Watsco Center
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| Full name | University of Miami Watsco Center |
|---|---|
| Former names | University of Miami Convocation Center (2003–2005), BankUnited Center (2005–2016) |
| Location | 1245 Dauer Drive Coral Gables, Florida 33146 |
| Coordinates | 25°42′54″N 80°16′45″W / 25.71500°N 80.27917°WCoordinates: 25°42′54″N 80°16′45″W / 25.71500°N 80.27917°W |
| Owner | University of Miami |
| Operator | Global Spectrum |
| Capacity | 8,000 |
| Surface | Hardwood |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 4, 2001 |
| Opened | January 4, 2003 |
| Construction cost | $48 million ($56 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect |
Ellerbe Becket Spills Candela |
| General contractor | Turner Construction |
| Tenants | |
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Miami Hurricanes (NCAA) (2003–present) Miami Vice Squad (NIFL) (2007) Miami Inferno (UIFL) (2014) |
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The Watsco Center, officially the University of Miami Watsco Center, originally named the University of Miami Convocation Center, and known as the BankUnited Center from 2005 to 2016, is a 7,972-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, including all University of Miami men's and women's basketball games. Owned by the university, it is managed by Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Comcast Spectacor.
The Watsco Center is served by the Miami Metrorail at the University Station.
The arena opened in 2003 as the University of Miami Convocation Center, and is home to the Miami Hurricanes Men's and Women's basketball teams. 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 campus.
Prior to the opening of the Watsco Center, the school played its games at the Miami Arena since its opening in 1988.
The 2007 issue of Venues Today, one of the entertainment industry's leading publications, 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.
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