Inter Miami finally secures stadium site at Freedom Park

David Beckham's journey to establish a Major League Soccer team in Miami has been fraught with challenges since he announced his intentions in 2014. After years of failed attempts to secure a stadium deal, the ownership group finally achieved a significant milestone in April 2022 when Miami city commissioners approved a 99-year ground lease for a new stadium. This decision came after a public referendum in November 2018, where approximately 60% of voters supported negotiations for leasing the site of a former golf course, despite environmental concerns regarding contamination. The new stadium, set to be completed in 2026, will accommodate 25,000 spectators and will be part of a larger mixed-use facility near Miami International Airport. Although it is not the waterfront venue Beckham initially envisioned, the approval marks a crucial step forward for Inter Miami, which has been playing temporarily in Fort Lauderdale since its inception. The road to this approval was complicated by political hurdles, including an ethics complaint against the ownership group and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed progress. Throughout this period, Beckham maintained an ambitious timeline, initially aiming for a 2022 opening, but the realities of local governance and public sentiment necessitated a more extended timeline. Ultimately, the approval of the stadium lease represents a culmination of a decade-long effort to bring professional soccer back to Miami, reflecting both the persistence of the ownership group and the evolving landscape of sports in the region.