Kaseya Center and Miami Heat Partner with Michelin-Starred Chef Jeremy Ford for New Premium Club

This fall at Kaseya Center and the NBA Miami Heat will debut a newly renovated premium space – the 1988 Club – in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Jeremy Ford, who will debut his latest menu concept.

The space is designed for the arena’s premium clientele, offering an exclusive environment accessible only to courtside members. The 1988 Club, which is a nod to the year the Miami Heat debuted, has a vintage deco vibe reminiscent of the glamor of Miami Beach in the 1920s. The Club will be an extension of Ford’s culinary vision, offering a refined, farm-driven menu from his own property, along with an upscale wine and cocktail program within steps of the court.

The arena opened in 1999 on Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami and seats up to 20,000 for concerts. Special events that have been held there include the Latin Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, UFC and boxing events.

Even through the arena just celebrated its 25 th anniversary, the venue hasn’t undergone a single major renovation, but has made continuous upgrades including premium seating, technology, scoreboards, club and suite renovations, sustainability initiatives and LEED certification.

Pollstar discussed the vision behind creating the 1988 Club and elevating the premium hospitality experience at Kaseya Center with Miami HEAT Senior Vice President and Chief Brand & Growth Officer Jennifer Alvarez.

“As we looked to expand our premium footprint at Kaseya Center, we saw an opportunity to create diverse experiences across our lounges and club spaces,” she says. “Miami is evolving, and premium means different things to different guests. With the 1988 Club, we wanted to introduce an ultra-premium experience designed specifically for the guests closest to the action, those with their feet on the floor. The vision was to create something that feels exclusive, highly personal and distinctly elevated, while still being deeply connected to the energy of a Heat game.”

Pollstar : What made Chef Jeremy Ford the right partner for this project, and how does his involvement help differentiate the 1988 Club from other premium spaces across sports and entertainment?

“Partnering with Chef Jeremy Ford was a major priority for us because he brings both local credibility and an exceptional culinary point of view,” says Alvarez. “As a Floridian and a Michelin-starred chef with a strong presence in Miami’s dining scene, Jeremy allows us to tell a food and beverage story that feels authentic to this market and unique within sports and entertainment.

“We have other chef partnerships that activate throughout the arena, but dedicating an entire space to Jeremy Ford creates a different level of experience. Guests of the 1988 Club will know they are enjoying a menu developed by a Michelin-starred chef, with food made to order and a level of care you would expect from a high-end restaurant.”

Pollstar : Why was it important for the Miami Heat to create an experience that feels unique, not just to sports, but to Miami itself?

“The 1988 Club was designed as a love letter to South Florida,” offers Alvarez. “From the lush native greenery to the distinctly Miami design details throughout the space, we wanted the experience to feel rooted in this city and not like a premium concept that could exist in any arena.

“Jeremy Ford’s culinary approach reinforces that vision. For guests who know his restaurants, they understand the quality, creativity and care he brings to the table. To bring that level of culinary expertise into the energy of a Heat game creates an experience that feels truly special and unlike anything else in the building.”

_Originally reported by [Pollstar](https://news.pollstar.com/2026/05/28/miamis-kaseya-center-debuts-premium-space-this-fall-with-michelin-starred-chef-jeremy-ford/)._