Watsco Center

Coordinates: 25°42′54″N 80°16′45″W / 25.71500°N 80.27917°W / 25.71500; -80.27917

Watsco Center
Full name Watsco Center at the University of Miami
Former names Ryder Center (construction/planning)
UM Convocation Center (2003–05)
BankUnited Center (2005–16)
Address 1245 Dauer Dr
Coral Gables, FL 33146-2504
Location Greater Miami Area
Owner University of Miami
Operator Oak View Group Facilities
Capacity 7,972 [1]
Construction
Broke ground April 4, 2001[2]
Opened January 4, 2003
Construction cost $48 million
($59.4 million in 2017 dollars[3])
Architect
General contractor Turner Construction[4]
Tenants
Miami Hurricanes (NCAA) (2003–present)
Miami Vice Squad (NIFL) (2007)
Miami Inferno (UIFL) (2014)

The Watsco Center (originally named the University of Miami Convocation Center) is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The venue hosts concerts, family shows, trade shows, lecture series, university events and sporting events, including all University of Miami men's and women's basketball games. It is named after Miami-based air conditioning company Watsco.

The Watsco Center is served by the Miami Metrorail at the University Station.

Founding

The arena opened in 2003 as the University of Miami Convocation Center, and is home to the Miami Hurricanes Men's and Women's basketball teams. Events held in the Watsco Center include concerts, sporting events, lectures, award shows, high school graduations, and Men's and Women's basketball games. It is the largest arena ever built on campus.

Prior to the opening of the Watsco Center, the school played its games at the Miami Arena since its opening in 1988.

Ranking

The 2007 issue of Venues Today, one of the entertainment industry's leading publications, reports that the Watsco Center outperformed all but one other venue in Florida in its size category for number of concerts and touring events held in 2006.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kaufman, Michelle (January 23, 2013). "Durham's Julian Gamble to star for Miami Hurricanes against No. 1 Duke". The Miami Herald. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  2. ↑ Palm Beach Post Wire Services (April 5, 2001). "Finally! Work to Start on UM Basketball Arena". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  3. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  4. ↑ "What's on Deck?". Sports Business Journal. Advance Publications. July 30, 2001. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  5. ↑ Palmer, Heidi M. (April 4, 2007). "University of Miami's BankUnited Center Ranks Second Among Florida Venues By National Magazine". University of Miami News. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
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