Kaseya Center (/kəˈseɪ.ə/kə-SAY-ə) is a multi-purpose arenaonBiscayne BayinMiami, Florida. The arena was previously named American Airlines Arena from opening in 1999 until 2021, FTX Arena from 2021 until 2023 following the bankruptcy of FTX, and Miami-Dade Arena during an interim period in 2023. Since April 2023, the naming rights to the arena are owned by Kaseya under a 17-year, $117.4 million agreement.[7]
The arena has capacity for 19,500 people,[8] including 2,105 club seats, 80 luxury suites, and 76 private boxes. Additionally, for more intimate performances, The Waterfront Theater, the largest indoor theater in Florida, is within the arena complex, seating between 3,000 and 5,800 patrons. The theater can be configured for concerts, worship events, family events, musical theatre shows and other stage productions. American Airlines, which has a hub at Miami International Airport, maintains a travel center at the venue.
The arena has 939 parking spaces, with those spaces reserved for premium seat and Dewar's 12 Clubhouse ticket holders during Heat games. ParkJockey manages the arena's on-site parking.[9][10]
In 1997, the owners of the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association, which then played in the eight-year-old, publicly financed Miami Arena, threatened to move to Broward County unless they were given the $38 million parcel of land for the new arena by Alex Penelas, then-mayor of Miami. The agreement provided that the county receive 40% of annual profits of the arena, which was above $14 million.[11]
Kaseya Center opened as the American Airlines Arena on December 31, 1999, and its construction cost was $213 million. Architectural design team members included George Heinlein, Cristian Petschen, Reinaldo Borges, and Lance Simon. The arena's opening was inaugurated with a concert by Gloria Estefan.[13] Two days later, on January 2, 2000, the Miami Heat played its first game in the new arena by defeating the Orlando Magic 111–103.[14]
The main façade of the arena at night
As part of its sponsorship arrangement, American Airlines had a giant aircraft painted atop the arena's roof, with an American Airlines logo in the center. The design was visible from airplanes taking off and landing at Miami International Airport, where American has a hub. The arena also has luxury skyboxes called "Flagship Lounges", a trademark originally used for American's premium-class lounges at certain airports. Until the date that the arena was renamed in 2020–2021, the arena used the 1967-2013 logo of American Airlines.
The arena was sometimes referred to as "Triple-A" or "A3" (A cubed).[15]
The arena is known for its unusual scoreboard, designed by artist Christopher Janney and installed in 1998 as part of the original construction. Drawing on the underwater anemone forms, the scoreboard also changes colors depending on the atmosphere.[16]
For concerts in an arena configuration, end stage capacity is 12,202 for 180° shows, 15,402 for 270° shows, and 18,309 for 360° shows. For center stage concerts the arena can seat 19,146.[citation needed]
WTVJ, the city's NBC-owned and operated station in Miami, had their Downtown Miami Studios in the back of the arena from 2001 until 2011.[citation needed]
In 2013, the Miami Heat paid rent on the arena for the first time pursuant to the percentage rent agreement with the county; the payment was $3.32 million.[17][18]
On September 10, 2019, American Airlines said that it would not renew its naming rights upon expiration at the end of 2019.[19][20][21][22] The American Airlines Arena court decals were removed from the Heat's floor before the 2020–21 season and replaced temporarily with the logo of team/league vehicle sponsor Kia Motors.
In March 2021, FTX acquired the naming rights to the arena in a $135 million, 19-year agreement.[23][15] The NBA approved the deal in early April, and the arena was renamed FTX Arena in June 2021, just after the Miami Heat were swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs.[24][25]
As part of the bankruptcy of FTX, the naming rights agreement was terminated effective January 2023.[26][27][28][29] After three months under the temporary name of Miami-Dade Arena, a 17-year naming rights agreement was reached with Miami-based software company Kaseya to name the area Kaseya Center beginning April 2023.[30] Under the terms of the contract, the county receives the majority of the naming rights revenue while the Heat receives $2 million annually.[30]
The then-named American Airlines Arena, along with the American Airlines CenterinDallas, hosted the 2006 NBA Finals and the 2011 NBA Finals as the Miami Heat played the Dallas Mavericks. The Heat won the championship in 2006 in Dallas and the Mavericks won in the 2011 rematch in Miami. These series were the first and second appearances in the NBA Finals for both franchises. As the airline held naming rights to both venues, people nicknamed the matchups as the "American Airlines series".
The arena hosted the 2012, 2013 and 2014 NBA Finals along with the Chesapeake Energy ArenainOklahoma City in 2012, and the AT&T CenterinSan Antonio in 2013 and 2014. In 2012, the Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games, winning the championship at home. In 2013, the Heat played the San Antonio Spurs. The Heat faced a 3–2 series deficit returning to Miami but won games 6 and 7 to defend their championship. In 2014, the Spurs defeated the Heat in five games in San Antonio and won the championship and the rematch.
The arena hosted the 2023 NBA Finals under its current name of Kaseya Center, along with the Ball ArenainDenver as the Heat played the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets defeated the Heat in five games to win their first championship.
The arena hosts the annual Premio Lo Nuestro Latin music awards since 2001. The awards are held on a Thursday night in late February. The Kaseya Center hosted the Latin Grammy Awardsin2003 and in 2020.
Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre
MiamiCentral
Freedom Tower
