Messi’s new soccer home, Miami Freedom Park stadium, is finally under construction
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
If all goes according to plan, Lionel Messi will have a permanent, proper 25,000-seat stadium to play in at some point during the 2025 Major League Soccer season.
Inter Miami, which has been playing at DRV PNK Stadium, a temporary facility in Fort Lauderdale, announced Monday night that construction began on Miami Freedom Park earlier this month.
Fencing has gone up, crews and heavy equipment are now on site, performing earthwork and site work. The new stadium, adjacent to Miami International Airport, includes a 58-acre public park and entertainment district and is scheduled to open in 2025.
The official groundbreaking ceremony for the 131-acre project will take place later this year.
“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,” said Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas.
“In creating a multifaceted 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.”
Since joining Inter Miami last month, Messi, the Argentine icon, has scored 11 goals in nine games and led the team to a nine-game win streak after Miami went winless for the 11 games prior to his arrival. Everywhere the team goes, thousands of diehard Messi fans show up and pay 10 times regular ticket prices to see their hero. The other MLS stadiums he has played in thus far — Dallas, Philadelphia, Nashville, Cincinnati and Harrison, New Jersey — were sold out.
Deafening chants of “We Want Messi! We Want Messi” greeted the World Cup champion for the Inter Miami road game against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night. When he scored, the place erupted. Roughly one-third of the crowd of 26,000 was wearing a No. 10 Messi jersey from the Argentine national team, FC Barcelona or Inter Miami.
Messi signed a two-and-a-half year $150 million deal with Inter Miami, which includes equity in the team upon his retirement from the league. The plan is for him to play at Miami Freedom Park in 2025.
Miami Freedom Park’s lease and the redevelopment plan for the former Melreese Country Club were previously approved by voters and the City of Miami Commission.
Leasing and commercial partnership efforts are underway to attract partners, tenants, and retailers, including established and emerging brands, according to the team.
Earlier this year, Inter Miami CF ownership brought on experienced megaproject and sports-anchored real estate investment and development veteran Devon McCorkle to lead the effort as President of Miami Freedom Park.
Between 2016-2022, McCorkle helped lead the creation of Centennial Yards Company for CIM Group to act as the owner and master developer of a 50-acre master-planned project in Downtown Atlanta anchored by State Farm Arena, Mercedes Benz Stadium and Centennial Olympic Park.
He has hired a team of design, engineering, project management and construction firms to move the Miami Freedom Park project into the execution phase following completion of the planning and approvals phase.
“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,” McCorkle said. “Everyone wants to be part of what we’re creating, a new entertainment district that will be the centerpiece 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.”
Miami-based architecture firm Arquitectonica, global arena and stadia design firm Manica, and large-scale stadium project managers CAA Icon are part of the project team.
Following delivery of the stadium and initial retail and entertainment offerings in 2025, Miami Freedom Park will deliver additional retail, hotel and commercial phases through 2030.
