Miami Marine Stadium restoration advances with proposed operator contract and potential August 2026 city referendum

A long-closed waterfront landmark returns to Miami’s policy agenda

Miami Marine Stadium, the Virginia Key venue built in 1963 and closed since 1992, is moving through a new decision phase that could determine whether restoration and regular programming finally proceed after decades of stalled efforts. City officials are considering a near-term management agreement paired with a proposed voter referendum that would authorize a longer operating term and define key financial terms tied to reopening.

The structure, known for its over-water cantilevered seating and role as a purpose-built powerboat racing stadium, has remained largely unused for more than three decades. While the facility became a prominent preservation priority, the central challenge has been aligning a viable operating plan with the capital costs required to restore and maintain the site.

What is being proposed now

Items scheduled for city consideration would establish a management framework for the stadium and nearby city assets. The proposal centers on appointing a private operator to manage event programming and site operations in the short term, while also setting the stage for a longer agreement that could extend up to 40 years if voters approve it in a special election planned for August 2026.

Under the framework being discussed, the operator would manage Miami Marine Stadium along with nearby venues and park facilities on Virginia Key. The long-term arrangement would be subject to voter authorization and would outline how event-related revenue, sponsorship income, and defined management fees would be handled. The proposal also includes a capital contribution component intended to support restoration costs.

Restoration work completed and what remains unresolved

While the full renovation has not begun, the city has completed a discrete set of structural reinforcement repairs. Phase I infrastructure work—focused on piles and caps that support the stadium—was completed in January 2024. The city has also described completed design and permitting work for future renovation plans, while continuing business analysis related to future operations.

Key questions remain open as the city approaches a potential referendum: the total restoration budget and funding stack, the scope and timing of construction beyond the completed infrastructure work, and how ongoing operating costs would be covered once the venue reopens.

What to watch next

• City commission action on the near-term management agreement and the ballot language.
• Confirmation of a special election timeline for August 2026 and the final contract term submitted to voters.
• Publication of updated cost estimates, restoration phasing, and a project schedule tied to procurement and construction.
• Details on how sponsorships, naming rights, and other non-city funds would be structured to support restoration.

Miami Marine Stadium’s next steps hinge on formalizing an operator role and defining a long-term financial structure that can support restoration and sustained public use.

If approved and advanced to voters, the referendum would represent a major procedural milestone for a site that has seen repeated starts and pauses since its 1992 closure.