AmericanAirlines Arena, home of the NBA’s Miami Heat in Downtown Miami’s Park West neighborhood, has officially been renamed the FTX Arena. The American Airlines signage has now been removed following the Heat’s Round 1 playoff loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. The name change is part of a 19-year, $135 million naming rights deal with cryptocurrency exchange FTX which was approved by Miami-Dade County Commissioners in March 2021.
As per the agreement the Heat, who have 19-years remaining on their lease with the arena, will receive an annual payment of $2 million for the naming rights from Miami-Dade County. FTX branding will also be placed on the Miami Heat’s website and digital platforms, promotions, contests and community engagement. American Airlines will retain a marketing agreement with the Heat.
Miami-Dade County has also entered into a partnership with FTX to collaborate on technology and Fintech education and has committed an additional $5 million in contributions to the county. Miami-Dade County must also reserve a portion of the naming rights deal proceeds to help combat local gun violence and poverty.
The deal represents the first partnership between a cryptocurrency company and a major American professional sports franchise. The partnership further advances Miami quest to be a cryptocurrency and blockchain hub and the Cryptocity.
AmericanAirlines Arena is located at 601 Biscayne Blvd. and first opened on New Years 1999 after the Heat moved from the Miami Arena. The arena was designed by Arquitectonica and 360 Architecture and had a total construction cost of $213 million. The spectator capacity for a basketball game is 19,600. The Miami Heat have appeared in five NBA Finals since 2010 and have won three NBA Championship titles since they were founded in 1988.
FTX US is a US-regulated cryptocurrency exchange led by CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. FTX operates two different exchanges, FTX (ftx.com) and FTX US (ftx.us). FTX is an international cryptocurrency exchange that is does operate in the US and supports more cryptocurrencies than FTX US. FTX offers innovative products including industry-first derivatives, options, volatility products and leveraged tokens. FTX pursues its mission, led by philanthropic founder Sam Bankman-Fried, to turn revenue into charitable giving which led to the launch of the FTX Foundation in which 1% of all FTX net fees are donated to select charities. FTX US supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Sushi, Tron, Tether, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash and other cryptocurrencies.
Miami has quickly become the Cryptocity, and is becoming a cryptocurrency and blockchain hub led by Mayor Francis Suarez. Mayor Suarez’s goals include turning Miami into a Bitcoin mining hub by using the city’s nuclear power capability. He is also working towards allowing the use of Bitcoin to pay for tax and public services, as well as a salary option for city employees. Mayor Suarez set his focus on a Miami tech boom following the COVID-19 pandemic and has been working to attract the top tech and investment firms from San Francisco, Silicon Valley and New York City. The effort has paid off shown by taxable property values in Miami having doubled over the past decade as high-paying jobs have been attracted to the weather, beaches, restaurants, nightlife, low-tax and high-quality of life.
For a background on cryptocurrency and blockchain and its application to real estate check out the PROFILE Insider: The Crypto Revolution Versus The Evolution of Blockchain Part 1.
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