The Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show and Friends of Miami Marine Stadium have announced a win-win agreement that will provide ideal accommodation for the world’s largest boat show while paving the way for the restoration of Miami Marine Stadium – a long-shuttered masterpiece of modern architecture that in 2009 was declared one of America’s most endangered historic places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
At a recent press event, representatives from the Miami International Boat Show announced that they have committed to hosting the boat show in 2016 and 2017 at the stadium and its grounds while exploring it as a long-term home. The announcement follows months of speculation over the future of the Miami International Boat Show in the city due to the renovation of the Miami Beach Convention Center, which is slated to begin in 2016.
The first confirmed reuse of Miami Marine Stadium and its grounds since their closure in 1992, the agreement with the Miami International Boat Show allows the restoration of the stadium to begin in earnest.
“In 2016, the Miami International Boat Show will celebrate its 75th year in Miami. What better way to commemorate the significance of this historic annual tradition than by bringing the show to Miami Marine Stadium – one of Miami’s most iconic and beloved marine venues,” said Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, which owns and produces the show. “With unique features to accommodate the more than 100,000 boaters who travel from throughout the globe to experience the best the boating industry has to offer, Miami Marine Stadium could be poised to be a home for the boat show in 2016 and beyond.”
“The Miami International Boat Show is the premier event of its kind in the country and a significant economic force in Miami, drawing thousands of local residents as well as tourists from around the world,” said Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado. “And Miami Marine Stadium is a beloved place that holds special memories for generations of Miamians. By bringing these two together, this agreement ensures that both of these important institutions are on the path to a bright future here in Miami.”
