Inter Miami CF transformed the old Lockhart Stadium site in South Florida to create their new home for Major League Soccer (MLS) – Inter Miami CF Stadium. The venue was also recently announced as the first non-UK campus for Global Institute of Sport (GIS).
Only two months before the franchise’s MLS debut, the 18,000 capacity stadium was still a construction site. With nearly 300 workers on site 12-hours a day, seven days a week, it was a race against time to finish the development in time for the start of the Club’s inaugural season in MLS. As each day passed, the construction team became more determined to complete the project – if lightning struck in the area, they only took a 30-minute break before resuming work again, which is the minimum requirement to meet all safety guidelines on the site.
Incredibly, the development was completed within eight months. David Manica, who designed the stadium, previously said: “I believe this represents a new benchmark for high-quality stadiums that can be delivered in a short amount of time, at a very reasonable cost per seat.”
With an estimated $50 million spent on the project, the impressive stadium hopes to draw in soccer fans from South Florida and across the US as MLS continues to grow and expand, not only with the number of professional franchises, but also with the growing number of new soccer-specific venues being built across the states. The league is now home to 26 teams, with Inter Miami being among two new additions in 2020 - nearly double the number of clubs in MLS when co-owner David Beckham moved to LA Galaxy in 2007 as a player.
With his move to the North American soccer landscape, the league saw the creation of the Designated Player rule, frequently referred to as the Beckham rule, which allowed teams to attract and sign big star players who would otherwise exceed the league-wide salary cap. Nearly a decade later, Beckham continues his legacy by contributing to the league as a new club owner alongside Jorge and Jose Mas, Marcelo Claure and Masayoshi Son.
All efforts were made worthwhile when, in August, Inter Miami CF opened their doors for the first time to a limited number of fans, following a six-month delay due to COVID-19. The match ended in a thrilling 3-2 victory over state rivals Orlando City SC, a historic moment for this new franchise.
