BankUnited Center
Encyclopedia
The BankUnited Center is a 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena
on the campus of the University of Miami
in Coral Gables, Florida
. The venue hosts concerts, family shows, trade shows, lecture series, university events and sporting events, including all University of Miami men's and women's basketball games.
The BankUnited Center is served by the Miami Metrorail at the University Station
.
The BankUnited Center is managed by Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Wachovia Center
, the Wachovia Spectrum
, Philadelphia Flyers
of the National Hockey League
, the Philadelphia 76ers
of the National Basketball Association
, the Philadelphia Phantoms
of the American Hockey League
, Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community skating rinks, and Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, a regional sports programming network.
Currently the fate of the arena's naming rights
, which are held by the failed BankUnited
, are in question; the institution was sold by the FDIC
to a private equity
group after seizure on May 21, 2009.
Men's and Women's basketball
teams. Events held in the BankUnited Center include concerts, sporting events, lectures, award shows, high school graduations, and Men's and Women's basketball games. It is the largest arena ever built on campus.
Prior to the opening of the BankUnited Center (informally known as the BUC), the school played its games at the Miami Arena
since its opening in 1988.
between incumbent George W. Bush
and his challenger John Kerry
.
to name the building in honor of the company. BankUnited is based in Coral Gables, home of UM, and many members of the management team are alumni. The bank also recruits extensively from UM’s student population.
In March 2005, the BankUnited Center hosted the Havana Night Club show.
In April 2005, Green Day
performed at the BankUnited Center.
In October 2005, Kanye West
performed at the BankUnited Center. One week later, the venue hosted an Audioslave
concert with 30 Seconds to Mars
.
In August 2006, Latin pop artist Ricky Martin
taped his MTV Unplugged
video at the BankUnited Center
In November 2007, the BankUnited Center hosted a concert by the All-American Rejects.
and The Fray
.
In February 2007, the BankUnited Center hosted the Blue Man Group
, as a part of their "Megastar" tour.
In April 2007, the BankUnited Center hosted the 2007 Billboard Latin Music Awards
. Also in April, the Latin Grammy Awards
were held at the BankUnited Center and televised on Telemundo
as well as a concert by MercyMe
, later in the month.
In October 2007, Evanescence
performed at the BankUnited Center. Later in the month, the Newsboys
performed at the venue as well.
In September and December 2007 Univision
hosted a forums in Spanish moderated by Univision's anchors Jorge Ramos
and Maria Elena Salinas
. The forums were for Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls to discuss issues for Hispanic Americans.
The rehearsals for the 2008 La Vida World Tour
by Colombia
n rock
musician Juanes
in support of his 2007 album, La Vida... Es un Ratico
were held here in February 2008.
The building also held the Elite XC presents Street Certified event featuring the Kimbo Slice
/Tank Abbott
fight and the Miami Freestyle Invasion. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
held a house show at the BankUnited Center on September 27, 2008
The building also was the site of rallies for 2008 Presidential Candidates Barack Obama
and John McCain
. The events, held on September 19th and November 2nd respectively, filled the building as the candidates made their push for the White House
.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
on the campus of the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
in Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
. The venue hosts concerts, family shows, trade shows, lecture series, university events and sporting events, including all University of Miami men's and women's basketball games.
The BankUnited Center is served by the Miami Metrorail at the University Station
University (Metrorail station)
University is a Metrorail station in the suburban city of Coral Gables, Florida at the University of Miami , seven miles southwest of Downtown Miami....
.
The BankUnited Center is managed by Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Wachovia Center
Wachovia Center
The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, the Wachovia Spectrum
Wachovia Spectrum
The Spectrum, formerly known as the CoreStates Spectrum , First Union Spectrum , and Wachovia Spectrum was an indoor arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, the Philadelphia Phantoms
Philadelphia Phantoms
The Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and played most of its home games at the Spectrum. During schedule conflicts or some Calder Cup playoff games, games were...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community skating rinks, and Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, a regional sports programming network.
Currently the fate of the arena's naming rights
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
, which are held by the failed BankUnited
BankUnited
BankUnited is a savings and loan association based in Miami Lakes, Florida. It was seized by U.S. financial regulators and immediately handed over to a new holding company on 21 May 2009, in the second largest bank failure of the Financial crisis of 2007–2010...
, are in question; the institution was sold by the FDIC
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is a United States government corporation created by the Glass–Steagall Act of 1933. It provides deposit insurance, which guarantees the safety of deposits in member banks, currently up to $250,000 per depositor per bank. , the FDIC insures deposits at...
to a private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
group after seizure on May 21, 2009.
Founding
The arena opened in 2003 as the University of Miami Convocation Center, and is home to the Miami HurricanesMiami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes, of Coral Gables, Florida, are the varsity sports teams of the University of Miami. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The university fields 15 athletic teams for 17 varsity sports...
Men's and Women's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
teams. Events held in the BankUnited Center include concerts, sporting events, lectures, award shows, high school graduations, and Men's and Women's basketball games. It is the largest arena ever built on campus.
Prior to the opening of the BankUnited Center (informally known as the BUC), the school played its games at the Miami Arena
Miami Arena
The Miami Arena was an indoor arena in Miami, Florida.-History:Completed in 1988, at a cost of $52.5 million, its opening took business away from the Hollywood Sportatorium and eventually led to its demise...
since its opening in 1988.
Ranking
The 2007 issue of Venues Today, one of the entertainment industry's leading publications, reports that the BankUnited Center outperformed all but one other venue in Florida in its size category for number of concerts and touring events held in 2006.2004
In September 2004, the BankUnited Center was the scene of the first presidential debatePresidential debate
Presidential debates may refer to:* Leaders debate, which occur within Parliamentary forms of government* French presidential debates, held on television since 1974...
between incumbent George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and his challenger John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
.
2005
BankUnited, the largest bank headquartered in Florida, entered into an agreement with University of MiamiUniversity of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
to name the building in honor of the company. BankUnited is based in Coral Gables, home of UM, and many members of the management team are alumni. The bank also recruits extensively from UM’s student population.
In March 2005, the BankUnited Center hosted the Havana Night Club show.
In April 2005, Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
performed at the BankUnited Center.
In October 2005, Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
performed at the BankUnited Center. One week later, the venue hosted an Audioslave
Audioslave
Audioslave was an American rock supergroup that formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001. It consisted of former Soundgarden lead singer/rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell and the former instrumentalists of Rage Against the Machine: Tom Morello , Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk...
concert with 30 Seconds to Mars
30 Seconds to Mars
30 Seconds to Mars is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1998. Since 2007, the band has consisted of actor Jared Leto , Shannon Leto and Tomo Miličević...
.
2006
In February 2006, the BankUnited Center hosted World Championship Boxing.In August 2006, Latin pop artist Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin
Enrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide...
taped his MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
video at the BankUnited Center
In November 2007, the BankUnited Center hosted a concert by the All-American Rejects.
2007
In January 2007, the BankUnited Center hosted concerts from John MayerJohn Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
and The Fray
The Fray
-Literature:*Fray, a phenomenon in Terry Pratchett's The Carpet People*Fray , a comic book series by Joss Whedon**Melaka Fray, titular character of the comic book series-Music:*"Fray", a song from the album 14 Shades of Grey by Staind...
.
In February 2007, the BankUnited Center hosted the Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group is an organization founded by Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton. The organization produces theatrical shows and concerts featuring popular music, comedy and multimedia; recorded music and scores for film and television; television appearances for shows such as The Tonight...
, as a part of their "Megastar" tour.
In April 2007, the BankUnited Center hosted the 2007 Billboard Latin Music Awards
Billboard Latin Music Awards
The Billboard Latin Music Awards grew out of the Billboard Music Awards program from Billboard Magazine, an industry publication charting the sales and radio airplay success of musical recordings. The awards began in 1990...
. Also in April, the Latin Grammy Awards
Latin Grammy Awards
A Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Unlike the regular Grammy Award which primarily honors music produced in the United States, the Latin Grammy honors works produced anywhere around the...
were held at the BankUnited Center and televised on Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
as well as a concert by MercyMe
MercyMe
MercyMe is an American Christian rock band founded in Greenville, Texas. The band consists of vocalist Bart Millard, keyboardist James Bryson, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul....
, later in the month.
In October 2007, Evanescence
Evanescence
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
performed at the BankUnited Center. Later in the month, the Newsboys
Newsboys
Newsboys are a Christian pop rock band founded in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Australia. They have released 15 studio albums, six of which have been certified gold...
performed at the venue as well.
In September and December 2007 Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
hosted a forums in Spanish moderated by Univision's anchors Jorge Ramos
Jorge Ramos
Jorge Ramos Ávalos is a Mexican-born naturalized American Journalist, anchor for Noticiero Univision and host of the Sunday morning news talk show Al Punto.-Career:...
and Maria Elena Salinas
María Elena Salinas
María Elena Salinas is the co-anchor of Noticiero Univision with Jorge Ramos, the most watched newscast by American Hispanics. She is considered one of the most recognized and influential female Hispanic journalists in the United States.Her parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico in...
. The forums were for Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls to discuss issues for Hispanic Americans.
2008
In 2008, the BankUnited Center celebrated its 5th Anniversary. The BankUnited Center also celebrated its 1,000,000th visitor.The rehearsals for the 2008 La Vida World Tour
La Vida World Tour
La Vida World Tour was a concert tour which began on March 5, 2008 in Uncasville, Connecticut and ended at the very famous Viña del Mar Int'l Song Festival in Chile on February 24, 2009 by Colombian rock musician Juanes in support of his 2007 album, La Vida... Es un Ratico sponsored by Sprint and...
by Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musician Juanes
Juanes
Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez , better known as Juanes is a Colombian musician who was a member of heavy metal band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards.Juanes has sold more than 13 million albums...
in support of his 2007 album, La Vida... Es un Ratico
La Vida... Es un Ratico
La Vida... es un Ratico is the fourth studio album by Colombian singer-songwriter Juanes, which was released on October 23, 2007.-Album history:...
were held here in February 2008.
The building also held the Elite XC presents Street Certified event featuring the Kimbo Slice
Kimbo Slice
Kevin Ferguson , better known as Kimbo Slice, is a Bahamian-American boxer, mixed martial artist and occasional actor...
/Tank Abbott
Tank Abbott
David Lee Abbott is an American mixed martial arts fighter and former professional wrestler. He has described his fighting style, which he developed brawling in the bars and streets of Huntington Beach, California, as "street fighting"...
fight and the Miami Freestyle Invasion. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
held a house show at the BankUnited Center on September 27, 2008
The building also was the site of rallies for 2008 Presidential Candidates Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
. The events, held on September 19th and November 2nd respectively, filled the building as the candidates made their push for the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
.