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Oddly enough, Miami Arena had one of the best ice surfaces in the NHL. How? The two Zambonies, a water-treatment system and staff training at an ice school in Canada can't hurt. Also, the building was kept very cold: temperatures can dip into the 50s during a game.
Despite the cold air, the atmosphere inside Miami Arena was hot. The Panthers tended to draw enough fans to fill the 14,700 seats at most games. The fans are basically hockey-starved Northerners living in the south, so they know the game and are enthusiastic about their team.
Getting there
From the airport, take 836 east and exit right to Biscayne Blvd. Go to Northwest 8th Street and turn right. The Arena is two blocks on the left.
Miami Arena history
- First regular-season game: Oct. 12, 1993, 2-1 loss to the Penguins
- First goal: Martin Straka of the Penguins
- First regular-season win: Oct. 14, 1993, 5-4 over the Ottawa Senators
- Opening date: July 13 1988 Julio Eglisias Concert
- 10 miles of pipe run beneath the Arena floor for ice-making purposes
- The Arena floor temperature must be brought down between 17 and 22 degrees to make the ice. The Glycol is chilled and runs through the coils bringing the temp down to 8-12 in the pipes.
- 22.000 gallons of water are needed to make ice. The ice weighs 90 tons when frozen.
- 300 gallons of white paint is used to prepare the ice
- Temperature inside the Arena: 70-72 degrees
- The Ice is 2 inces thick. It takes 3 days to make it
- Special sheets of insulation covers the ice for Heat basketball and other events.
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