Basketball in Miami

Basketball

The Miami Heat, the 2006 NBA champs, play at the 19,449-seat, waterfront AmericanAirlines Arena. The state-of-the-art venue has indoor fireworks, restaurants, a wide patio overlooking Biscayne Bay, and a silver sun-shaped special-effects scoreboard with rays holding wide-screen TVs. During Heat games, when the 1,100 underground parking spaces are reserved for season-ticket holders, you can park across the street at Miami's Bayside Marketplace ($20), at metered spaces along Biscayne Boulevard, or in lots on side streets, where prices range from $20 to $35 depending on the distance from the arena (a limited number of disabled spaces are available on-site for non-season ticket holders). Better yet, take the Metromover to the Park West or Freedom Tower station. Home games are held November through April. AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Downtown. 786/777-4328; 800/462-2849 ticket hotline. www.nba.com/heat.