The James L. Knight Center is a contemporary entertainment and convention complex located in Downtown Miami, Florida. Located within the Miami Central Business District, the venue opened in 1982. The complex is named after famed newspaper publisher, James L. Knight. Since its opening, the complex has hosted many business, entertainment and political events. Annually, it hosts Miami Dade College graduation ceremonies. It also hosted Miss Universe in 1984 and 1985, Miss USA in 1986 and Miss Teen USA in 1985 and the OTI Festival in 1989.
The complex originally was built to be an exhibition hall for the downtown Miami area, to attract business conferences, trade shows and conventions. Previous conventions were held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. However, the business atmosphere for Miami Beach began to decline. City officials saw this as an opportunity to claim the market for the blossoming downtown business district.[1] The space, known as James L. Knight Convention Center, was the project of the City of Miami.[2] During its construction, the University of Miami sought a sports arena for its revitalized basketball program. Newspaper publisher James L. Knight donated over one million dollars towards the cost of the arena.[3] The space became known as the University of Miami Auditorium.
Along with the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the complex opened October 2, 1982, to the public. Although this venture was promising for the city government, it proved to be very costly. Although the center hosted many events, it was not able to draw large convention crowds due to its limited size.[4] The venue began to accumulate debt for the county and city officials were unsure of how to solve the problem. Taxes were increased to handle the $5 million annual operating costs and debt for the venue.[5] In 1983, the FIU Sunblazers men's and women's basketball team used the UM Auditorium until the completion of the Sunblazer Arena in 1986.[6] Shortly after, the newly formed Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team occupied the auditorium and the center was revitalized.[7]
To meet demand, the city looked to expand the Knight Center to be used for large conventions, which would not only gain higher revenue for the county, but also solve the city's growing unemployment issue.[8] Concurrently, the University of Miami were also looking to build upon the athletic success of the auditorium by adding a public meeting space and lecture hall.[9] During this time, the auditorium hosted many events, including the NWA Wrestling's Clash of the Champions televised event in June 1988 and two concert appearances for the band R.E.M.[10]
The Knight Center became used primarily for concerts when the Hurricanes moved into Miami Arena in 1988, and became the original home of the annual Premios Lo Nuestro ceremony in the 1990s, remaining until the ceremony moved into the newly completed Waterfront Theater at American Airlines Arena in 2000.
In February 1994 the game show Wheel of Fortune taped episodes at the Knight Center.[11] 7 years later in November 2001 Wheel of Fortune would again tape at the Knight Center, however the audience size was reduced following the September 11 Attacks.[12]
On July 7, 2021, professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) hosted a special episode of their weekly television show AEW Dynamite called Road Rager at the arena.[13][14] AEW would return to the Knight Center in October 2021 to tape another episode of Dynamite and two episodes of its other weekly television show, AEW Rampage.[15][16][17]
Facilitiesedit
Miami Convention Center
James L. Knight Center Theater (formerly the James L. Knight Center from 1982 to 2013)
^Wheel of Fortune (Monday, November 5, 2001). Youtube.
^Gagnon, Joshua (June 30, 2021). "Andrade In-Ring Debut, Title Match Set for AEW Dynamite: Road Rager". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
^Gagnon, Joshua (July 7, 2021). "AEW Dynamite Road Rager Preview: Street Fight, Strap Match". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
^Coder, Brie (October 15, 2021). "AEW Rampage Preview (10/15): CM Punk in Action, Danielson Vs. Suzuki on the "Buy In"". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
^Ounpraseuth, Jason (October 16, 2021). "AEW Saturday Night Dynamite Results: New AAA Tag Champions, Bryan Danielson Vs. Bobby Fish". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
^Coder, Brie (October 22, 2021). "AEW Rampage Preview (10/22): PAC vs. Andrade El Idolo II, women's Title Defense, more". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
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The James L Knight Center is a contemporary entertainment and convention complex located in Downtown Miami Florida Located within the Miami Central Business District the venue opened in 1982 The complex is named after famed newspaper publisher James L Knight Since its opening the complex has hosted many business entertainment and political events Annually it hosts Miami Dade College graduation ceremonies It also hosted Miss Universe in 1984 and 1985 Miss USA in 1986 and Miss Teen USA in 1985 and the OTI Festival in 1989 James L Knight CenterAddress400 SE Second AvenueMiami Florida 33131LocationDowntown MiamiCoordinates25 46 15 N 80 11 28 W 25 77083 N 80 19111 W 25 77083 80 19111OwnerCity of MiamiOperatorASM GlobalOpenedOctober 1982Renovated1997 2005Expanded1986Construction cost 10 millionFormer namesJames L Knight Convention Center 1982 86 James L Knight International Center 1986 2013 Classroom style seating117 Miami Lecture Hall Theatre seating4 569 James L Knight Center Theater 3 200 Riverfront Exhibition Hall 444 Ashe Auditorium Enclosed space Exhibit hall floor28 000 sqft Miami Convention Center WebsiteOfficial Website Contents 1 History 2 Facilities 3 Location 4 Venue Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editThe complex originally was built to be an exhibition hall for the downtown Miami area to attract business conferences trade shows and conventions Previous conventions were held at the Miami Beach Convention Center However the business atmosphere for Miami Beach began to decline City officials saw this as an opportunity to claim the market for the blossoming downtown business district 1 The space known as James L Knight Convention Center was the project of the City of Miami 2 During its construction the University of Miami sought a sports arena for its revitalized basketball program Newspaper publisher James L Knight donated over one million dollars towards the cost of the arena 3 The space became known as the University of Miami Auditorium Along with the Hyatt Regency Hotel the complex opened October 2 1982 to the public Although this venture was promising for the city government it proved to be very costly Although the center hosted many events it was not able to draw large convention crowds due to its limited size 4 The venue began to accumulate debt for the county and city officials were unsure of how to solve the problem Taxes were increased to handle the 5 million annual operating costs and debt for the venue 5 In 1983 the FIU Sunblazers men s and women s basketball team used the UM Auditorium until the completion of the Sunblazer Arena in 1986 6 Shortly after the newly formed Miami Hurricanes men s basketball team occupied the auditorium and the center was revitalized 7 To meet demand the city looked to expand the Knight Center to be used for large conventions which would not only gain higher revenue for the county but also solve the city s growing unemployment issue 8 Concurrently the University of Miami were also looking to build upon the athletic success of the auditorium by adding a public meeting space and lecture hall 9 During this time the auditorium hosted many events including the NWA Wrestling s Clash of the Champions televised event in June 1988 and two concert appearances for the band R E M 10 The Knight Center became used primarily for concerts when the Hurricanes moved into Miami Arena in 1988 and became the original home of the annual Premios Lo Nuestro ceremony in the 1990s remaining until the ceremony moved into the newly completed Waterfront Theater at American Airlines Arena in 2000 In February 1994 the game show Wheel of Fortune taped episodes at the Knight Center 11 7 years later in November 2001 Wheel of Fortune would again tape at the Knight Center however the audience size was reduced following the September 11 Attacks 12 On July 7 2021 professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling AEW hosted a special episode of their weekly television show AEW Dynamite called Road Rager at the arena 13 14 AEW would return to the Knight Center in October 2021 to tape another episode of Dynamite and two episodes of its other weekly television show AEW Rampage 15 16 17 Facilities editMiami Convention Center James L Knight Center Theater formerly the James L Knight Center from 1982 to 2013 Riverfront Exhibition Hall North Hall Central Hall South Hall Riverwalk amp Dockage Miami Conference Center Ashe Auditorium Miami Lecture Hall Hyatt Regency Hotel Regency Ballroom Riverwalk Cafe Riverwalk Deli Pure VerdeLocation editThe complex is located along the Miami River near Bayfront Park Also in the area is Mary Brickell Village Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and New World School of the Arts The complex is serviced by the Knight Center station for the Metromover Venue Gallery edit nbsp James L Knight Center Theater Front View nbsp James L Knight Center Theater Floor View nbsp James L Knight Center Theater Lobby nbsp Ashe Auditorium at the James L Knight Center nbsp Ashe Auditorium at the James L Knight Center nbsp Ashe Auditorium Lobby at the James L Knight Center nbsp Riverwalk amp Dockage View at the James L Knight Center nbsp Riverwalk amp Dockage View at the James L Knight Center nbsp Riverwalk amp Dockage at the James L Knight Center nbsp Riverfront Hall at James L Knight Center Miami Convention Center nbsp Riverfront Hall at James L Knight Center Miami Convention Center nbsp Miami Lecture Hall at the James L Knight Center nbsp Miami Lecture Hall at the James L Knight CenterSee also editList of convention centers in the United StatesReferences edit Knight Center a costly dream Miami Herald 1999 07 04 Brubaker Dale 1982 10 09 This is the magic of Miami The Miami News Retrieved 8 December 2010 James L Knight Miami Herald 1991 02 06 Local rivalries spell trouble in convention city The Miami Herald 1983 02 10 Join the Consortium Miami Herald 1984 09 13 FIU plays Knight Center opener Miami Herald 1983 12 15 Otterson Chuck 1983 10 13 Basketball Returns to Miami in 1985 The Palm Beach Post Retrieved 8 December 2010 Lynch Ray 1986 01 07 5 000 jobs foreseen in exhibit hall plan The Miami News UM Put new hall near Knight Center Miami Herald 1986 01 16 Gleason Holly 1986 11 25 R E M improves concert presence The Palm Beach Post Retrieved 8 December 2010 Scott McKenzie Wheel of Fortune Youtube Wheel of Fortune Monday November 5 2001 Youtube Gagnon Joshua June 30 2021 Andrade In Ring Debut Title Match Set for AEW Dynamite Road Rager Wrestling Inc Retrieved December 16 2021 Gagnon Joshua July 7 2021 AEW Dynamite Road Rager Preview Street Fight Strap Match Wrestling Inc Retrieved December 16 2021 Coder Brie October 15 2021 AEW Rampage Preview 10 15 CM Punk in Action Danielson Vs Suzuki on the Buy In Wrestling Inc Retrieved December 16 2021 Ounpraseuth Jason October 16 2021 AEW Saturday Night Dynamite Results New AAA Tag Champions Bryan Danielson Vs Bobby Fish Wrestling Inc Retrieved December 16 2021 Coder Brie October 22 2021 AEW Rampage Preview 10 22 PAC vs Andrade El Idolo II women s Title Defense more Wrestling Inc Retrieved December 16 2021 External links editPreceded byKiel Auditorium nbsp St Louis MO Miss Universe venue1984 1985 Succeeded byAtlapa Convention Centre nbsp Panama City Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Knight Center Complex amp oldid 1191169872, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
