James L. Knight Center
Encyclopedia
The James L. Knight International Center is a contemporary entertainment and convention complex located in 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 it’s opening, the complex has hosted many business, entertainment and political events. Annually, it hosts Miami Dade College
graduation ceremonies.
, trade shows
and conventions. Previous conventions were held at the Miami Beach Convention Center
. However, the business atmosphere for Miami Beach
began to decline. City officials saw this as an opportunity to claim the market for the blossoming downtown business district. The space, known as James L. Knight Convention Center, was the project of the City of Miami. During its construction, the University of Miami
sought a sports arena for its revitalized basketball program. Famed newspaper publisher, James L. Knight
donated over one million dollars towards the cost of the arena. 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. 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 dollars annual operating costs and debt foe the venue. 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. Shortly after, the newly formed Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team occupied the auditorium and the center was revitalized.
To meet demand, the city looked to expand the Knight Center to be used for large conventions, which would not only gained higher revenue for the county, but also solve the city's growing unemployment issue. Concurrently, the University of Miami were also looking to build upon the athletic success of the auditorium by added a public meeting space and lecture hall
. During this time, the auditorium hosted its first concert event for the band, R.E.M.
.
In the summer of 1987, the complex was expanded to included the UM Conference Center and the Miami Convention Center. Additionally, the auditorium took on the name Knight Center as the UM Hurricanes began to use the Miami Arena
. For nearly ten years, the complex was primarily used for business functions. Revenue began to decline and city officials wanted to sell the auditorium and convention center. Ultimately, Miami-Dade County remained owners of the complex, however, operations were handed to Global Spectrum. In 2007, Global Spectrum hired a gentleman from New York, by the name of Lorenzo Muniz and within six months promoted him to General Manager. In 2010, Lorenzo Muniz and his staff were the first administration ever to generate a profit in the facilities 28 year history. By 2010, the complex began and continued to blossom, becoming a staple within the downtown community.
near Bayfront Park
. Also in the area is the The Shops at Mary Brickell Village, 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
.
Downtown Miami
Downtown Miami is an urban residential neighborhood, and the central business district of Miami, Miami-Dade County, and South Florida in the United States...
. Located within the Miami Central Business District, the venue opened in 1982. The complex is named after famed newspaper publisher, James L. Knight
James L. Knight
James Landon Knight was an American newspaper publisher and founder of the Knight Ridder group of newspapers....
. Since it’s opening, the complex has hosted many business, entertainment and political events. Annually, it hosts Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College, or simply Miami Dade or MDC, is a state college with eight campuses and twenty-one outreach centers located throughout Miami-Dade County, Florida in the United States. It is part of the Florida College System. Miami Dade College is the largest school in the Florida College...
graduation ceremonies.
History
The complex originally was built to be an exhibition hall for the downtown Miami area, to attract business conferencesConvention (meeting)
A convention, in the sense of a meeting, is a gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest. The most common conventions are based upon industry, profession, and fandom...
, trade shows
Trade fair
A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities...
and conventions. Previous conventions were held at the Miami Beach Convention Center
Miami Beach Convention Center
Miami Beach Convention Center is an indoor arena in Miami Beach, Florida and it is currently the largest convention center in the Miami area. It now features 4 large rooms each holding about 12,000 people.- History :...
. However, the business atmosphere for Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
began to decline. City officials saw this as an opportunity to claim the market for the blossoming downtown business district. The space, known as James L. Knight Convention Center, was the project of the City of Miami. During its construction, the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
sought a sports arena for its revitalized basketball program. Famed newspaper publisher, James L. Knight
James L. Knight
James Landon Knight was an American newspaper publisher and founder of the Knight Ridder group of newspapers....
donated over one million dollars towards the cost of the arena. 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. 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 dollars annual operating costs and debt foe the venue. In 1983,the FIU Sunblazers
FIU Golden Panthers
The FIU Panthers are the athletic teams of Florida International University , a public university located in Miami, Florida. The Panthers compete in NCAA Division I athletics, and are currently members of the Sun Belt Conference...
men's and women's basketball team used the UM Auditorium until the completion of the Sunblazer Arena in 1986. Shortly after, the newly formed Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team occupied the auditorium and the center was revitalized.
To meet demand, the city looked to expand the Knight Center to be used for large conventions, which would not only gained higher revenue for the county, but also solve the city's growing unemployment issue. Concurrently, the University of Miami were also looking to build upon the athletic success of the auditorium by added a public meeting space and lecture hall
Lecture hall
A lecture hall is a large room used for instruction, typically at a college or university. Unlike a traditional classroom with a capacity from one to four dozen, the capacity of lecture halls is typically measured in the hundreds...
. During this time, the auditorium hosted its first concert event for the band, R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
.
In the summer of 1987, the complex was expanded to included the UM Conference Center and the Miami Convention Center. Additionally, the auditorium took on the name Knight Center as the UM Hurricanes began to use the Miami Arena
Miami Arena
The Miami Arena was an indoor arena in Miami, Florida.-History:Completed in 1988, at a cost of $52.5 million, its opening took business away from the Hollywood Sportatorium and eventually led to its demise...
. For nearly ten years, the complex was primarily used for business functions. Revenue began to decline and city officials wanted to sell the auditorium and convention center. Ultimately, Miami-Dade County remained owners of the complex, however, operations were handed to Global Spectrum. In 2007, Global Spectrum hired a gentleman from New York, by the name of Lorenzo Muniz and within six months promoted him to General Manager. In 2010, Lorenzo Muniz and his staff were the first administration ever to generate a profit in the facilities 28 year history. By 2010, the complex began and continued to blossom, becoming a staple within the downtown community.
Facilities
- Miami Convention Center
- James L. Knight Center
- Riverfront Exhibition Hall
- North Hall
- Central Hall
- South Hall
- Riverwalk & Dockage
- UM 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 RiverMiami River (Florida)
The Miami River is a river in the United States state of Florida that drains out of the Everglades and runs through the Downtown and the city of Miami. The long river flows from the terminus of the Miami Canal at Miami International Airport to Biscayne Bay...
near Bayfront Park
Bayfront Park
Bayfront Park is a public, urban park in Downtown Miami, Florida on Biscayne Bay.-History:The park began construction in 1924 under the design plans of Warren Henry Manning and officially opened in March 1925. Beginning in 1980, it underwent a major redesign by Japanese-American modernist artist...
. Also in the area is the The Shops at Mary Brickell Village, Gusman Center for the Performing Arts
Olympia Theater and Office Building
The Olympia Theater and Office Building is a historic theater in Miami, Florida. It is located at 174 East Flagler Street. The original architect was theatre designer John Eberson, in his 'atmospheric' style, and extensive renovations in the 1970s were overseen by architect Morris Lapidus.On...
and New World School of the Arts
New World School of the Arts
New World School of the Arts is a public magnet high school and college in Downtown Miami, Florida with dual-enrollment programs in visual arts, dance, theatre, musical theatre, instrumental music, and vocal music. Both the college and the high school are accredited by the Southern Association of...
. The complex is serviced by the Knight Center
Knight Center (Metromover station)
Knight Center is a Metromover station in Downtown, Miami, Florida in the Miami Tower.This station is located at the intersection of Southwest Second Street and Second Avenue, connected to the namesake James L. Knight Center by a glass-enclosed walkway underneath the Downtown Distributor freeway...
station for the Metromover
Metromover
The Miami Metromover, officially Metromover, is a free rapid transit automated people mover train system operated by Miami-Dade Transit in Miami, Florida, United States. Metromover serves Downtown Miami, Brickell, Park West and Omni neighborhoods. Metromover connects directly with Metrorail at...
.