NCAA BASKETBALL
Year: Conferences: Teams:
Seasons Conferences Arenas All Tournaments NCAA Tournament Admin
Bayfront Center
400 First Street South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Opened: May 1, 1965
Closed: December 1, 2004
Bayfront Center was an indoor arena located in St. Petersburg, Florida that hosted many concerts, sporting and other events. Depending on the configuration, it could hold up to 8,600 people. The arena was opened in 1965 and demolished in 2004. It adjoined the Mahaffey Theater, which is still standing.

The venue hosted the American Basketball Association's The Floridians when the team played in St. Petersburg during the 1970-71 and 1971-72 seasons.

The South Florida Bulls men's basketball team used the Bayfront Center for some home games between 1974-1980.

The Tampa Bay Thrillers of the Continental Basketball Association played two non-consecutive seasons (1984-85 and 1986-87) in the arena, winning the CBA title in 1985. Because of an apparent rent/lease dispute they moved to Tampa the following year and won another title. With a new owner at the helm they returned to the Bayfront Center for their third season. Attendance sagged to as few as 295 fans, so the franchise relocated to Rapid City, South Dakota at the end of that regular season, and won that year's CBA title for an unusual three-peat. The arena served as the home arena of the Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs of the ABA for the 2000-2001 season
Last 10 Games
Date Opponents Result
Feb 18, 1980Stetson @ South Florida 72 - 81
Feb 16, 1980Georgia State @ South Florida 80 - 73
Feb 12, 1980Jacksonville @ South Florida 61 - 41
Feb 3, 1980Charlotte @ South Florida 95 - 79
Jan 28, 1980South Alabama @ South Florida 88 - 72
Jan 26, 1980VCU @ South Florida 90 - 81
Jan 16, 1980New Orleans @ South Florida 67 - 70
Jan 10, 1980UAB @ South Florida 92 - 83
Jan 2, 1980Richmond @ South Florida 83 - 64
Dec 15, 1979Auburn @ South Florida 74 - 56