Where do the Miami Heat play? Kaseya Center naming rights explained
The Miami Heat’s home stadium has changed name a number of times over the years, from the AmericanAirlines Arena to the FTX Arena. But, what is it now?
The naming rights to Miami’s home court have been switched up several times of late, so you will be forgiven if you haven't been able to catch up.
Owned by Miami-Dade County, the property’s sponsorship deals have benefitted the local area tremendously, with the latest deal struck believed to be worth over $100 million.
For Heat fans, though, they have had to get used to calling the place they call home something completely different since 2023.
Where do the Miami Heat play? Home stadium name
The Miami Heat’s home arena is called the Kaseya Center, located along the beautiful Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida.
The Heat play all of their home games at the venue during the NBA season and the building has been their home since 2000, in what was originally the American Airlines Arena.
All Miami Heat stadium names over the years
The Miami Heat’s latest stadium has had a handful of names, starting with one of the biggest airlines in the world.
These include:
- American Airlines Arena (1999–2021)
- FTX Arena (2021–2022)
- The Arena/Miami-Dade Arena (temporarily in 2023)
- Kaseya Center (2023)
What happened to the FTX Arena? Naming rights change explained
Kaseya took over the naming rights of the Miami Heat’s stadium in April 2023, following the organization distancing itself from the bankrupt FTX.
FTX was a Bahamas-based cryptocurrency exchange valued at $40 billion at one point, and even if NBA fans weren’t familiar with the firm, they will definitely remember the Heat’s stadium being called the FTX Arena.
As reported by Forbes, in 2022, the company filed for bankruptcy along with its 101 debtors. The company’s co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried was later found guilty of fraud in November 2023, months after the Heat severed ties with the business.
In a public statement, published in November 2022, the Heat said: “The reports about FTX and its affiliates are extremely disappointing. Miami-Dade County and the Miami HEAT are immediately taking action to terminate our business relationships with FTX.”
The stadium was rebranded to the Kaseya Center in 2023, after reportedly striking a deal worth around $117 million.
What is Kaseya? The company with Heat stadium naming rights
Not every NBA fan will know of Kaseya beyond being the name of the Heat’s famous arena. Kaseya has been running since 2001 and is a software company based out of Miami, Florida, with its headquarters in the Brickell area.
The American firm maintains IT policies for its clients, offering security and management services. Its agreement with the owners of the stadium, Miami-Dade County, runs until 2040.
Heat will be hoping to welcome home a number of NBA Championships during that period and write a new chapter in the organization’s history at the Kaseya Center.
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