In 2021, the Miami Heat‘s home arena changed its name from American Airlines Arena to FTX Arena, as FTX, a cryptocurrency company, earned the stadium’s naming rights.
But now, the company has filed for bankruptcy, and therefore, the arena will soon have a new name again.
The Miami Heat are terminating their relationship with FTX pic.twitter.com/anS4xvhUK2
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) November 11, 2022
A House With Wonderful Memories
The Heat have played their home games in this arena ever since it opened on December 31, 1999, and it has hosted some of the franchise’s more memorable moments.
In 2006, they won their first NBA championship by defeating Dirk Nowitzki‘s Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals in six games, and two of the series’ contests held in Miami were particularly memorable.
In Game 3, Dwyane Wade scored 42 points and added 13 rebounds as Miami overcome a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 98-96, after it had lost the first two games in Texas.
After taking Game 4, it outlasted Dallas in an extremely tight Game 5 in overtime, 101-100, as Wade put up 43 points and made the game-winning free throws with 1.9 seconds left.
The arena was the scene of LeBron James‘ first world championship in 2012, and, of course, the following year, Ray Allen hit perhaps the most famous shot in NBA Finals history to force overtime in Game 6 and help the Heat repeat as champs.
On this date in 2013.
“Like Ray Allen in game 6.” 🔥 pic.twitter.com/keEdnMlx2B
— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) June 18, 2020
Over the past couple of years, the Heat have again been one of the league’s best teams, as they reached the championship series in 2020 and came within one win of a repeat trip there last season.
So far this season, they’re struggling with a 5-7 record, but given their recent history, one figures they will find a way to put themselves into the running for the Eastern Conference title come springtime.
NEXT: 2 Biggest Concerns For The Heat This Season