Photo By Henry Perez
Text by Mary Damiano

I’ve always been torn about this whole naming rights thing.  The American Airlines Arena? Sounds more like a giant airplane hangar than a sports and concert venue.  Even when you shorten it to the Triple A, it sounds like who you’d call for emergency roadside assistance.  I’m no sports fan but I know enough about football to know that the two people who did the most for the Miami Dolphins were Joe Robbie and Don Shula, which is why no matter what they call it, I’ll always call their arena by its original name, Joe Robbie Stadium.  And the arena in Sunrise has gone through enough name changes that I’ve given up on learning its name and just refer to it as that Big Behemoth across from Sawgrass Mills.  On the other hand, if I gave $30 million to some arts institution, yeah, I’d probably want my name on it too.  Which is why Carnival Center for the Performing Arts will henceforth be known as the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.  Arts patron and former bank owner Adrienne Arsht, seen here with Miami City Ballet founding artistic director Edward Villella, gave the struggling performing arts center a cash infusion to be paid over the next few years, while Carnival Corporation will receive a naming rights refund.  The gift is expected to ensure the venue’s long-term financial security.