Miami Coliseum
Former namesMetropolitan Ice Palace (1938–41)
Address1500 Douglas Rd
Coral Gables, Florida
Coordinates25°45′26″N 80°15′20″W / 25.757200°N 80.255530°W / 25.757200; -80.255530
Capacity4,400[1]
Construction
Built1927
OpenedNovember 11, 1927 (1927-11-11)
DemolishedJuly 20, 1993 (1993-07-20)
Construction costUS$900,000
($15.2 million in 2022 dollars[2])
ArchitectA. Ten Eyck Brown[3]
Tenants
Tropical Hockey League (1938–41)

The Miami Coliseum, also known as the Coral Gables Coliseum, was a multi-purpose arena located in Coral Gables, Florida. It was developed by George E. Merrick, the founder of Coral Gables and of the University of Miami, who sought to create a cultural center for the Miami area. Like the rest of the planned community, the Coliseum was built in the Mediterranean Revival style.[4]

Heavily in debt after the collapse of Florida's land boom, Merrick sold the Coliseum to the City of Coral Gables in 1927, before it was completed.[3]

In 1938, the Coliseum was rebuilt into an ice rink and rechristened the Metropolitan Ice Palace. Inspired by the films of Sonja Henie, the arena's managers sought to host ice skating shows for Miami residents, as well as ice hockey games.[1] The Ice Palace was home to all four teams of the Tropical Hockey League (THL), the first attempt at professional hockey in Florida (and in the South).[5] Though the THL was, at least initially, a moderate success, it had a turbulent lifespan and continually lost money for its promoters. Ultimately, the league folded around September 1941. Shortly thereafter, the city filed a $42,500 suit and sought foreclosure against the Ice Palace's operators.[6][7]

With the onset of World War II, the Coliseum was leased to Embry–Riddle University to train military pilots. However, it was converted back into an ice rink in 1949.[3] It would be the only indoor arena in Miami-Dade County until the 1950s when the Miami Beach Auditorium was built.[8] Afterwards, it was turned into a bowling alley, and later a health club, before becoming vacant in 1987. Despite a push by preservationists to maintain the historic structure, it was demolished in 1993.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Greeves-Carpenter, C.F. (February 1939). "Ice Rinks Invade The World". Refrigeration Engineering.
  2. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Landmark Gables coliseum is toppled into souvenirs". Miami Herald. July 20, 1993. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ "The Miami Coliseum". Coral Gables Museum. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ Mancuso, Jim; Pat Kelly (2006). Hockey in Charlotte. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-4230-X. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Topics of the Tropics". The Miami News. September 25, 1941. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Foreclosure Sought Against Gables Coliseum". The Miami News. November 6, 1941. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Hockey came to town about 52 years ago". Miami Herald. June 8, 1993. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
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