Another big step has been made towards building a new stadium for Inter Miami. The MLS team, partially owned by David Beckham, overcame a major obstacle on September 13, when the Miami City Commission voted for allowing the construction of the stadium complex to begin.

Inter Miami CF is an American professional soccer club based in the Miami metropolitan area. The franchise was founded in 2018, and began competing in the MLS in the 2020 season, in which they won only 7 games and eventually finished in the 19th place. Betvictor bonus code allows soccer fans to bet on their favourite team. The ownership group, in which Beckham has 10% of shares, considered a few locations for the team’s home venue, before deciding on Fort Lauderdale, where the unused Lockhart Stadium stood. Time was of the essence in choosing this site, as the club's inaugural season was approaching and construction of the stadium had still not begun. 

© Moss & Associates, Manica Architecture

In early 2019 the ownership group received 50-year lease of the land including the old venue, as well as permission to create new training academy with 6 fields and a modular stadium, exactly on the site where Lockhart stood. The investment’s schedule was very tight, as only on April 3, 2019, green light for Lockhart demolition was given, while on March 11, 2020 Inter was to debut in the MLS. This left only 10 months for preparing the design and the construction to begin.

Despite the short time frame, DRV PNK Stadium, as the arena is now called, was indeed ready on March 11. The whole enterprise has reportedly cost $140 million. Inter was expected to play on the temporary 18,000-seater for at least two seasons. Now the time for change is approaching, as another milestone for the start of the development of Miami Freedom Park was reached. On September 13, the city commission voted 4-1 to approve zoning changes clearing the way to construction of the whole complex.

© Inter Miami CF

The whole compound will replace the Melreese Country Club, just beside Miami's International Airport. Of the current 53-hectare plot, only a set of few community ballparks will be retained. Apart from the main soccer-stadium for 25,000 spectators the complex will also consist of retail shops, hotels, restaurants, and a training center as well as vast public green areas. The whole project is expected to cost $1 billion. The stadium and site development project is being led carried out by Arquitectonica and HOK.

The Melreese golf course sits on contaminated land, so now the attention will be directed at an extensive clean-up of the area, which will radically transform the whole site. As part of the agreement, Inter Miami has pledged $20 million to Miami to be used for park improvements and a 'living wage' for future workers at the location.

© Inter Miami CF

The city has not yet signed a set of lease documents that were approved by the commissioners in April 2022, which allow Inter Miami to use the land for the next 99 years. New land valuations have been ordered to determine the final annual rent, but these have not been completed as well.