Miami Marine Stadium featured at luncheon

The Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce is having a Power Luncheon on Wednesday, November 30 at the Chart House (51 Chart House Drive).

Don Worth, Co-founder of Friends of Miami Marine Stadium is the guest speaker.

Designed by architect Hilario Candela in 1963, the Miami Marine Stadium located on Virginia Key was originally created for boat racing.

During its 28 years of operation, it hosted races, concerts of all types, political rallies, Sunrise Easter Services, even boxing and wrestling matches I think I remember Phil Donahue even doing one of his talk shows there once. The Stadium was shuttered in 1992 after Hurricane Andrew-but it was never damaged by the Hurricane. It has sat vacant ever since.

Formed in 2008, Friends of Miami Marine Stadium has worked to advocate for the Stadium's restoration. The structure is now designated historic by the City of Miami and has achieved international recognition through inclusion of the National Trust For Historic Preservation's "11 Most Endangered List (2009) and World Monuments Fund Watch List (2010). Friends of Miami Marine Stadium will soon be presenting a plan to the City of Miami to restore the Stadium.

A long time preservationist, Don Worth is a former member of the City of Miami Beach's Design Review Board. Along with his wife Nina, he created in 2007 a series of architectural exchanges between Miami and Shanghai, China, which culminated in the book and photography exhibit, "Art Deco in Shanghai and Miami Beach" with all photographs taken by Deke Erh, China's first freelance photographer.

The luncheon is from Noon to 2 pm; cost is $30 members/$40 non-members. Please rsvp to info@coconutgrove.com