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Ocean Bank Convocation Center

Former names	Sunblazer Arena (1986–87) Golden Panther Arena (1987–2004) Pharmed Arena (2004–08) FIU Arena (2008, 2014–18) U.S. Century Bank Arena (2008-14)
Address	11200 SW 8th St Miami, Florida 33199-2516
Location	University Park, Miami, Florida
Coordinates	25°45′24″N 80°22′46″W / 25.75667°N 80.37944°W / 25.75667; -80.37944
Owner	Florida International University
Capacity	5,000
Surface	Wood
Construction
Broke ground	1983
Opened	February 1, 1986
Construction cost	$7 million ($21.4 million in 2023 dollars)
Tenants
FIU Panthers (NCAA) (1986–present)

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.

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

The main court is a Cincinnati Robbins perma-cushion maple wood basketball floor, made up of some 19,000 square feet (1,800 m) 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.

See also

• FIU Panthers
• Riccardo Silva Stadium (FIU Football)
• Infinity Insurance Park (FIU Baseball)
• List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas

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 February 29, 2024.
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.

External links

• U.S. Century Bank Arena

Preceded byCrocus City Hall Moscow

Miss Universe venue 2014

Succeeded byThe AXIS Las Vegas

v t e Florida International University
Located in: University Park, Florida
Academics	School of Architecture College of Arts and Sciences College of Business College of Education College of Engineering and Computing Honors College School of Hospitality & Tourism Management College of Law College of Medicine College of Nursing and Health Sciences Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work
Research and development	Aquarius Reef Base National Hurricane Center Engineering Center Southern Cross Astronomical Society Wall of Wind
People	Alumni Alumni Association
Athletics	Teams Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Football Men's soccer Venues FIU Baseball Stadium FIU Football Stadium Ocean Bank Convocation Center Culture FIU Fight Song Shula Bowl
Culture and lore	Greek Life Housing Order of the Torch South Beach Wine and Food Festival University Park University traditions
Media	FIU Student Media Gulf Stream Magazine Hospitality Review PantherNOW The Roar
Campus	Biscayne Bay Campus Mourning Senior High Engineering Center FIU Tianjin Center FIU Pines Center Frost Art Museum Jewish Museum of Florida MAST @ FIU University Park Wertheim Performing Arts Center Wolfsonian-FIU
Founded: 1965 Students: 58,787 Endowment: 216.3 million Category

• College basketball venues in Florida
• College volleyball venues in the United States
• Florida International University
• 1986 establishments in Florida
• Sports venues completed in 1986