File

Fort Lauderdale Stadium

Spring training home of the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles

In 1999, left to right, George Gollis of Fort Lauderdale; Michael Prokop of Delray Beach; and Ralph Seid of Hallandale wait for the computers to come back online so they can buy tickets to the Baltimore Orioles spring training seaason. Gollis was the first person in line Saturday morning to buy the tickets. He said he arrived at Fort Lauderdale Stadium at 5:30 a.m., followed by Prokop and Seid. The computers went down shortly after 10 a.m. but soon came back up.
In 1999, left to right, George Gollis of Fort Lauderdale; Michael Prokop of Delray Beach; and Ralph Seid of Hallandale wait for the computers to come back online so they can buy tickets to the Baltimore Orioles spring training seaason. Gollis was the first person in line Saturday morning to buy the tickets. He said he arrived at Fort Lauderdale Stadium at 5:30 a.m., followed by Prokop and Seid. The computers went down shortly after 10 a.m. but soon came back up. MARSHA HALPER Miami Herald File
In February 2007, the Baltimore Orioles opened full squad Spring training at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. Here they take the field.
In February 2007, the Baltimore Orioles opened full squad Spring training at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. Here they take the field. Walter Michot Miami Herald File
Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees in a spring training game at Fort Lauderdale Stadium in 1988. New York Yankees #30 Willie Randolph prepares to field a ground ball during the third inning.
Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees in a spring training game at Fort Lauderdale Stadium in 1988. New York Yankees #30 Willie Randolph prepares to field a ground ball during the third inning. Miami Herald File

Lockhart Stadium

Former home of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and FAU Owls football team

Fort Lauderdale Strikers’ Hendry Thomas defends against the New York Cosmos’ Leonardo Fernandes # 22, during the first half of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs New York Cosmos match, at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, August 08, 2015.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers’ Hendry Thomas defends against the New York Cosmos’ Leonardo Fernandes # 22, during the first half of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs New York Cosmos match, at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, August 08, 2015. Pedro Portal El Nuevo Herald

Miami Marine Stadium

Miami Marine Stadium

Miami Marine Stadium
Miami Marine Stadium Florida state archives
Miami Marine Stadium in 2006.
Miami Marine Stadium in 2006. Patrick Farrell Miami Herald File
Taking in a concert at Miami Marine Stadium in this undated photo from the Florida State Archives.
Taking in a concert at Miami Marine Stadium in this undated photo from the Florida State Archives. Florida State Archives
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