The Vote That Could Transform Virginia Key: Miami Marine Stadium's August Referendum

• Miami residents will head to the polls on August 18, 2026, to vote on the future of the Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key, a waterfront landmark that has sat vacant for more than three decades since Hurricane Andrew shuttered it in 1992.
• The referendum asks voters to approve a management contract amendment allowing Global Spectrum L.P., a subsidiary of Oak View Group, alongside local partner Breakwater Hospitality Group, to manage the Miami Marine Stadium for up to 40 years, enabling its restoration and reopening.
• Under the proposed agreement, the city would receive 93% of gross revenue from events and 85% from sponsorship income, with up to $10 million earmarked for restoration costs, followed by a special bond of $65 to $85 million for a full stadium restoration.

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The Vote

Miami's City Commission voted unanimously to put the question to residents. On the August 18 ballot, item #172 asks voters to approve a charter amendment allowing a long-term management agreement on city-owned waterfront land, clearing the way for Global Spectrum L.P. and local partner Breakwater Hospitality Group to take over the Marine Stadium for up to 40 years.

City Commissioner Damian Pardo, who brought the deal to the Commission, framed the contract's first phase as the groundwork for everything after it. The first five years, he said, are built around stabilizing revenue so the city can issue the bond needed for a full restoration.

Under the terms, the city collects 93% of gross event revenue and 85% of sponsorship income. Up to $10 million would go toward initial restoration costs, with a special bond of $65 million to $85 million funding the complete rebuild once the venue is generating income.

Thirty-Three Years Vacant

The stadium opened in December 1963 on Virginia Key, designed by Cuban exile architect Hilario Candela. Its cantilevered concrete roof spans 326 feet, 99 meters with no supporting columns, a record for its type when it was built. Powerboat races, concerts, and waterfront gatherings filled the venue for nearly three decades until Hurricane Andrew forced its closure in 1992.

It has sat empty since. The National Trust for Historic Preservation named it one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2009, and it has remained a rallying point for preservationists and residents pushing to bring it back.

The Case for Yes

Advocates frame the vote as a question of public access to Biscayne Bay, whether the waterfront stays a shared civic space or tilts further toward private residences and exclusive venues. A restored stadium, they argue, would host concerts, festivals, and everyday community use while adding to Miami-Dade's hospitality and tourism base.

"There's nothing like it in the world; it would be an amazing outdoor venue that would bring joy to residents; it's a landmark, a symbol of Miami."

That's Don Worth, a longtime advocate for the stadium's preservation.

How to Vote

The deadline to register for the referendum is July 20, and early voting will take place from August 3 to 16. City of Miami residents can vote yes on item #172 on August 18. Those wishing to request a vote-by-mail ballot can call 305-499-8444. More information is available at bringbackmarinestadium.com. The referendum represents a defining moment for Miami's waterfront — a chance to restore a historic landmark and reimagine it as an active civic hub where culture, entertainment and community can thrive for generations to come.