# Miami Coliseum
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Coliseum
> Source revision: 1329156913
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Short description|Former arena in Coral Gables, Florida}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Miami Coliseum
| nickname =
| logo_image =
| logo_caption =
| image =
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Exterior of the venue (c.1996)
| fullname =
| former_names = Metropolitan Ice Palace {{small|(1938–41)}}
| location =
| address = 1500 Douglas Rd
[Coral Gables, Florida](/source/Coral_Gables%2C_Florida)
| coordinates = {{Coord|25.757200|-80.255530|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground =
| built = 1927
| opened = {{Start date|1927|11|11}}
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished = {{End date|1993|07|20}}
| owner =
| operator =
| surface =
| scoreboard =
| cost = US$900,000
(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|900000|1927}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = [A. Ten Eyck Brown](/source/A._Ten_Eyck_Brown)[{{cite news|title=Landmark Gables coliseum is toppled into souvenirs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/637678045 |newspaper=[Miami Herald](/source/Miami_Herald) |date=July 20, 1993 |access-date=June 14, 2022}}]
| project_manager =
| structural_engineer =
| services_engineer =
| general_contractor =
| main_contractors =
| capacity = 4,400[{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7JYpAQAAMAAJ&q=coral+gables+coliseum&pg=PA86 |title=Ice Rinks Invade The World |magazine=Refrigeration Engineering |date=February 1939 |last=Greeves-Carpenter |first=C.F.}}]
| suites =
| record_attendance =
| dimensions =
| acreage =
| volume =
| tenants = [Tropical Hockey League](/source/Tropical_Hockey_League) {{small|(1938–41)}}
| embedded =
| website =
| public_transit =
}}
The '''Miami Coliseum''', also known as the '''Coral Gables Coliseum''', was a multi-purpose [arena](/source/arena) located in [Coral Gables, Florida](/source/Coral_Gables%2C_Florida). It was developed by [George E. Merrick](/source/George_E._Merrick), the founder of Coral Gables and of the [University of Miami](/source/University_of_Miami), who sought to create a cultural center for the Miami area. Like the rest of the [planned community](/source/planned_community), the Coliseum was built in the [Mediterranean Revival style](/source/Mediterranean_Revival_architecture).[{{cite web |title=The Miami Coliseum |url=https://coralgablesmuseum.org/portfolio-item/the-miami-coliseum/ |website=Coral Gables Museum |access-date=June 14, 2022}}]
Heavily in debt after the collapse of [Florida's land boom](/source/Florida_land_boom_of_the_1920s), Merrick sold the Coliseum to the City of Coral Gables in 1927, before it was completed.[{{cite book |title= Hockey in Charlotte |last= Mancuso|first= Jim|author2=Pat Kelly |year= 2006|publisher= Arcadia Publishing|isbn= 0-7385-4230-X|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=eQALBnDckHUC|access-date= December 21, 2010}}] Though the THL was, at least initially, a moderate success, it had a turbulent lifespan and continually lost money for its promoters. Ultimately, the league folded around September 1941. Shortly thereafter, the city filed a $42,500 suit and sought foreclosure against the Ice Palace's operators.[{{cite news|title=Topics of the Tropics |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/297394135/?terms=coral%20gables%20%22coliseum%22&match=1 |newspaper=[The Miami News](/source/The_Miami_News) |date=September 25, 1941 |access-date=June 13, 2022}}][{{cite news|title=Foreclosure Sought Against Gables Coliseum |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/297491304/?terms=coliseum&match=1 |newspaper=The Miami News |date=November 6, 1941 |access-date=June 13, 2022}}]
With the onset of [World War II](/source/World_War_II), the Coliseum was leased to [Embry–Riddle University](/source/Embry%E2%80%93Riddle_Aeronautical_University) to train military pilots. However, it was converted back into an ice rink in 1949.[{{cite news|title=Hockey came to town about 52 years ago |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/637364969 |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=June 8, 1993 |access-date=June 14, 2022}}] Afterwards, it was turned into a bowling alley, and later a health club, before becoming vacant in 1987. Despite a push by preservationists to maintain the historic structure, it was demolished in 1993.