Arena Digest - American Airlines Arena / Miami, Fla.

Year Opened	1999
Capacity	19,600
Architect	Arquitectonica
Web Site	www.aaarena.com
Phone	786/777-1000
Anchor Tenants	Miami Heat (NBA) / Miami Sol (WNBA)
Parking	On and off-site parking available.
Directions	601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132. From the North: I-95 South to Exit 3B (the old 5A), which is NW 8th Street. Go left onto NW 8th Street. Take 8th Street east to Biscayne Boulevard. From the South: I-95 North to NW 2nd Street. Go north to NW 5th Street and turn right. Follow the signs to American Airlines Arena. From Eastbound on SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway): Exit at NE 2nd Avenue. Go south to NE 8th Street and turn left. Follow signs to American Airlines Arena. From Westbound on MacArthur Causeway (I-395): Exit at Biscayne Boulevard. Go south to NE 8th Street and turn left. Follow signs to American Airlines Arena.

History
Located on the Bay front of Miami, the home of the Miami Heat was designed by the Arquitectonica design firm; and their unique score board is well known because it changes colors depending on the atmosphere.

American Airlines Arena inaugural event was Gloria Estefan’s Millenium Concert Spectacular on December 31, 1999. The Heat played and won the first game in their new surroundings on January 2, 2000.

The arena seats 19,600 when fully utilized for basketball, but the upper balconies can be closed to create a more intimate atmosphere of just 16,000 seats. The facility is able to be configured in five separate ways for concerts and other events, seating as few as 5,000 and as many as 20,000 patrons.