Miami-Dade Arena[6] (known as American Airlines Arena from 1999 to 2021, and FTX Arena from 2021 to 2023) is a multi-purpose arena located in Miami, Florida, along Biscayne Bay. It was constructed beginning in 1998 as a replacement for the Miami Arena and designed by the architecture firms Arquitectonica and 360 Architecture. The arena is home to the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association.
The arena is directly served by the Miami Metrorail at Government Center station via free transfers to Metromover Omni Loop, providing direct service to Freedom Tower and Park West stations. The arena is also within walking distance from the Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre Metrorail station.
The arena has 2,105 club seats, 80 luxury suites, and 76 private boxes. The Waterfront Theater, Florida's largest theater, is housed within the arena and seats between 3,000 and 5,800 patrons. The theater can be configured for concerts, family events, musical theatre and other stage shows. American Airlines, which has a hub at Miami International Airport, maintains a travel center at the venue.[7]
In September 2019, it was reported that the arena would have a new name in 2020.[8][9][10] In March 2021, FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange, acquired the naming rights to the arena for $135 million.[11][12] The NBA approved the deal in early April, and the arena was fully renamed to FTX Arena in June 2021.[13][14]
In November 2022, following the bankruptcy of FTX, the naming rights deal for the arena was terminated with Miami–Dade County, and the Heat are seeking to strip the FTX branding off the arena and find a new naming rights partner as soon as legally possible.[15] The naming rights deal was fully terminated as of January 11, 2023.