Miami Freedom Park is a 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium currently under construction in Miami, Florida, United States. It is planned to be the home of Major League Soccer team Inter Miami CF.
In spring 2022, final approval was given by the city of Miami to build a stadium on the current site of the Melreese golf course, close to Miami International Airport. The decision followed a long process in which numerous locations were considered for the stadium.
The stadium will be designed in collaboration with world-renowned architectural firm MANICA Architecture and will feature a distinctive canopy that provides shade for spectators while also allowing natural light to pass through. The stadium will also include a state-of-the-art video board, a 360-degree concourse, and a variety of premium seating options.
Construction on Miami Freedom Park is expected to be completed in 2025. Once completed, the stadium will be a major addition to the Miami skyline and will serve as a home for Inter Miami CF for many years to come.
Here are some of the key features of Miami Freedom Park:
Location: Miami, Florida
Coordinates: 25.793145°N 80.259003°W
Public Transit:
Tri-Rail
Metrorail (Miami-Dade County) at Miami Intermodal Center
Owner: City of Miami
Operator: Inter Miami CF
Type: Soccer-specific stadium
Capacity: 25,000
Surface: Grass
Construction:
Broke ground: 2023
Planned opening: 2025
Architects: MANICA Architecture, Arquitectonica
Tenants: Inter Miami CF (MLS) from 2025 onward
Website:
http://www.miamifreedompark.com/
History
Site searches
PortMiami (2014)
March 25, 2014: David Beckham revealed plans for a 25,000-seat stadium near Miami Heat’s American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami at PortMiami. However, issues arose as the proposed location required relocating a fuel-spill facility, which Miami-Dade commissioners rejected on April 8, 2014.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd formed the Miami Seaport Alliance and opposed the stadium plan, citing concerns about traffic, port expansion, and alleged lease rates. Political strategist Joe Slade White led an advertising campaign against the stadium plan.
Faced with opposition, Beckham’s group made PortMiami a backup plan. Ultimately, on May 20, 2014, Miami-Dade County commissioners voted 11–1 against building the stadium at PortMiami.
February 3, 2015: County commissioners recommended FIU Stadium as a temporary home for Beckham’s team, symbolically acknowledging their previous actions as a “disservice” to Beckham. Commissioner Juan C. Zapata expressed regret and apologized to Beckham for the treatment received.
Museum Park (2014)
May 5, 2014: Facing opposition at PortMiami, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Giménez suggested a new spot by filling a boat slip between the American Airlines Arena and Museum Park in Downtown Miami. Giménez envisioned a waterfront park, including a stadium and walkways, believing it would greatly benefit the area. However, the city-owned land required for this plan would need to be sold or conveyed to the county, and Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado considered this task monumental.
Despite discussions between Giménez and Regalado in December 2013 about filling the slip, it wasn’t initially for a soccer stadium.
May 19, 2014: After discussions with the mayors, Beckham’s group shifted focus to the boat slip location as “Plan A”. But approval was necessary from both city and county commissioners, and a public vote was mandated by the city charter due to the use of public land.
Plans presented by Beckham’s group showed the stadium occupying 4.2 acres of a proposed 19-acre park by filling the deep-water basin.
The Miami Marlins had previously considered this site for their stadium but dismissed it due to high costs associated with water removal and transporting rocks to fill the slip.
Critics voiced concerns about increased strain on roads and infrastructure, the use of public parkland for a stadium, and potential obstruction of ocean views for nearby condominium residents.
Despite negotiations on rent, the proposal was turned down by Mayor Regalado and City Manager Daniel Alfonso on June 10, 2014, ultimately leading to the rejection of the proposal.
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Little Havana (2014–2015)
June 2014: MLS president Mark Abbott ruled out Little Havana, close to Marlins Park (LoanDepot Park), despite initial plans in 2008.
February 2015: County commissioner Xavier Suárez suggested two sites: near Marlins Park and along the Miami River near the airport. He believed both locations met the league’s criteria for a “downtown” spot.
March 4, 2015: County commissioners passed a resolution, urging Mayor Gimenez to negotiate with Beckham’s group for a county-owned land parcel near Marlins Park.
July 17, 2015: Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado announced a tentative deal for a park next to Marlins Park, pending city commissioners’ approval. However, by November 2015, deals with private landowners fell through, delaying city commission approval for stadium placement on the ballot.
Pre-Team Announcement: Alternative sites included Miami International Airport, Marlins Park, and Florida International University.
July 2014: Broward County cities were asked for possible stadium locations. The county proposed a site near the BB&T Center in Sunrise. Palm Beach County offered FAU Stadium.
Ownership Group’s Stance: Preferred a downtown Miami site but acknowledged other cities’ interest in hosting an MLS club led by Beckham.
August 2014: Commissioner Don Garber stated that MLS expansion to Miami depended on securing a downtown stadium site.
May 2015: University of Miami President Donna Shalala discussed a joint stadium for the MLS team and Miami Hurricanes football. Sun Life Stadium was deemed too large for the Hurricanes, yet the ideal size for MLS was too big.
Overtown (2015–2018)
December 4, 2015: Beckham’s group secured a contract to buy a block in Overtown at 650 NW 8th Street, near Culmer station, Interstate 95, and Miami River. They also obtained a letter of intent from Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez to negotiate the purchase of an adjacent block owned by the county. This marked the fourth proposed location since the team was awarded, with a significant shift as the group dropped plans to avoid property taxes by having the city or county serve as the stadium’s landlord.
December 5: The MLS governing board endorsed this Overtown location.
March 24, 2016: Beckham’s group completed the purchase of the privately owned land for the soccer stadium.
June 6, 2017: The ownership group acquired the necessary 3 acres of county land to commence construction.
Development Shift: With Jorge Mas, from MasTec, joining Beckham’s team, plans emerged to abandon the Overtown site for a larger development near Miami International Airport.
Freedom Park (2018–present)
July 2018: Beckham and Mas presented plans for a 25,000-seat stadium within Freedom Park, a mixed-use complex at Melreese Country Club near the airport. This vast development encompassed public land with office, retail, and hotel space, soccer fields, a stadium, and a large public park. They agreed to pay $20 million annually for 30 years for city park improvements. City commissioners voted for a referendum in November 2018, securing a 60% vote in favour, needing further approval from city commissioners.
Concerns: The PGA Tour Latinoamérica moved its event from Melreese to Trump National Doral Miami Golden Palm due to concerns over the plan.
June 2019: Beckham announced a proposed 2022 launch for Freedom Park, authorized by a 60% voter referendum result and a judge’s decision preserving the referendum’s outcome. The $1 billion stadium complex would occupy 73 acres of city-owned Melreese land, with a public park adjacent to it. Inter Miami would play at least 17 home games annually in the 25,000-seat stadium.
August 20, 2019: Mayor Suarez confirmed severe soil contamination at the proposed site, surpassing legal arsenic, barium, and lead levels, and containing hazardous debris.
April 28, 2022: Miami City Council approved a 99-year lease for Inter Miami at Melreese, aiming for the stadium to open in the 2025 MLS season.
March 19, 2023: Melreese Golf Course closed for Miami Freedom Park’s construction, set to begin in August 2023, targeting a 2025 opening, with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled later in the year.
For more informations please visit the link below
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Freedom_Park
Overall, Miami Freedom Park is a major project that is expected to have a positive impact on the City of Miami for many years to come.