AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA

Biscayne Blvd. (between NE 8^th and 9^th Sts.), 
(305) 577-HEAT

Located in downtown Miami on the waterfront of Biscayne Bay, the  20,000-seat American Airlines Arena is the city’s newest landmark.

Opened in January 2000, the stunning arena is home to the NBA's Miami Heat and the WNBA's  Miami Sol. The multipurpose sports and entertainment complex also hosts ice shows,  wrestling, boxing, gymnastics, magic shows, circuses, and star-studded  concerts.

Built by the world-renowned Miami-based avant-garde firm Arquitectonica,  the arena fashions the company’s famed non-Art Deco style of architecture. Part of the city’s bayfront renewal, the arena links to Bayside Marketplace (see shopping) via a pedestrian bridge. Specifically designed for views of the city skyline and the bay from all concourses, the arena provides superior acoustics and sight-lines from every seat. There are public terraces and balconies off all concourses and  private terraces with center-court suites. The multiple purpose practice court has sweeping views of beautiful Biscayne Bay.

Great sports events and great food go together. You’ll find plenty of  taste delights at the arena. For a splendid blend of authentic Cuban  cuisine and the culture of Old Havana, try Bongos Cuban Cafe, owned by  Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Rising two stories at the plaza level, the  16,000-square-foot club is a restaurant by day and disco by night. A  62-foot pineapple serves as a beacon on the outside to passing boaters and motorists; inside it reveals a huge dance floor that comes alive with  tropical salsa music every night.

Premium ticket-holders can enjoy watching hoops while dining on rosemary  garlic leg of lamb or crab cakes, courtesy of Levy Catering. An outdoor  cafe and bar offers treats on a bayside terrace. The privately-financed arena features 12 acres of onsite covered parking,  as well as lots of offsite parking nearby. There is direct access from parking to skyboxes and courtside lounge seats. The official team store and information center, Heat, of the Miami Heat is open at the adjacent Bayside Marketplace.