Ocean Bank Convocation Center

Ocean Bank Convocation Center (formerly known as Sunblazer Arena, Golden Panther Arena, Pharmed Arena, U.S. Century Bank Arena, and FIU Arena) is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena at Florida International University in University Park, Miami, Florida. It was opened on February 1, 1986, and is home to the FIU Panthers basketball and volleyball teams. It was originally named Sunblazer Arena, but was renamed Golden Panther Arena when FIU's athletic teams changed their nickname from Sunblazers to Golden Panthers in 1987. It was renamed Pharmed Arena in 2004, and then was briefly named FIU Arena in 2008 before being renamed to U.S. Century Bank Arena. The facility reverted to the FIU Arena name again from 2014 to 2018 before being renamed the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in 2018.[3]

Ocean Bank Convocation Center
Former namesSunblazer Arena (1986–87)
Golden Panther Arena (1987–2004)
Pharmed Arena (2004–08)
FIU Arena (2008, 2014–18)
U.S. Century Bank Arena (2008-14)
Address11200 SW 8th St
Miami, Florida
33199-2516
LocationUniversity Park, Miami, Florida
Coordinates25°45′24″N 80°22′46″W
OwnerFlorida International University
Capacity5,000
SurfaceWood
Construction
Broke ground1983
OpenedFebruary 1, 1986
Construction cost$7 million[1]
($20.6 million in 2022 dollars[2])
Tenants
FIU Panthers (NCAA) (1986–present)

The 94,000-square-foot (8,700 m2) arena contains a 19,000-square-foot (1,800 m2) wooden arena floor. It is also used for banquets, conventions, concerts, trade shows, and graduations including FIU's own commencement ceremonies.

Media during the Isiah Thomas press conference at the U.S. Century Bank Arena.

The main court is a Cincinnati Robbins perma-cushion maple wood basketball floor, made up of some 19,000 square feet (1,800 m2) of wood. Four retractable basketball backboards allow for the floor to be divided into two practice courts, while Hydra Goal II portable basketball standards are used for intercollegiate competition. Nevco scoreboards are found at either end.

Support areas include an equipment room, athletic training room, 876 lockers in six different, offices and boardrooms for FIU athletic administrators, and full-service dressing rooms. Academic space in the building includes three classrooms, as well as physiology and kinesiology laboratories.

In late 2008, U.S. Century Bank bought naming rights to the arena, changing the arena's name to U.S. Century Bank Arena. The arena was scheduled to undergo a $5 million renovation beginning in the summer or fall of 2010, with a completion date of early 2011.

In January 2015, the Ocean Bank Convocation Center hosted the Miss Universe 2014 pageant.

On January 26, 2019, the arena broke its attendance record for a basketball game with 4,710 spectators for a game between FIU and their local rivals Florida Atlantic.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Basketball Fever Gives Sunblazers Hope for Future". Miami Herald. November 16, 1986. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  2. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  3. "Ocean Bank Convocation Center at FIU Dedicated". CNBC. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  4. "A record home crowd watched the FIU Panthers basketball. Up next: Southern Miss". Miami Herald. January 27, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
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