The Miami city commission last night approved plans for a soccer stadium for Inter Miami and they say it won’t cost taxpayers “a cent.”
Miami commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of the Freedom Park Project which will build a soccer stadium on the site of the Melreese Golf Course.
The new 25,000-seat stadium will be entirely privately funded.
We won tonight, your dream is a reality. #MiamiFreedomPark comes to the City of Miami! pic.twitter.com/bfWWfu2lWY
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 29, 2022
Commissioner Ken Russell said they were focusing on getting the best deal for residents.
The deal calls for the MLS team to get a 99-year lease on over 70 acres of city land at the Melreese Golf Course.
Miami Freedom Park will include a 25-thousand seat stadium, a hotel, retail space and a park covering almost 60 acres.
During public comment, some residents cried foul saying, “It is the city government putting the thumb on the scale on behalf of a billionaire.”
The next step, a key vote on zoning changes.
Until then, Inter Miami will maintain permanent facilities in Fort Lauderdale with a 50,000-square-foot training ground and DRV PNK Stadium.
The club will continue to play home matches at DRV PNK Stadium while they work towards constructing Miami Freedom Park which is expected to be finished for the 2025 MLS season.