Directions to Ocean Bank Convocation Center
Since the opening of Ocean Bank Convocation Center (then FIU Arena) on February 1, 1986, opponents quickly learned that winning basketball games on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus would be no easy task. It began early in 1986-87, while FIU was still a fledgling Division II program, with an overtime win over Dartmouth, and continued with exciting Division I victories over the Big Ten's Michigan, Trans America Athletic Conference champion College of Charleston, in-state rival South Florida and the longest game played in the NCAA in 2004-05 when the Panthers outlasted Sun Belt Conference foe Arkansas-Little Rock, 118-114, in five overtimes.
FIU's best season at home was 1997-98 when the Panthers won a school-record 13 games. The longest winning streak in arena history was 18 from February 15, 1997 through November 29, 1998. The 2008-09 season marked the fourth time that the program had posted double-digit wins in the venue.
A full array of activities has taken place in this 94,000 square-foot multi-purpose facility. Sporting events, concerts, banquets, trade shows, graduations, convocation ceremonies and other University and community events have all been accommodated.
In the Spring of 2011, construction on the east side of the Panther's home began. An 11,000 square-foot addition was completed in December of 2011 and features added concessions, box offices, restrooms, meeting rooms and merchandising areas. Two large gameday suites were also completed. Each is about 1,000 square feet in size.
The main court is a Cincinnati Robbins perma-cushion maple wood basketball floor, made up of some 19,000 square feet of wood. Four retractable basketball backboards allow for the floor to be divided into two practice courts, while Spalding portable basketball standards are used for intercollegiate competition. The Arena has an overall seating capacity of 5,000.
The facility added a brand-new scoreboard and video board in the Spring of 2011. At 24 feet by 16 feet, the state-of-the-art Daktronics scoreboard features a 14-feet-by-9-feet video board which plays highlights, advertisements and is a major part of the gameday experience at Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
Support areas include an equipment room, training room and eight different full-service dressing rooms. Academic space in the building includes three classrooms, and physiology, computer and kinesiology laboratories.
In the summer of 2010, construction of the facilities athletic locker rooms took place. The crown jewel of that project was the completion of the men's and women's basketball locker rooms. Each NBA-quality locker room is 2,000 square feet and features a team meeting room and separate coaches locker rooms.
The Ocean Bank Convocation Center also houses offices and boardrooms for FIU athletic administrators and a state-of-the-art, 4,500 square-foot athletic training center that opened in the fall of 2006.
The facility features a hydrotherapy room, which includes custom-built, underground hot and cold plunge pools and a therapy pool with an underwater treadmill, a doctor's examination room, functional training area, rehabilitation area with 12 treatment tables and an audio-visual system that includes high definition and flat screen televisions for comfort and convenience.
Directions to Ocean Bank Convocation Center
From Miami International Airport
Take State Road No. 836 West (Dolphin Expressway) to the NW 107th Avenue/South exit. Proceed south on 107th Avenue to SW 8th Street (SR 41/Tamiami Trail). Turn right on 8th Street, two traffic lights to SW 112th Avenue. Turn left onto the FIU campus and then make right-hand turns at the first two stop signs. FIU Arena will be on your left, and parking is available across the street on the right or in the Panther Parking Garage.
From I-95
Traveling north or south on I-95, exit at State Road No. 836 West (Dolphin Expressway) to NW 107th Avenue/South exit. Proceed south on 107th Avenue to SW 8th Street (SR 41/Tamiami Trail). Turn right on 8th Street, two traffic lights to SW 112th Avenue. Turn left onto the FIU campus and then go right at the first two stop signs. FIU Arena will be on your left, and parking is available across the street on the right or in the Panther Parking Garage.
From the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826)
Traveling north or south on the Palmetto Expressway, exit westbound on SW 8th Street (SR 41/Tamiami Trail). Proceed to SW 112th Avenue. Turn left onto the FIU campus and then go right at the first two stop signs. FIU Arena will be on your left, and parking is available across the street on the right or in the Panther Parking Garage.
From the Florida Turnpike
Traveling north or south on the Turnpike, exit eastbound on SW 8th Street (No. 25/Tamiami Trail). Turn right onto 8th Street (SR 41/Tamiami Trail). At SW 112th Avenue, turn right onto the FIU campus, and then go right at the first two stop signs. FIU Arena will be on your left, and parking is available across the street on the right or in the Panther Parking Garage.
