Ocean Bank Convocation Center - Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 STADIUM LANDING!

Описание: Today we visit the campus of Florida International University and their classic Ocean Bank Convocation Center!

History:

Ocean Bank Convocation Center is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena located on the campus of Florida International University in the University Park area of Miami, Florida. Situated at 11200 SW 8th Street, the facility opened on February 1, 1986, after construction began in 1983 at a cost of $7 million, equivalent to more than $22 million in 2024 dollars. Since its opening, it has served as the home venue for the FIU Panthers men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs, competing in NCAA Division I athletics. The arena has undergone several name changes over the decades, reflecting both institutional branding shifts and corporate sponsorship agreements. It originally opened as Sunblazer Arena, aligning with FIU’s former athletic nickname. In 1987, when the university’s teams became the Golden Panthers, the venue was renamed Golden Panther Arena. A 2004 naming rights deal changed the name to Pharmed Arena. In 2008, it briefly became FIU Arena before U.S. Century Bank secured naming rights later that year, rebranding it as U.S. Century Bank Arena. From 2014 to 2018, the building reverted to FIU Arena, and in 2018 it adopted its current name, Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

The facility encompasses approximately 94,000 square feet, including a 19,000-square-foot wooden competition floor. The main court features a Cincinnati Robbins perma-cushion maple surface designed for high-level basketball performance. Four retractable backboards allow the floor to be divided into two practice courts, while portable Hydra Goal II basketball standards are used during intercollegiate games. Scoreboards manufactured by Nevco are installed at both ends of the arena. Beyond athletics, the arena was designed as a flexible event space. It regularly hosts banquets, conventions, trade shows, concerts, and university ceremonies, including FIU’s commencement exercises. The building contains extensive support and administrative areas, such as an equipment room, athletic training facilities, six locker room areas totaling 876 lockers, offices and boardrooms for athletic administrators, and full-service dressing rooms. Academic components are also integrated into the structure, with three classrooms and laboratory space dedicated to physiology and kinesiology, reflecting the university’s broader educational mission.

In late 2008, U.S. Century Bank acquired naming rights as part of a sponsorship agreement, and around that period the arena was slated for a $5 million renovation project intended to modernize the facility. The venue has also hosted high-profile non-sporting events. In January 2015, it served as the site of the Miss Universe 2014 pageant, bringing international attention to the campus. The arena has seen notable moments in FIU athletics, including a record basketball attendance of 4,710 spectators on January 26, 2019, during a rivalry matchup against Florida Atlantic. As a central hub for sports, academics, and major events, Ocean Bank Convocation Center remains a key component of campus life and one of the primary indoor gathering spaces at Florida International University.

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Music
Song: Gasoline Grin
Artist: Rymdklang
Courtesy Of: https://www.epidemicsound.com

Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_B...