When the World Hockey Association was founded the plan was to put teams in big markets and markets that had markets new to the sport of hockey. One of those spots was in Miami, with a team to be called the Miami Screaming Eagles.

However, a planned arena was halted due to the plans not conforming to Dade County zoning laws that required one parking spot for every four seats. The team considered playing at the Hollywood Sportatorium.

However, the arena was ill-suited to hockey, as the building had no air-conditioning and the roof was partly open. With no home in South Florida the WHA decided that the team instead would play in Philadelphia as the Blazers.

Hockey would eventually find the Sunshine State home as the NHL expanded to Tampa and Miami in the 1990's.