PROFILEmiami South Florida Real Estate and Lifestyle

View Original

Messi Mania: Construction Begins on Miami Freedom Park and Inter Miami CF Stadium

Inter Miami CF has begun construction began on Miami Freedom Park and The Inter Miami CF stadium, following the closing of one of Miami’s last remaining pubic golf courses, Melreese Country Club: Miami International Links. Construction is now underway on Miami Freedom Park, a 131-acre privately funded entertainment district development anchored by a new 25,000-seat fútbol specific stadium and 58-acre public park. Miami Freedom Park scheduled to open in 2025 and the official groundbreaking ceremony will take place later this year.

Crews and heavy equipment are now on site, performing earthwork and sitework that will move across the 131 acres concurrent with vertical construction. This multi-phase effort will see the stadium, public park, entertainment, hospitality, retail, and new infrastructure that make up Miami Freedom Park’s first phase all progress rapidly.

Miami Freedom Park will feature a full range of entertainment and commercial offerings including office space, hotel, shops, restaurants, the stadium and additional experiences and attractions. Recreational components of the project include a new 58-acre public park featuring soccer and youth athletic fields for the community.

"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 Jorge Mas, Inter Miami CF Managing Owner. “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.”

Leasing and commercial partnership efforts are underway to attract best-in-class partners, tenants, and retailers, including established and emerging brands and companies that will enhance this iconic new destination for Miami.

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. Devon has further curated a team of best-in-class design, engineering, project management and construction firms to bring Miami Freedom Park to this milestone and move the 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,” said Devon McCorkle, President of Miami Freedom Park. “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 Freedom Park’s design team team includes Miami-based architecture firm Arquitectonica, global arena and stadia design firm Manica, and industry-leading large-scale stadium project managers CAA Icon. 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.

Miami hit Messi mania following the international soccer superstar and World Cup champion’s announcement he would join the American Major League Soccer team Inter Miami FC in a blockbuster mega-deal announced on July 15. Inter Miami CF, owned by David Beckham, Jorge Mas and Jose Mas, became one of the most-Googled soccer teams in the world surrounding Lionel Messi’s debut with the team this summer, garnering over 8.4 million searches in two months and searches for both Inter Miami CF jerseys and tickets up over 1,000%. Ticket prices jumped from below $50 on average to nearly $500 for the cheapest ticket to see Messi play live, similar ticket price spikes occurred for his first game with Inter Miami CF in Orlando as well as in New York. Following Messi’s announcement he would be joining Inter Miami CF the team’s Instagram account would jump from 175,000 followers to over 4.4 million.