{{short description|Intercollegiate sports teams of Florida International University}} {{about|<!--Not used-->|the [[National Hockey League]] team|Florida Panthers}} {{More citations needed|date=July 2012}} {{Infobox college athletics | name = FIU Panthers | logo = FIU_primary_Panther_head_logo_adopted_2022.png | logo_width = 150 | university = [[Florida International University]] | association = NCAA | conference = [[Conference USA|CUSA]] (primary)<br/>[[American Athletic Conference|The American]] (men's soccer, swimming & diving) | division = [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] | subdivision = FBS | director = Scott Carr<ref name="Scott Carr New AD">{{cite web|url=https://news.fiu.edu/2021/fiu-hires-new-athletic-director|title=FIU selects Scott Carr as new athletic director|website=fiu.edu|date=November 30, 2021}}</ref> | location = [[Miami, Florida]] | first season = | teams = 18 | mens_teams = 7 | womens_teams = 11 | coed_teams = | stadium = [[Pitbull Stadium]] | basketballarena = [[Ocean Bank Convocation Center]] | baseballfield = [[FIU Baseball Stadium]] | softballstadium = Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium | soccerstadium = FIU Soccer Stadium | tenniscourt = FIU Tennis Courts | mascot = Roary the Panther | nickname = Panthers | fightsong = FIU Fight Song | pageurl = https://fiusports.com/ | ncaa titles = | indiv_relay ncaa champs = | altlogo = [[File:Florida International University FIU logo.svg|100px]] }}
The '''FIU Panthers''' are the athletic teams representing [[Florida International University]], an American public university located in [[Miami|Miami, Florida]]. The Panthers currently compete in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] athletics as members of [[Conference USA]]. The [[FIU Panthers men's soccer|men's soccer]] and swimming & diving teams compete in the [[American Athletic Conference]]. Until 2011, they were known as the '''FIU Golden Panthers'''.
== History and introduction == FIU's colors are navy blue and gold, and their mascot is the Panther (taken from the [[Florida panther]], an endangered species endemic to the nearby [[Everglades]]), which is embodied by a [[Florida panther|panther]] named Roary the Panther. The school's original nickname was the "Sunblazers", but it was changed in 1987 to the "Golden Panthers", with the word "Golden" officially dropped beginning with the 2010–11 school year.
[[File:CUSA logo in FIU Panthers colors.svg|thumb|left|170px|Conference USA logo in FIU's colors]] FIU is a member of the NCAA, participating in Division I, and is a member of [[Conference USA]]. FIU joined the Sun Belt Conference in 1998 having previously competed in the [[Atlantic Sun Conference|Trans America Athletic Conference]] (TAAC; now the Atlantic Sun Conference), from 1991 to 1998. They joined Conference USA in 2013.
The FIU Athletic Department has produced scores of professional and [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] athletes, including current players in [[Major League Baseball]], [[Major League Soccer]], the [[National Basketball Association]], the [[National Football League]], and in the [[Women's National Basketball Association]].
FIU's current athletic director is Scott Carr, who was hired on November 30, 2021. He most recently worked as deputy AD with the [[UCF Knights]], and also previously worked in executive athletic roles with the [[Auburn Tigers]] and [[Southern Miss Golden Eagles]].<ref name="Scott Carr New AD" />
===Conference affiliations=== {| class="wikitable" |- {{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=FIU Panthers|Division|Years|Conference affiliation}} |- | [[NCAA Division II]] || 1965–66 to 1987–88 || rowspan="2" | Independent<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-01-30/sports/8701070010_1_regents-florida-atlantic-division-i-athletics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025101857/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-01-30/sports/8701070010_1_regents-florida-atlantic-division-i-athletics |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |title=Regents Ok Fiu's Move To Division I – Sun Sentinel |publisher=Articles.sun-sentinel.com |date=1987-01-30 |access-date=2012-07-23}}</ref> |- | rowspan="4" | [[NCAA Division I]] || 1988–89 to 1990–91 |- | 1991–92 to 1997–98 || [[ASUN Conference|Trans America Athletic Conference]]<br />(now [[ASUN Conference|Atlantic Sun Conference]]) |- | 1998–99 to 2012–13 || [[Sun Belt Conference]] |- | 2013–14 to present || [[Conference USA]] (East) |}
==Sports sponsored== {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; clear:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em;" ! width= 150px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|FIU Panthers|border=1|color= white }}"| Men's sports ! width= 150px style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|FIU Panthers|border=1|color= white }}"| Women's sports |- | [[FIU Panthers baseball|Baseball]] || [[FIU Panthers women's basketball|Basketball]] |- | [[FIU Panthers men's basketball|Basketball]] || Beach volleyball |- | Cross country || Cross country |- | [[FIU Panthers football|Football]] || Golf |- | [[FIU Panthers men's soccer|Soccer]] || Soccer |- | [[FIU Panthers track and field|Track and field]]<sup>†</sup> || Softball |- | || Swimming and diving |- | || Tennis |- | || [[FIU Panthers track and field|Track and field]]{{sup|1}} |- | || Volleyball |- | colspan="2" style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|FIU Panthers}}" | {{small|{{sup|1}} – includes both indoor and outdoor}} |}
===Baseball=== {{main|FIU Panthers baseball}} [[File:Rice vs. FIU Baseball 5-20-23 (66).jpg|thumb|left|200px|Panthers baseball players during the 2023 season]] FIU's baseball team began play in 1973 as a Division II member and is one of the most successful programs in the school's history. The team has reached the post-season 14 times in school history, including nine times as a Division I program. The other five appearances came as a Division II program and included a Division II College World Series appearance.
Many players from past years have been drafted by [[Major League Baseball]] teams and have played in the majors. FIU's most notable baseball alumni is [[Mike Lowell]], former [[third baseman]] of the [[New York Yankees]], [[Florida Marlins]], and [[Boston Red Sox]]. Lowell was the 2007 [[World Series MVP Award|World Series MVP]]. [[Garrett Wittels]] finished the 2010 season with a 56-game [[hitting streak]], two hits shy of the [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] record, set the FIU season record for hits, was nominated for the [[Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award]] for his 2010 performance, won [[Sun Belt Conference]] Player of the Year honors, and was named a [[NCBWA]] and [[Louisville Slugger]]/TPX Preseason [[All-American]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite journal |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7712963/garrett-wittels-epic-hitting-streak-epic-fall-espn-magazine |author=Siobhan Morrissey|title=Where have you gone, Garrett Wittels?; The shortstop's epic hitting streak once thrilled MLB, until his epic fall |publisher=ESPN |date=August 8, 2012 |access-date=March 19, 2014}}</ref><ref name=pulls>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=5255104|title=Florida International's Garrett Wittels pulls within 2 of longest hit streak in FIU loss| date=June 6, 2010 |work=ESPN}}</ref><ref name=nyt>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/sports/baseball/03streak.html?_r=0|title=Hitting Streak Lifts Shadows Over a Campus| date=June 2, 2010 |author= Karen Crouse |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name=suns>{{cite web|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-garrett-wittels-cleared-to-play-pending-rape-charge-021611-story.html|author=Adam Beasley|title=Garrett Wittels: FIU baseball player cleared to play despite rape charge|date=February 16, 2011|work=Sun Sentinel}}</ref>
;Team honors:
* ''[[NCAA Division I Baseball Championship|NCAA Division I Super Regional]] Appearances (1):'' [[2001 NCAA Division I baseball tournament#Los Angeles Super Regional|2001]] * ''[[NCAA Division I Baseball Championship|NCAA Division I Regional]] Appearances (11):'' [[1991 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|1991]], [[1995 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|1995]], [[1997 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|1997]], [[1998 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|1998]], [[1999 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|1999]], [[2000 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|2000]], [[2001 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|2001]], [[2002 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|2002]], [[2010 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|2010]], [[2011 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|2011]], [[2015 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|2015]] * ''NCAA Division II [[College World Series]] (1):'' 1980 * ''[[NCAA Division II Baseball Championship|NCAA Division II Regional]] Appearances (5):'' 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982 * ''[[Conference USA Baseball Tournament|Conference USA tournament]] Champions (1):'' [[2015 Conference USA Baseball Tournament|2015]] * ''[[Sun Belt Baseball Tournament|Sun Belt Conference tournament]] champions (2):'' 1999, 2010 * ''[[Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Tournament|Trans America Athletic Conference tournament]] champions (2):'' 1991, 1998
===Men's basketball=== {{Main|FIU Panthers men's basketball}} [[File:UCLA basketball 08.jpg|thumb|250px|FIU at UCLA [[Pauley Pavilion]], 2008]]
The current head coach of the FIU men's basketball team is [[Joey Cantens]], who was hired after the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
FIU men's basketball team had its lone NCAA tournament appearance in the [[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1995 tournament]] under then Head Coach [[Bob Weltlich]]. FIU won the TAAC Basketball Tournament and in doing so earned an automatic bid for the NCAA tournament. FIU was seeded #16 and played the #1 seeded [[UCLA Bruins]] in the first round of the West Regional, which was played at the [[Taco Bell Arena]] in [[Boise, Idaho]]. The Panthers lost the game to the Bruins by the score of 92–56, being the first tournament win in UCLA's successful run to the National Championship that year.
FIU alumni who have played in the National Basketball Association include [[Carlos Arroyo]] and [[Raja Bell]].
;Team honors:
* ''[[NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship|NCAA tournament]] Appearances (1):'' [[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1995]] * ''[[Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament|Trans America Athletic Conference tournament]] champions (1):'' 1995 * ''Trans America Athletic Conference regular season champions (1):'' 1992–93
===Women's basketball=== {{main|FIU Panthers women's basketball}}
The women's basketball team plays their home games on-campus at the [[Ocean Bank Convocation Center]]. The current head coach is Jesyka Burks-Wiley, who won the Coach of the Year honor in Conference USA in the 2020–21 season.
;Team honors:
* ''[[NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship|NCAA Division I tournament]] Appearances (6):'' [[1994 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|1994]], [[1995 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|1995]], [[1997 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|1997]], [[1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|1998]], [[1999 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|1999]], [[2002 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|2002]] * ''[[Women's National Invitation Tournament|WNIT]] Appearances (7):'' 1992, 1993, 2001, 2003, 2006, [[2012 Women's National Invitation Tournament|2012]], [[2013 Women's National Invitation Tournament|2013]] * ''[[NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship|NCAA Division II tournament]] Appearances (3):'' 1983, 1986, 1987 * ''[[Sun Belt women's basketball tournament|Sun Belt Conference tournament]] champions (1):'' 2002 * ''Sun Belt Conference regular season champions (1):'' 2001–02 * ''[[Atlantic Sun Conference women's basketball tournament|Trans America Athletic Conference tournament]] champions (6):'' 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998 * ''Trans America Athletic Conference regular season champions (7):'' 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98 * ''New South Women's Athletic Conference regular season champions (2):'' 1988–89, 1989–90
===Cross country=== ;Men's team honors:
* ''Trans America Athletic Conference Champions (4):'' 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
;Women's team honors:
* ''Trans America Athletic Conference Champions (5):'' 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997 * ''New South Women's Athletic Conference Champions (2):'' 1988, 1990
;Men's individual honors:
* ''NCAA Division I South All-Region (2):'' Gabriel Rodriguez, 1998, 1999
;Women's individual honors:
* ''NCAA Division I South All-Region (1):'' Ingrid Odermatt, 1997
===Football=== {{Main|FIU Panthers football}} [[File:FIU Stadium.JPG|right|250px|thumb|The Panthers play at the on-campus [[Pitbull Stadium]].]] [[File:FIU Stadium2.JPG|right|thumb|250px|FIU fans at a football game at [[Riccardo Silva Stadium]].]] The FIU [[FIU Panthers football|Panthers football team]] competes in the NCAA FBS [[Football Bowl Subdivision]] (formerly known as Division I-A), the highest level in intercollegiate football, and is a member of [[Conference USA]]. They are led by head coach [[Willie Simmons (American football)|Willie Simmons]] and play at [[Pitbull Stadium]] on FIU's Westchester campus. The team began playing in 2002 as a member of NCAA Division I-AA, now known as the NCAA FCS [[Football Championship Subdivision]]. Three years later, the FIU Athletics Department decided to move the program up to Division I-A. FIU became the fastest school to make such a move from a program's inception.
On August 29, 2002, the program played its first game at home against [[Saint Peter's College, New Jersey|Saint Peter's College]] in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,314. FIU defeated St. Peter's by the score of 27–3.
The FIU football team's main rivals are the [[Florida Atlantic Owls]] and the [[Miami Hurricanes football|University of Miami Hurricanes]]. Both FIU and Florida Atlantic play annually in a game known as the [[Shula Bowl]]. The game is named after former [[Miami Dolphins]] head coach and Football Hall of Fame inductee [[Don Shula]]. The Panthers and Hurricanes last played on November 23, 2019, at [[LoanDepot Park]], with FIU defeating UM 30–24.
;Team honors:
* ''Sun Belt Conference Champions (1):'' [[2010 FIU Panthers football team|2010]] * ''Bowl appearances (5)'': 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019
===Men's soccer=== {{Main|FIU Panthers men's soccer}} FIU has won two [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] [[NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship|national championships]] in men's soccer. In 1982, FIU beat [[Southern Connecticut State University|Southern Connecticut State]] by the score of 2–1, to win the school's first national title in any sport. Two years later the Panthers won their second national title beating [[Seattle Pacific University]] 1–0. To date these are the only national titles the university has achieved in athletic competition.
The men's soccer team competes in [[American Athletic Conference|The American]]. The team previously played in the [[Atlantic Soccer Conference]] from 2000 to 2004 and the Trans America Athletic Conference (now known as the [[Atlantic Sun Conference]]) from 1991 to 1999.
FIU has regularly qualified for the NCAA tournament in men's soccer, both as Division I and Division II program. In addition to the national championships achieved by the team as a Division II program, the team reached the [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] championship game in 1996, losing to [[St. John's Red Storm men's soccer|St. John's University]] 4–1.
Recently, two new soccer fields were finished in the summer of 2007 on the northwest side of campus. These fields will complement the other two, making four soccer fields for use by both the men and women's soccer teams, as well as practice fields for the football team.
;Team honors:
* ''Division I national runner-up (1):'' [[1996 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|1996]] * ''[[NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|NCAA Division I tournament]] Appearances (8):'' [[1991 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|1991]], [[1994 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|1994]], [[1996 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|1996]], [[1997 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|1997]], [[2001 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|2001]], [[2002 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|2002]], [[2003 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|2003]], [[2004 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|2004]], [[2015 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship|2015]] * ''Division II National Champions (2):'' [[1982 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship|1982]], [[1984 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship|1984]] * ''Division II national runner-up (2):'' [[1980 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship|1980]], 1985 * ''[[NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship|NCAA Division II tournament]] Appearances (8):'' [[1977 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship|1977]], [[1978 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship|1978]], [[1979 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship|1979]], [[1980 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship|1980]], [[1982 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship|1982]], [[1983 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship|1983]], [[1984 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship|1984]], 1985 * ''Conference – USA Champions (1):'' 2015 * ''Atlantic Soccer Conference Champions (4):'' 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 * ''Trans America Athletic Conference Champions (1):'' 1991
===Women's soccer=== The women's soccer team competes in [[Conference USA]] after previously being unaffiliated from 1985 to 1999 and a member of the [[Sun Belt Conference]] from 2000 through 2012.
;Team honors:
* ''[[NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship|NCAA tournament]] Appearances (3):'' [[1993 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament|1993]], 2011, [[2024 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament|2024]] * ''Conference – USA Champions (1): 2024'' * ''Sun Belt Conference tournament champions (2):'' 2000, 2011<br />''Sun Belt Conference regular season champions (2):'' 2000, 2009
===Softball=== FIU's softball team competes in [[Conference USA]] after previously being a member of the [[Atlantic Sun Conference]] in 1998, Independent from 1999 to 2000, and of the [[Sun Belt Conference]] from 2001 through 2012. The team plays its home games at Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium.
;Team honors
* ''[[NCAA Division I Softball Championship|NCAA tournament]] Appearances (3):'' 2003, [[2010 NCAA Division I softball tournament|2010]], [[2017 NCAA Division I softball tournament|2017]]
===Swimming and diving=== FIU's Swimming & Diving team competes in [[Conference USA]] after previously being a member of the [[Sun Belt Conference]] from 2003–2004 through 2012–2013.
;Team honors:
* ''Conference – USA Conference Champions (6):'' 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
===Track & Field=== {{main article|FIU Panthers track and field}} FIU's Track & Field teams compete in [[Conference USA]] after previously being a member of the [[Atlantic Sun Conference]] in 1998. ; Individual honors: * ''NCAA D1 Individual National Champion - Sheri-Ann Brooks (2005 Women's Outdoor 200m Dash)'' * FIU has had four Olympians, including three-time Olympic hurdler Ronald Forbes (Cayman Islands), Aubrey Smith (Canada), 2004 Gold Medalist Tayna Lawrence (Jamaica) and Ena Guevara-Mora (Peru).
===Volleyball===
FIU's indoor and beach volleyball teams both play in or at the site of the indoor arena, with the indoor program coached by Flavia Siqueira and the beach team coached by Lauren DeTurk. The indoor volleyball program was established in 1974, while in 2013 the beach volleyball team became the newest sport at FIU. The indoor squad plays their matches at the [[Ocean Bank Convocation Center]] and the beach squad plays primarily on sand courts right by the arena.
;Volleyball team honors:
* ''[[NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship|NCAA tournament]] Appearances (3):'' [[2001 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament|2001]], [[2008 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament|2008]], [[2009 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament|2009]] * ''Sun Belt Conference tournament champions(1):'' 2001 * ''Sun Belt Conference regular season champions (3):'' 2006, 2008, 2009 * ''New South Women's Athletic Conference tournament champions (1):'' 1990
;Sand volleyball team honors:
* ''[[American Volleyball Coaches Association|AVCA national championships]] Appearances (2):'' 2014, 2015
==Notable non-varsity sports==
===Rugby=== Founded in 1989,<ref>[http://www.fiurugby.com/index_files/Page1943.htm Club History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813175423/http://fiurugby.com/index_files/Page1943.htm |date=2015-08-13 }}. Accessed October 14, 2015.</ref> FIU Rugby competes in the South Independent Rugby Conference against in-state Florida rivals such as [[University of South Florida|USF]] and [[University of Central Florida|UCF]]. FIU Rugby has improved since hiring Head Coach Ronny Suarez in late spring 2015, defeating two-time D1-AA national champions Central Florida in October 2015.<ref>[https://www.goffrugbyreport.com/news/fiu-downs-rivals-thinks-big "FIU Downs Rivals, Thinks Big"], Goff Rugby Report, October 14, 2015.</ref>
=== Esports === Since the founding of the FIU Esports Department in the fall of 2022<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kiah |first=Clara-Meretan |title=Game on! Esports takes FIU by storm |url=https://news.fiu.edu/2023/game-on-esports-takes-fiu-by-storm |access-date=2025-12-04 |website=FIU News |language=en}}</ref> several non-varsity teams have accomplished notable wins in their respective tournaments and conferences. The FIU [[Marvel Rivals]] team were the winners of the [[Eastern College Athletic Conference|ECAC]] Collegiate Open in spring of 2025, going 3-1 against Ohio State.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ECAC Esports $1000 Marvel Rivals Collegiate Open {{!}} ECAC |url=https://ecac.ggcompetition/2049 |access-date=2025-12-04 |website=ecac.ggcompetition |language=en}}</ref> FIU's [[League of Legends]] team won the [[National Association of Collegiate Esports|NACE]] Club Championship of fall 2025 with a 2-1 win versus Baylor University.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2025 |title=NACE Leaguespot |url=https://nace.leaguespot.gg/seasons/f118939a-5d3d-45e2-8a75-fb02304636a8 |access-date=December 4, 2025}}</ref> The FIU ''Mario Kart'' team has won two national championships in the ECAC partnered Collegiate Karting League, one in spring of 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Tournaments {{!}} MKCentral |url=https://mkcentral.com/en-us/tournaments/details?id=490 |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2025-12-04 |website=mkcentral.com}}</ref> for ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' and another for the game ''[[Mario Kart World]]'' as a merged team with [[Miami Dade College|Miami Dade]] and [[Warner University]] in fall of 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tournaments {{!}} MKCentral |url=https://mkcentral.com/en-us/tournaments/details?id=603 |access-date=2025-12-04 |website=mkcentral.com}}</ref>
==Facilities== [[File:FIU Rec Center.JPG|200px|thumb|right|FIU Recreation Center]] [[File:FIU Arena, Florida International University.jpg|200px|thumb|right|[[Ocean Bank Convocation Center]], home of the Panther volleyball and basketball teams]] [[File:FIUBaseballA.JPG|200px|thumb|right| Mike Martinez<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fiusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=49061&SPID=4760&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=1627006&Q_SEASON=2010 |title=Mike Martinez Bio – FIU Athletics |publisher=Fiusports.com |access-date=2012-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719083709/http://www.fiusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=49061&SPID=4760&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=1627006&Q_SEASON=2010 |archive-date=2012-07-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> batting for the Panthers at [[FIU Baseball Stadium]], home of the Panther baseball team]]
=== Pitbull Stadium === {{Main|Pitbull Stadium}}
Pitbull Stadium was originally opened in 1995 as a standard [[track and field athletics]] stadium, with mobile seats for the football end zones and an artificial turf infield. In 2007, the stadium was closed and converted into a dedicated football stadium, with the track removed, the original turf replaced with [[FieldTurf]], and permanent stands providing 20,000 seats. It was re-opened in time for the 2008 college football season. Further improvements to FIU Stadium are ongoing, with a future capacity target of 45,000 seats.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}
During Pitbull Stadium's reconstruction, the Panthers football team played at the [[Miami Orange Bowl]] in the 2007 season, and actually won the final college football game played at the stadium before it was demolished to make way for the new [[Marlins Park]].
===Ocean Bank Convocation Center=== {{Main|Ocean Bank Convocation Center}}
Ocean Bank Convocation Center (previously known as Sunblazer Arena, Golden Panther Arena, Pharmed Arena, U.S. Century Bank Arena, and FIU Arena), is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena that opened on February 1, 1986. The FIU Panthers' basketball and volleyball teams play there. 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 eventually renamed on September 1, 2004, in honor of Pharmed Group after a US$1 million donation was made to the FIU athletic department by Pharmed owners Jorge and Carlos de Cespedes. After Pharmed was liquidated in 2008 the arena name was briefly changed to FIU Arena. Later in 2008, the name was changed to U.S. Century Bank Arena when [[U.S. Century Bank|the local bank of that name]] acquired naming rights. The name reverted to the FIU Arena name in 2014, but was renamed the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in January 2018.
Other events such as MTV's Campus Invasion, the Miss Universe Contest, National Political Rallys, music concerts, ceremonies and fairs are also held year-round at the arena.
===FIU Baseball Stadium=== {{Main|FIU Baseball Stadium}}
FIU Baseball Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Modesto A. Maidique Campus of Florida International University in Westchester, Florida. It is used as the home venue of the university's baseball team. The facility opened on January 26, 1996, with an FIU victory against Bethune–Cookman, 1–0. The baseball team played its 2000 season at the Homestead Sports Complex in Homestead, Florida while the facility underwent an expansion.
In 2005, the facility also hosted the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons cat}} * {{official website}}
{{Florida International University}} {{Navboxes |titlestyle = {{CollegePrimaryStyle|FIU Panthers|color=white}} |list = {{Conference USA navbox}} {{American Athletic Conference navbox}} {{South Florida Sports}} {{Division1floridacolleges}} {{Florida College Sports}} }}
[[Category:FIU Panthers| ]]