The Watsco Center (originally named the University of Miami Convocation Center) is an 8,000-seat 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, and serves as the home court to the Miami Hurricanes' men's and women's basketball teams.

Watsco Center
Watsco Center at the University of Miami in May 2009
Map
Full nameWatsco Center at the University of Miami
Former namesRyder Center (construction/planning)
UM Convocation Center (2003–05)
BankUnited Center (2005–16)
Address1245 Dauer Dr
Coral Gables, Florida 33146-2504
LocationCoral Gables, Florida, U.S.
Coordinates25°42′54″N 80°16′45″W / 25.71500°N 80.27917°W / 25.71500; -80.27917
Public transitMetrorail (Miami-Dade County) University
Bus interchange56, 500
OwnerUniversity of Miami
OperatorOak View Group Facilities
Capacity7,972 Basketball
5,990 Ice Hockey[1]
Field sizeArena size: 200,000 square feet (19,000 m2)
Construction
Broke groundApril 4, 2001[2]
OpenedJanuary 4, 2003
Construction cost$48 million
($74 million in 2023 dollars[3])
Architect
General contractorTurner Construction[4]
Tenants
Miami Hurricanes men's and women's basketball (NCAA) (2003–present)
Miami Vice Squad (NIFL) (2007)
Miami Inferno (UIFL) (2014)
Florida Mayhem (OWL) (2018–2023)
Website
http://watscocenter.com/
The Miami Hurricanes Men's Basketball Team hosts Clemson for an ACC conference game on January 3, 2024
The Miami Hurricanes Men's Basketball Team hosts Clemson for an ACC conference game on January 3, 2024

History

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The arena opened in 2003 and was originally named the University of Miami Convocation Center. The arena is home to the Miami Hurricanes men's and women's basketball teams. Additional 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 the University of Miami campus.

In 2005, the arena was renamed the BankUnited Center, after Miami Lakes-based BankUnited. In 2016, Miami-based air conditioning company Watsco acquired the naming rights.

Prior to the opening of the Watsco Center, from 1988 until 2002, the school's basketball teams played their home games at Miami Arena.

U.S. presidential debates

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The Watsco Center has hosted two U.S. presidential debates to date:

On September 30, 2004, the University of Miami hosted one of the three nationally televised U.S. presidential debates between presidential candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election at the Watsco Center. The debate, which was moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS NewsHour, was viewed by 62.5 million people.[5]

On March 10, 2016, the University of Miami hosted the 2016 Republican presidential primary's twelfth and final debate at Wastso Center, which aired nationally on CNN and featured Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump.[6]

Ranking

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The 2007 issue of Venues Today, an entertainment industry publication, 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.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About Us". watscocenter.com. Watsco Center. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  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. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  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. ^ "CPD: 2004 Debates". Commission on Presidential Debates. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  6. ^ "Republican Debate in Miami: What to Watch". CNN.com. March 10, 2016.
  7. ^ 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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