History
The Bayfront Center opened on May 1, 1965. It was a part-time home of the ABA's Floridians from 1970 to 1972, home of the Suncoast Suns hockey team from 1971 to 1973 and of the indoor Tampa Bay Rowdies, and the Tampa Bay Thrillers won the 1985 CBA title there.
The arena was demolished on December 1, 2004, to clear land for an eventual replacement facility for the nearby Salvador Dalí Museum.
Why it matters: St. Petersburg's main arena for four decades.
Timeline
The site today
| Physical status | Demolished[1] |
|---|---|
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
We have not verified what occupies the site today. Know? Tell us, with a source.
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| The Floridians | ABA · 1970–1972 |
|---|---|
| Suncoast Suns | EHL/SHL · 1971–1973 |
| Tampa Bay Thrillers | CBA · 1984–1987 |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | NASL · 1975–1987 · tenant |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Location | 400 First Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Arena |
| Sports | Basketball, Hockey, Soccer |
| Level | ABA, EHL, SHL, CBA |
| Opened | May 1, 1965[1] |
| Demolished | December 1, 2004[1] |
| Physical status | Demolished |
| Final capacity | 8,600[1] |
| Capacity notes | Concerts 8,600; ice hockey 5,800; indoor soccer 6,410. |
| Construction cost | $5 million[1] |
Documented details
- The arena was demolished to make way for an eventual replacement facility for the nearby Salvador Dalí Museum.[1]
Sources
- Bayfront Center, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, construction cost, coordinates, demolished, events, opened, teams
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.