The AmericanAirlines Arena is an arena located in Downtown Miami, Florida along Biscayne Bay and is used for basketball games and concerts. It was constructed as a replacement for the Miami Arena and was designed by the architecture firms Arquitectonica and 360 Architecture. The AmericanAirlines Arena is home to the Miami Heat of the NBA. The WNBA team Miami Sol played at the arena from the team's birth in 2000 to the team's folding in 2002.

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History

Approved by voter referendum in 1996, American Airlines purchased the naming rights in 1999 for $42 million over 20 years .

In November 1998, construction of the new arena was delayed following a fire in the upper section of the facility. On December 31, 1999, the AmericanAirlines Arena opened. The first event was a Gloria Estefan concert. Two days later, on January 2, 2000, the Miami Heat played their first game in the new arena.

Other notes

• AmericanAirlines Arena should not be confused with the American Airlines Center, which is located in Dallas.
• The AmericanAirlines Arena as well as the American Airlines Center, hosted the 2006 NBA Finals, in which the Miami Heat played the Dallas Mavericks. Because of this, the series was nicknamed by some as the American Airlines series.
• As part of its sponsorship arrangement, American Airlines had a giant aircraft painted on top of the arena's roof, with an American Airlines logo in the center. The design is visible from airplanes taking off and landing at Miami International Airport, where American has a hub. The arena also has luxury skyboxes called "Flagship Lounges," a trademark originally used for American's premium-class lounges at certain airports.
• The arena was the setting for the highly publicized MTV Video Music Awards, both in 2004 and 2005. Both events brought millions of dollars into the Miami-Dade County economy.
• The arena hosted WCW Uncensored 2000, World Wrestling Entertainment's Royal Rumble event on January 29, 2006, and Survivor Series on November 18, 2007. It's also hosted WWE Raw on January 1, 2007, and WWE SmackDown/ECW on April 1, 2008.
• Local sportscasters often refer to the arena as the "triple-A". Some sports reporters on the local news stations such as WSVN have referred to the arena as "A³" (A cubed).
• The AAA is scheduled to play host to 1st and 2nd round games in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
• The arena is known for its unusual scoreboard, which changes colors depending on the atmosphere.
• The Waterfront Theater is a theater within the arena that can seat between 3,000 and 5,800. It is Florida's largest theater and can be used for not only concerts but also family, Broadway and other stage shows.
• For concerts in an arena configuration, end stage capacity is 12,202 for 180-degree shows, 15,402 for 270-degree shows, 18,309 for 360-degree shows. For center stage concerts the arena can seat 19,146.
• The AmericanAirlines Arena also hosted the first UFC event in the state of Florida, UFC 42: Sudden Impact, on April 25, 2003.
• In December of 2003, Vermont-based jamband Phish played 4 consecutive nights at the American Airlines Arena, the last of which being a 3 set New Years Eve show. Notably, this was Phish's last NYE performance.
• In November 2002, Cher's Living Proof: The Farewell Tour performed at AAA for an NBC special which aired in April of 2003, winning an Emmy.
• Two shows of the US leg of Madonna's Confessions Tour recently took place at the arena, in late July.
• Latin mega-star Shakira held 5 shows for her North American leg of the Oral Fixation Tour in the arena; 2 in September and 3 in December.
• The arena was featured in the 2004 Xbox game Driv3r.
• On March 28, 2004, Britney Spears performed to a sold out show as part of The Onyx Hotel Tour. The show was broadcasted live over the world.
• On March 3, 2006, Queen + Paul Rodgers performed their Queen + Paul Rodgers Tour at the arena.
• Architectural design team members included: George Heinlein, Reinaldo Borges, and Lance Simon.
• The arena was host to the American Idol 2008 auditions on August 20th-22nd, 2007.
• The Arena was host of two concerts of the Argentinian rock band Soda Stereo on December 4, December 5, 2007.
• Kanye West performed his Glow In The Dark Tour featuring N*E*R*D, Lupe Fiasco, and Rihanna on May 6, 2008.
• Tina Turner will perform her Tina: Live in Concert Tour at the arena on October 30 2008.
• Celine Dion will perform her Taking Chances Tour at the arena on January 23 2009.

Concerts Events

• Latin Grammy Awards in 2003
• Phish - New Year's Eve run - December 28 - December 31, 2003
• MTV Video Music Awards 2004
• MTV Video Music Awards 2005
• Soda Stereo - Me Verás Volver Tour - December 4, December 5, 2007
• Maná - Revolución de Amor Tour - October 16, 2003
• Maná - Amar es Combatir Tour - March 8, March 10, and October 12, 2007
• Premios Lo Nuestro 2008 - Various Artists Attending such as Don Omar, Wisin y Yandel, Camila,etc - February 21,2008
• RBD - Emperzar Desde Cero Tour - March 9,2008

Cher The Farewell Tour 2002

Gallery