There’s big things happening on and off the pitch at Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise Inter Miami CF. As well as star signing Lionel Messi banging in the goals and the team winning the 2023 MLS Leagues Cup, the MLS club co-owned by David Beckham has announced that construction has now started on its new 25,000-seater stadium.
The Miami Freedom Park & Soccer Village, located near Miami International Airport, will be a 131-acre mixed-use development featuring the football-specific stadium, a public park and entertainment district. Scheduled to open in 2025, the timeline “aligns with the last year” of Messi’s current Inter Miami contract, which he signed in mid-July, MLS.com said.
Alongside football and athletic fields and a 58-acre public park, which will be the largest new park in Miami, the development will also include a “full range of entertainment and commercial offerings including office space, hotel, shops, restaurants and additional experiences and attractions” which will be delivered in phases through to 2030, the club confirmed in a statement.
Inter Miami’s current home is the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, where they have played since their 2020 inaugural season.
What the management said
Jorge Mas, Inter Miami CF managing owner: “With Inter Miami my family set out to build something truly transformational. In just four years we have changed the perception worldwide of American soccer. As we commence construction of Miami Freedom Park that same vision guides us. In creating a multi-faceted space we will set a new standard of what sport complexes can be. We look forward to delivering a food and entertainment destination for families to enjoy year-round. I can’t wait to welcome our fans to our state-of-the-art stadium and hear the chants as Messi and your Inter Miami players take the pitch for the first time in 2025.”
Devon McCorkle, president of Miami Freedom Park: “The level of attention and the influx of inquiries we are receiving have been incredible, a testament to the positive impact of Lionel Messi on Inter Miami CF and the City of Miami. Everyone wants to be part of what we’re creating, a new entertainment district that will be the centrepiece of family activities and experiences in Miami. We are in discussions with stadium sponsors, hotel brands, major attractions operators, restaurant groups, cultural institutions and many other exciting potential partners. We will deliver an incredible home for them at Miami Freedom Park.”
Image: Inter Miami CF/Twitter