After all of the years I wanted to visit the Miami Marine Stadium, I finally got that opportunity. I almost did not go in. A black BMW out front and another black SUV was on the east side. I eventually went in anyway. For the 1st 15 minutes I was able to shoot. Then I heard someone coming. I made sure that he knew I was only there to shoot for the art of it and nothing more. He left then came back with a bag. As it turns out he had someone with him. I just minded my own business and let them go about theirs....

As it turned out, they were two taggers. My first time to actually witness someone doing graffiti. So I got a picture while the paint was still wet....

The 2nd dangerous part of the shoot was shuffling out on the iron beams to get to the scoring club house that is up in and supported by the roof. It was a huge challenge to climb out there but it was the only way to get the view the scorers had back then.

This place had to be something else back in the day ...


All images are in the DESTINATIONS Gallery under FLORIDA at http://www.Sharkey-Images.com/

Cool pics. Thanks for sharing.

Would you mind telling those of us in the dark what the place is and it's original purpose?

Buck

A friend raced there with a Hemi Powered Boat,Very cool times.

Stadium in better days ,Miami Phone book cover picture.

Basically it was a stadium to watch powerboat racing.

sad how it is in such dis-repair......I have also read about how it was planned to be a victem of the wrecking ball but there are people/groups fighting that.......what really is amazing is if you look at the 3rd and the 4th pictures then compare them to the last picture you can see how the skyline has changed from then to now........WOW.......cool shots Sharkey.......thanks for sharing.......

If you like Elvis, rent Clambake. That was filmed there.

Clambake was a great movie. If anyone hasn't seen it, see if you can find it.

The Miami Marine Stadium located on the Virginia Key in Miami, Florida, was the first purpose built stadium for powerboat racing in the United States. The 6,566 seat stadium was built in 1963 on land donated by the Matheson family for "Water Sports".