Demolition starts at old arena

Demolition began at the Miami Arena early Sunday, when explosives rigged to the steel trusses were detonated and the roof caved in as planned. The rest of the demolition on the oval arena, once called the city’s ”Pink Elephant,” will come in the next few weeks. Lisa Kelly, the owner of Advanced Explosives Demolition, the company responsible for the demolition, said the initial implosion went as planned. The arena first opened in 1988 with a concert by Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli and Sammy Davis Jr., and served as the first home for the Miami Heat basketball team and the Florida Panthers hockey team. The University of Miami men’s basketball team also played in the arena until 2006.

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