{{Short description|Venue in Miami, Florida, United States}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = James L. Knight Center | native_name = | native_name_lang = | former_names = James L. Knight Convention Center <small>(1982–86)</small><br />James L. Knight International Center <small>(1986–2013)</small> | logo_image = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | image = James L. Knight Center Logo.png | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|25|46|15|N|80|11|28|W|region:US-FL_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
| address = 400 SE Second Avenue | location = [[Miami, Florida]], U.S. | owner = [[City of Miami, Florida|City of Miami]] | operator = [[Anschutz Entertainment Group|ASM Global]] | opened = {{start date and age|1982|10|2}} | renovated = 1997, 2005 | expanded = 1986 | cost = ~$10 million | tenants = [[Miami Hurricanes]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (1985–88)<br>[[FIU Panthers]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (1983–86) | website = {{URL|jlkc.com}} }}
The '''James L. Knight Center''' is a contemporary entertainment and convention complex located in [[Greater Downtown Miami|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 1989]]. Most recently, the CONMEBOL hosted the draw for the 2024 Copa America™ Group Stage at the James L. Knight Center.
==History== The complex originally was built to be an [[exhibition hall]] for the downtown Miami area, to attract [[Convention (meeting)|business conferences]], [[Trade fair|trade shows]] and conventions. Previous conventions were held at the [[Miami Beach Convention Center]]. However, the business atmosphere for [[Miami Beach, Florida|Miami Beach]] began to decline. City officials saw this as an opportunity to claim the market for the blossoming downtown business district.<ref>{{cite news |title=Knight Center a costly dream |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=1999-07-04 }}</ref> The space, known as '''James L. Knight Convention Center''', was the project of the City of Miami.<ref>{{cite news |title=This is the magic of Miami |author=Brubaker, Dale |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K7YlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Q_MFAAAAIBAJ&dq=james%20knight%20center%20history&pg=2166%2C2428676 |newspaper=The Miami News |date=1982-10-09 |access-date=8 December 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=James L. Knight |newspaper=Miami Herald |date= 1991-02-06}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Local rivalries spell trouble in convention city |newspaper=The Miami Herald |date=1983-02-10 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Join the Consortium |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=1984-09-13 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=FIU plays Knight Center opener |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=1983-12-15 }}</ref> Shortly after, the newly reestablished [[Miami Hurricanes men's basketball]] team occupied the auditorium and the center was revitalized.<ref>{{cite news |title=Basketball Returns to Miami in 1985 |author=Otterson, Chuck |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JgItAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8M4FAAAAIBAJ&dq=james%20knight%20center&pg=4767%2C1462484 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|date=1983-10-13 |access-date=8 December 2010}}</ref>
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 city, but also solve the city's growing unemployment issue.<ref>{{cite news |title= 5,000 jobs foreseen in exhibit hall plan.|author=Lynch, Ray |newspaper=The Miami News |date=1986-01-07 }}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite news |title=UM: Put new hall near Knight Center |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=1986-01-16 }}</ref> 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.]]<ref>{{cite news |title=R.E.M. improves concert presence |author=Gleason, Holly |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kG8vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z9sFAAAAIBAJ&dq=james%20knight%20center&pg=1012%2C4644227 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |date=1986-11-25 |access-date=8 December 2010}}</ref>
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 (American game show)|''Wheel of Fortune'']] taped episodes at the Knight Center.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL2NPakWqGo|title= Scott McKenzie Wheel of Fortune|publisher=Youtube}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite AV media|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzfWZBjN9MI|title=Wheel of Fortune (Monday, November 5, 2001)|publisher=Youtube}}</ref>
On July 7, 2021, professional wrestling promotion [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW) hosted a special episode of their weekly television show ''[[AEW Dynamite]]'' called [[AEW Road Rager|Road Rager]] at the arena.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gagnon|first=Joshua|date=June 30, 2021|title=Andrade In-Ring Debut, Title Match Set for AEW Dynamite: Road Rager|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/06/andrade-in-ring-debut-title-match-set-for-aew-dynamite-road-rager/|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=[[Wrestling Inc.]]|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gagnon|first=Joshua|date=July 7, 2021|title=AEW Dynamite Road Rager Preview: Street Fight, Strap Match|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/07/aew-dynamite-road-rager-preview-street-fight-strap-match/|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=[[Wrestling Inc.]]|language=en-us}}</ref> 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]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coder|first=Brie|date=October 15, 2021|title=AEW Rampage Preview (10/15): CM Punk in Action, Danielson Vs. Suzuki on the "Buy In"|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/10/aew-rampage-preview-10-15-six-total-matches-set-for-buy-in-and-main-show/|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=[[Wrestling Inc.]]|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ounpraseuth|first=Jason|date=October 16, 2021|title=AEW Saturday Night Dynamite Results: New AAA Tag Champions, Bryan Danielson Vs. Bobby Fish|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/10/aew-saturday-night-dynamite-live-coverage-inner-circle-reunites-aaa-tag-title-match/|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=[[Wrestling Inc.]]|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Coder|first=Brie|date=October 22, 2021|title=AEW Rampage Preview (10/22): PAC vs. Andrade El Idolo II, women's Title Defense, more|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/10/aew-rampage-preview-10-22-pac-vs-andrade-el-idolo-ii-womens-title-defense-more/|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=[[Wrestling Inc.]]|language=en-us}}</ref>
==Facilities== *James L. Knight Center Theater <small>(formerly the James L. Knight Center from 1982 to 2013)</small> **Miami Convention Center ***Riverfront Exhibition Hall ****North Hall *****Central Hall *****South Hall **Riverwalk & Dockage *Miami Conference Center **Ashe Auditorium **Miami Lecture Hall *Hyatt Regency Hotel **Regency Ballroom **Riverwalk Cafe **Riverwalk Deli **Pure Verde
==Location== The complex is located along the [[Miami River (Florida)|Miami River]] near [[Bayfront Park]]. Also in the area is [[Mary Brickell Village]], [[Olympia Theater (Miami)|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 == <gallery widths="250" heights="250"> File:James L. Knight Center Theater - Front View.jpg|James L. Knight Center Theater - Front View File:James L. Knight Center Theater - Floor View.jpg|James L. Knight Center Theater - Floor View File:James L. Knight Center Theater - Lobby View.jpg|James L. Knight Center Theater Lobby File:Ashe Auditroium at The James L. Knight Center - Side View.jpg|Ashe Auditorium at the James L. Knight Center File:Ashe Auditroium at The James L. Knight Center - Back View.jpg|Ashe Auditorium at the James L. Knight Center File:Ashe Auditroium Lobby at The James L. Knight Center.jpg|Ashe Auditorium Lobby at the James L. Knight Center File:Riverwalk and Dockage View at The James L. Knight Center - View 2.jpg|Riverwalk & Dockage View at the James L. Knight Center File:Riverwalk and Dockage at The James L. Knight Center.jpg|Riverwalk & Dockage View at the James L. Knight Center File:Riverwalk and Dockage View at The James L. Knight Center - View 3.jpg|Riverwalk & Dockage at the James L. Knight Center File:Riverfront Hall at The James L. Knight Center - View 1.jpg|Riverfront Hall at James L. Knight Center - Miami Convention Center File:Riverfront Hall at The James L. Knight Center - View 2.jpg|Riverfront Hall at James L. Knight Center - Miami Convention Center File:Miami Lecture Hall at The James L. Knight Center - Back View.jpg|Miami Lecture Hall at the James L. Knight Center File:Miami Lecture Hall at The James L. Knight Center.jpg|Miami Lecture Hall at the James L. Knight Center </gallery>
==See also== *[[List of convention centers in the United States]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
{{s-start}} {{succession box | title=[[Miss Universe]] venue | before=[[Kiel Auditorium]] <br/> {{flagicon|USA}} [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri|MO]] | after=[[Atlapa Convention Centre]] <br/> {{flagicon|Panama}} [[Panama City]] | years= [[Miss Universe 1984|1984]]–[[Miss Universe 1985|1985]] }} {{end}} {{Miami Hurricanes men's basketball navbox}} {{Miami Hurricanes women's basketball navbox}} {{Music venues of Florida}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Defunct college basketball venues in the United States]] [[Category:College basketball venues in Florida]] [[Category:Convention centers in Florida]] [[Category:Miami Hurricanes men's basketball]] [[Category:Miami Hurricanes women's basketball]] [[Category:Miami Hurricanes sports venues]] [[Category:Concert halls in Florida]] [[Category:Indoor arenas in Florida]] [[Category:Music venues in Florida]] [[Category:Theatres in Miami]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Miami]]