Kaseya Center
The owners of the Miami Heat threatened to move their franchise to Broward County in 1997 unless they received a specific parcel of land for a new venue. Mayor Alex Penelas agreed to provide the $38 million land deal to keep the team in Miami-Dade County. Construction officially began on the 6th of February 1998 under the direction of design firms Arquitectonica and 360 Architecture. The project cost $213 million to complete and opened as American Airlines Arena on the 31st of December 1999. Gloria Estefan performed at the opening concert before the first basketball game took place two days later. That inaugural game saw the Miami Heat defeat the Orlando Magic with a score of 111, 103 on the 2nd of January 2000. Architectural team members George Heinlein, Cristian Petschen, Reinaldo Borges, and Lance Simon oversaw the physical build. The arena sits directly on Biscayne Bay and serves as home to the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association.
American Airlines maintained naming rights from the 1999 opening until the 10th of September 2019 when they announced non-renewal. A giant aircraft painted atop the roof displayed an American Airlines logo visible to planes landing at Miami International Airport. The court decals remained until the 2020, 21 season when Kia Motors logos replaced them temporarily. FTX acquired naming rights in March 2021 through a $135 million agreement lasting 19 years. The NBA approved this deal in early April and the venue became FTX Arena by June 2021. Bankruptcy proceedings terminated that agreement effective January 2023 after three months under the temporary name Miami-Dade Arena. A new 17-year contract with software company Kaseya began in April 2023 for $117.4 million. The county receives most revenue while the Heat organization gets $2 million annually under current terms. In October 2024 officials dedicated the basketball court to Pat Riley who led the team to three championships.
The arena hosted the 2006 NBA Finals where the Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks to win their first championship. This series marked the first appearance in the finals for both franchises during the era of the American Airlines sponsorship. The venue returned to host the 2011 NBA Finals as the Dallas Mavericks won the rematch against the Heat. Subsequent appearances included the 2012, 2013, and 2014 NBA Finals alongside venues in Oklahoma City and San Antonio. The Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games during the 2012 series to claim another title. They faced a 3, 2 deficit in 2013 before winning games six and seven against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs ultimately defeated the Heat in five games during the 2014 series in San Antonio. Most recently the arena hosted the 2023 NBA Finals under its Kaseya Center name when the Denver Nuggets won their first championship. Since 2015 the facility has also hosted the annual Hoophall Miami Invitational college basketball showcase event.
Gloria Estefan performed at the opening concert on the 31st of December 1999 establishing the venue as a major music destination. The Waterfront Theater within the complex seats between 3,000 and 5,800 patrons for intimate performances. Major artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, Shakira, Dua Lipa, and Kylie Minogue have taken the stage. Performances by U2, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift occurred over the decades. The 2004 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards took place here alongside Sensation events. A For Darfur benefit concert was held to raise awareness and funds for humanitarian aid efforts. The 2020 NFL Honors broadcast by Fox Broadcasting Company aired from this location on the 1st of February 2020. The annual Premio Lo Nuestro Latin music awards have been held since 2001 on Thursday nights in late February. The Latin Grammy Awards were hosted in 2003, 2020, and again on the 14th of November 2024.
The arena hosted Uncensored in 2000 as a World Championship Wrestling pay-per-view event featuring WCW talent. Four major WWE pay-per-view events occurred at the venue including Royal Rumble in 2006 and Survivor Series in both 2007 and 2010. WWE Hell in a Cell took place in 2013 while various episodes of Raw and SmackDown featured regularly. Brock Lesnar made his notable return to the ring on the 2nd of April 2012 during a live episode. On the 25th of April 2003 UFC 42: Sudden Impact became the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Florida. The promotion returned after twenty years on the 8th of April 2023 for UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2. Another fight card arrived on the 9th of March 2024 with UFC 299: O'Malley vs. Vera 2 scheduled. A future bout between Volkanovski and Lopes is set for the 12th of April 2025 under UFC 314. The facility also hosted the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua heavyweight professional boxing match on the 19th of December 2025.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did the Kaseya Center open and what was its original name?
The venue opened as American Airlines Arena on the 31st of December 1999. Construction officially began on the 6th of February 1998 under the direction of design firms Arquitectonica and 360 Architecture.
Who owns the naming rights to the Kaseya Center in 2025?
Software company Kaseya acquired naming rights through a new 17-year contract that began in April 2023 for $117.4 million. The county receives most revenue while the Heat organization gets $2 million annually under current terms.
Which NBA Finals series were hosted at the Kaseya Center between 2006 and 2023?
The arena hosted the 2006 NBA Finals where the Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks to win their first championship. It also returned to host the 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 NBA Finals before hosting the 2023 NBA Finals when the Denver Nuggets won their first championship.
What major music events have taken place at the Kaseya Center since its opening?
Gloria Estefan performed at the opening concert on the 31st of December 1999 establishing the venue as a major music destination. Major artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, Shakira, Dua Lipa, and Kylie Minogue have taken the stage over the decades.
When did UFC events return to the Kaseya Center after a twenty-year absence?
The promotion returned after twenty years on the 8th of April 2023 for UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2. Another fight card arrived on the 9th of March 2024 with UFC 299: O'Malley vs. Vera 2 scheduled.