The long-dormant fate of the Miami Marine Stadium just shifted back into the hands of the people. Following a unanimous vote by the Miami City Commission, a critical referendum has been set for August 18, 2026, asking voters to approve a long-term management deal with Global Spectrum L.P., an events firm under the Oak View Group umbrella. If passed, the agreement would finally trigger the restoration of the 1963 landmark, which has sat abandoned on Virginia Key since 1992’s Hurricane Andrew.
This decision marks a significant turnaround after a “false start” in late 2025, which saw the proposal stalled due to a lack of quorum and legal scrutiny surrounding former Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke. With Leiweke having stepped down and received a presidential pardon in December 2025, the city moved forward with a deal that grants Miami a majority cut of event revenue. “The handful of historic sites that we have left, they mean a lot to us,” stated County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, emphasizing the stadium’s iconic status.
Beyond the stadium, the Commission also greenlit a Business Improvement District (BID) for the culturally vital Calle Ocho corridor in Little Havana. Sponsored by Commissioner Rolando Escalona, the BID aims to leverage public and private funds for beautification and safety—a plan that has been stalled for over a decade. Alongside these revitalizations, the city approved a new searchable database for employee salaries, matching county standards for transparency…