The National Trust for Historic Preservation has included the Miami Marine Stadium on its list of endangered historic places for 2009. If you’ve never heard of Miami Marine Stadium, it’s probably because you’re not a fan of the now pretty much extinct spectator sport of powerboat racing, which the stadium was built for in 1963 before being condemned in 1992 following Hurricane Andrew. Since then it’s sat there, rusting, though it does sport some pretty excellent graffiti.
Past sports facilities to make the endangered list include Detroit’s Tiger Stadium (1991 and 1992) and Santa Anita Racetrack (2000), and one is now three-quarters demolished and the other is caught up in the same bankruptcy as Pimlico and set to get a giant development project as a neighbor. On the bright side, Cape Cod is still standing.
Thanks for posting this. It’s a very interesting story and in some sense reflects the fundamental economics of your average stadium. I can’t help if this will be the future of many of the lavish stadiums in this country; without tenants and money to either demolish or renovate them.
Actually Tiger Stadium has long since been completely demolished and is now an empty field which local Detroit residents have taken on the grounds-keeping and maintenance duties.