With vote looming, Inter Miami CF touts benefits of Miami Freedom Park project
Miami Commissioners signed off on the city's biggest sports development deal since Marlins Park. Image via ARQUITECTONICA/ArquitectonicaGEO/MANICA.

Miami Freedom Park rendering ARQUITECTONICA-ArquitectonicaGEO-MANICA
'We believe that everyone has the undeniable right to expect timely, truthful, and accurate information.'

As a vote approaches to decide the fate of a planned new soccer stadium and park project, Inter Miami CF is looking to highlight the potential benefits of the construction project.

Inter Miami CF is looking to lease city land, which houses the Melreese Golf Course, and convert it into a sprawling stadium, park and commercial setup. Inter Miami CF recently released a fact sheet defending the proposal, arguing the deal will pay 57% over fair market value rent to the city, pay $2.6 billion in rent to the city over the 99-year lease, and contribute $6.3 billion in tax revenue over that span.

However, the Miami City Commission will need to sign off on the lease agreement. Four members out of the five-person body must vote “yes” on the deal for it to go through. And Commissioner Manolo Reyes has already said he opposes the move.

That means the club must secure support from the four remaining members of the Commission. That’s a narrow window for the vote, now scheduled for April 28.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez supports the deal, but the arrangement has faced several obstacles. The City Commission has postponed a vote on the project four separate times in just the past two months, most recently in late March.

Still, Inter Miami CF is confident in the terms of the deal, which the organization says will create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute an additional $25 million to public parks.

The soccer club has faced criticism from some in recent days, however, with detractors saying the proposed Miami Freedom Park lease terms don’t provide enough benefits to the city of Miami.

“This is a billion-dollar heist happening in broad daylight,” argued ex-Marlins Marlins President David Samson in a video pushed by filmmaker Billy Corben, a vocal opponent of the current deal.

That video prompted swift pushback from Inter Miami CF, as well as owners David Beckham and Jorge and Jose Mas.

“The team is aware of a social media campaign aiming to misinform and confuse the public about the impact the Miami Freedom Park will have (on) the city and its residents,” read a statement from the organization.

“We believe that everyone has the undeniable right to expect timely, truthful, and accurate information.”

According to the club, the project is privately funded and would “create the largest park in the city.”

The lease would allow the team to construct a $1 billion complex alongside the 25,000-seat stadium for the soccer team. The land would also contain shopping outlets and a 58-acre public park, as well as other amenities.

“Miami Freedom Park went through the best type of bidding process, the voter process,” the statement continued. “The majority of the city’s voters sent their Commissioners a clear message to advance with this project: a 25,000-seat stadium, 750 hotel rooms, commercial and office space, community fields, and the largest public park in the city, generating jobs and tax revenue.”

Ryan Nicol

Ryan Nicol covers news out of South Florida for Florida Politics. Ryan is a native Floridian who attended undergrad at Nova Southeastern University before moving on to law school at Florida State. After graduating with a law degree he moved into the news industry, working in TV News as a writer and producer, along with some freelance writing work. If you'd like to contact him, send an email to [email protected].


2 comments

  • Joe Anderson

    April 26, 2022 at 5:58 am

    People of Miami, don’t get duped into this stadium. I live in a neighborhood a few hundred yards from the soccer stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Inter Miami promised things here, and they were never done. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you. Our commissioner Heather M. Is a moron. She lives nowhere near the stadium and has no idea what the impact is on the neighbors, and neighborhood, nor does she care. It’s been 3 years, and we’re still waiting for the other part of the park to be built. It looks like it’s not going to happen. Don’t let this happen to you. Traffic is a nightmare on game day. Are quiet little neighborhood is inundated with traffic on these days to the point where we can’t get out of our driveway to leave. We have complained many times to the mayor which is pointless, it falls on deaf ears. They promised us things to protect the neighborhood and it never happened. Don’t let this happen to you I warn you. This is more about David Beckham and money and nothing more don’t be fooled!

  • Billy Willen

    April 26, 2022 at 4:16 pm

    Hey Mr. Anderson, so what are the “things” that Inter Miami promised ??

Comments are closed.


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