Miami Freedom Park

Miami Freedom Park[1][2] is a proposed 25,000 seat soccer-specific stadium, retail shops, hotels, restaurants, and a training center to be built in Miami, Florida for Inter Miami CF. While the location of the stadium is yet to be finalized, the team's ownership group led by David Beckham has expressed a desire to build on the Miami waterfront; other locations elsewhere in Miami have been offered as fallbacks.

Miami Freedom Park
Miami Freedom Park
Location in Miami
Miami Freedom Park
Location in Florida
Miami Freedom Park
Location in the United States
LocationMiami, Florida
Coordinates25.7906144°N 80.2624254°W / 25.7906144; -80.2624254
Public transit Tri-Rail
Miami Metrorail
at Miami Intermodal Center
OwnerInter Miami CF
OperatorInter Miami CF
TypeSoccer-specific stadium
Capacity25,000
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened2022 (expected)
ArchitectHOK
Arquitectonica
Tenants
Inter Miami CF (MLS) (2022–)
Website
www.miamifreedompark.com

Shortly after the team was announced in March 2014, the group presented a plan to build a 25,000-seat stadium at PortMiami, but opposition from port businesses led to the May 2014 announcement of a second location, on a reclaimed land at Museum Park, with a reduced capacity of 20,000, but that site was also rejected by the city of Miami. The team has announced its intent to build the stadium with mostly private funds. In December 2015, a private site was located, along with a commitment to purchase adjacent land owned by Miami-Dade Sewer, that would not seek public funds or tax breaks.[3] However, that plan was also abandoned after the ownership group announced a desire for a larger site. The latest site is near Miami International Airport and would be part of a 131-acre (53 ha) multi-use development.

Major League Soccer has stated that a league approval of the Miami's expansion bid was conditional on the team securing a downtown stadium site.[4]

PortMiami (2014)
The initial proposal put the stadium at the southwest corner of Dodge Island.

On March 25, 2014, Beckham announced plans to build a 25,000-seat stadium at PortMiami, adjacent to American Airlines Arena in the Downtown area of the city.[5] Under the proposal, the stadium would have been located at the southwest corner of Dodge Island and be accessible by a pedestrian bridge from Biscayne Boulevard and the Miami Heat's American Airlines Arena.[6]

On April 8, 2014, Miami-Dade commissioners refused to let PortMiami relocate a fuel-spill facility that would have needed to move in order to accommodate the stadium and entertainment complex. The stadium plan called for a commercial complex where the facility is located.[7] Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, who had previously proposed developing on the same site,[8] formed the Miami Seaport Alliance (MSA), a coalition of companies and unions based in the port, and led the opposition to the stadium plan.[9] Political strategist Joe Slade White created an advertising campaign for MSA, which later won a national award for best public affairs advertising,[10] claiming that a stadium would worsen traffic problems and interfere with the port's plans to expand and handle increased cargo.[11] Beckham's real estate adviser argued that Royal Caribbean opposed the stadium plan because it paid below-market rates on its lease at the port.[12]

Facing political pressure, Beckham's group announced that the PortMiami site had become "Plan B", and Miami-Dade County commissioners voted 11–1 against building the stadium at PortMiami on May 20, 2014.[13]

On February 3, 2015, in a move that was described as symbolic, county commissioners voted unanimously to recommend FIU Stadium as a temporary home for the expansion team. Commissioner Juan C. Zapata, who sponsored the item, said "I think we did [Beckham] a big disservice. I know that when I've met with him, I have apologized, because I think we could have treated him better."[14]

Museum Park (2014)
Under the second proposal, the stadium would have been built in Museum Park, with the boat slip adjacent to American Airlines Arena filled in.

On May 5, 2014, with the PortMiami proposal facing fierce opposition, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Giménez proposed an alternate location on the waterfront, by filling a boat slip between American Airlines Arena and Museum Park. Giménez wrote in a letter to Beckham's real estate adviser that "Downtown Miami would greatly benefit" from a waterfront park that included the stadium and pedestrian walkways. The land, owned by the city of Miami, would have had to be sold or conveyed to the county, and Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado said filling the slip "would be a monumental task."[15] Giménez and Regaldo discussed filling the slip in December 2013, but said the land was not being considered for a soccer stadium.[16]

Following a meeting with Mayors Regalado and Gimenez, Beckham's group announced on May 19, 2014 that the boat slip location had become "Plan A". The site required approval from the commissioners of the city and county, who both owned parts of the land needed for the stadium, and the city charter required a public vote.[17] According to plans presented by Beckham's group on May 22, 2014, the 20,000-seat stadium would take up 4.2 acres (1.7 ha) of the 19-acre (7.7 ha) park, while adding 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) by filling the deep-water basin.[18]

The Miami Marlins had considered the boat slip location for its new stadium, but rejected the plan, as it would have cost millions of dollars to pump out water and transport rocks from elsewhere to fill the slip.[15]

Critics warned the stadium would put a strain on area roads and pipes and others criticized using a public parkland for a stadium,[18] and residents of nearby condominiums expressed concerns that the stadium may obstruct the ocean view.[8]

After the city reported that the two sides were "too far apart" in negotiations over rent,[19] Mayor Regalado and City Manager Daniel Alfonso turned down the proposal on June 10, 2014 and the proposal was rejected.[20]

Little Havana (2014–15)
Rendering of the proposed site next to Marlins Park

MLS president Mark Abbott said in June 2014 that the league was not interested in building in Little Havana next to Marlins Park[21] (although the initial plans included a soccer stadium to be built alongside it, a plan supported by the league in 2008).[22]

In February 2015, Miami-Dade County commissioner Xavier Suárez suggested two previously proposed sites – next to Marlins Park and on the Miami River near Miami International Airport. Suárez told the Miami New Times that he had already discussed the latter location with Beckham's advisor and the developer who owns the land, previously a Bertram Yacht boatyard. Suárez said both locations fit a broad interpretation of the league's insistence on a "downtown" location and the Marlins Park location's "taint" had faded.[23]

On March 4, 2015, Miami-Dade County commissioners passed a resolution calling on Mayor Gimenez to negotiate with Beckham's group over a county-owned parcel of land on the west side of Marlins Park.[24]

On July 17, 2015, Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado announced a tentative deal to build the park on city-owned land next to Marlins Park, pending approval from city commissioners.[25] However, in November 2015, Commissioner Francis Suarez said it was taken off the city commission agenda for December 1, 2015, where approval was required to get the stadium on the March 2016 ballot. Suarez cited Beckham's group's inability to secure deals with private landowners.[26]

When the team was announced in March 2014, Miami International Airport, Marlins Park and Florida International University were mentioned as alternative sites should downtown stadium plans fall through.[27]

Cities in neighboring Broward County were asked in July 2014 to forward a list of possible locations for a stadium[28] and the county previously offered a county-owned site next to the BB&T Center in Sunrise as a possible site. Before the team was announced, Palm Beach County Sports Commission contacted Beckham's group and proposed FAU Stadium for the team.[29]

The ownership group released a statement saying that a downtown Miami site was still preferred, but added, "there are other cities that would welcome an MLS club owned by [Beckham] and his partners."[29]

In August 2014, Commissioner Don Garber told Alexi Lalas of ESPN that the league "will not expand to Miami unless we have a downtown site for the stadium."[4]

In May 2015, University of Miami President Donna Shalala met with Beckham and his group to discuss a possible joint stadium for the MLS team and the Miami Hurricanes football team. Shalala said Sun Life Stadium, the existing home stadium with a capacity of over 65,000, was too big for the Hurricanes, but at the same time their target size of around 44,000 seats[30] was too big for MLS.[31]

Overtown (2015–18)

On December 4, 2015, Beckham's group announced it had secured a contract to purchase a privately owned block[32] in Overtown at 650 NW 8th Street[33] near Culmer station, Interstate 95 and Miami River. It also secured a letter of intent from Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez to negotiate the purchase of the block to the south, owned by the county. The Overtown site was the fourth proposed location announced by Beckham since the expansion team was awarded to Miami, but this was the first time the group dropped its attempt to avoid paying property taxes by having the city or county serve as the stadium's landlord.[3] On December 5, the MLS governing board endorsed the location,[34] and on March 24, 2016, it was reported by the Miami Herald that Beckham's group completed the purchase of the privately owned land portion needed for the soccer stadium.[35] On June 6, 2017, the ownership group acquired the 3 acres (1.2 ha) of county land required to begin construction.[36]

However, after Jorge Mas, who leads the South Miami construction and engineering firm MasTec with his brother Jose, joined Beckham's team, it announced it planned to abandon the Overtown site for a larger development near Miami International Airport.[37]

Freedom Park (2018–)

In July 2018, Beckham and Mas unveiled plans for a 25,000-seat stadium as part of Freedom Park, a mixed-use complex at the site of the city-owned Melreese Country Club near the airport. The development, to be built on 131 acres (53 ha) of public land, would include 1 million square feet (93,000 m2) of office, retail and commercial space, 750 hotel rooms, 23 acres (9.3 ha) of public soccer fields in addition to the 10.5-acre (4.2 ha) stadium, and the remaining 58 acres (23 ha) would be a public park. The owners would also make annual installments of $20 million for 30 years for improvements to public parks across the city.[38] City commissioners voted to approve a referendum on the November 2018 ballot that would ask if the city should negotiate a no-bid lease with the investors.[39] The measure passed with 60% of the vote, and will next require four out of five votes from city commissioners.[40]

Owing to concerns over the plan, the PGA Tour Latinoamérica moved the Shell Championship season-ending event from Melreese to Trump National Doral Miami Golden Palm in October 2018.

Beckham announced in June 2019 that Freedom Park has a proposed launch date 2022.[41] This has been approved by the results of a referendum in which 60% of the voters authorized the stadium. Also Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz's decision, preserved the results of a November referendum in which 60% of Miami voters authorized city administrators to negotiate a 99-year lease with the MLS team's ownership to develop Miami Freedom Park. The $1 billion stadium, hotel, office park and commercial campus is to be built on 73 acres (30 ha) of city-owned land, currently Melreese golf course. The team would also build an adjacent public park. The MLS team, Club Internacional de Fútbol (Inter Miami) would play 17 home games in the 25,000-seat stadium.

On August 20, 2019, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez confirmed a recent report that soil contamination at Melreese golf course, the proposed site for the stadium, was far worse than previously thought. According to CBS Miami, "...arsenic contamination levels are more than twice what is allowed by law. Barium and lead levels are also too high and there is debris in the soil that could cause physical hazards."[42]

Transportation

The Freedom Park site is located near Miami International Airport and the adjoining Miami Intermodal Center, a rail and bus transfer station. It is served by Metrorail trains to Downtown Miami, Tri-Rail commuter rail to the northern suburbs, and Amtrak intercity trains. The intermodal center is located on the north side of the canal that separates the stadium site from the airport.[43]

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gollark: Interesting!
gollark: ++experimental_qa "Bees" bee processor?
gollark: My home 7nm process is not quite ready for large-scale ICs yet.
gollark: This would be better if I could attain a GPU, but they are expensive at the best of times, which is not now.

References
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  2. Media, IMCF. "Miami Freedom Park". Inter Miami CF. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  3. Hanks, Douglas; Smiley, David (December 4, 2015). "Beckham announces Overtown site for soccer stadium". Miami Herald. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  4. Oshan, Jeremiah (July 29, 2014). "MLS won't go to Miami without downtown stadium, commissioner says". SB Nation. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  5. "David Beckham Unveils MLS Stadium Plans in Port of Miami". BBC. March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
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  8. Turner, Elliott (February 24, 2015). "How David Beckham's Miami MLS Stadium Deal Turned into a Disaster". VICE Sports. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  9. "Beckham's Miami Stadium Plan Hits Stormy Waters". Reuters. May 3, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  10. Mazzei, Patricia (January 30, 2015). "Ad campaign against David Beckham MLS stadium at PortMiami wins award". The Miami Herald. Naked Politics. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
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  13. Mazzei, Patricia (May 20, 2014). "Miami-Dade Commissioners: PortMiami Off-Limits for David Beckham Soccer Stadium". The Miami Herald. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  14. "FIU Stadium Approved As Temp. Venue For Miami Soccer Club". CBS Miami. February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
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  22. Mazzei, Patricia (June 16, 2014). "MLS doesn't like land next to Marlins Park for David Beckham's Miami soccer stadium". The Miami Herald.
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