Inter Miami CF Kicks Off New Era For South Florida Soccer In Nu Stadium

Inter Miami is elevating soccer in South Florida with a billion dollar new stadium complex that will see a hotel, residential, retail, office space, and expanded zones for experiences before and after games.

Doug Gollan

Just to the east of Miami International Airport, the future of soccer in South Florida arrived on-time earlier this month, as Inter Miami CF moved into its new stadium, Nu Stadium, at Miami Freedom Park just in time for the start of the 2026 season. Footballing legend David Beckham is a high-profile co-owner, while soccer great Lionel Messi provides the star power on the field.

However, the team’s final destination was not the first choice. Early proposals included Dodge Island, where cruise ships depart, a spot next to the basketball arena where the NBA's Heat play in downtown Miami, and two different venues on the Miami River, including one adjacent to where the baseball Marlins call home.

Inter Miami, which first took to the field in 2020, had been playing at a stadium north of Fort Lauderdale, which, with the region’s famous traffic, often meant irritatingly long drives from the city and its affluent southern suburbs such as Coral Gables, Pinecrest and Coconut Grove.

The new Freedom Park venue means residents in the proliferating high-rise towers in Brickell, Downtown, and Edgewater can be at the stadium in under 20 minutes, as well as offering convenient access for those who live south and north. There’s also access via Miami’s Metrorail which runs south of the city and Tri-Rail, which offers commuter train service north to Palm Beach County.

John Lampl and his wife, Maria Dominguez, both retired executives with British Airways who live seasonally in the Brickell area of Miami, have been season ticket holders since 2022.

Inside fans will find a state-of-the-art facility. Outside Inter Miami will offer its patrons expanded areas for pre-and-post game concerts, festivities, and interactive experiences.

Doug Gollan

Of the former venue, Lampl says, “Depending on the day and time of the games, if it were a weekday, we would leave at least two, two and a half hours in advance because of the traffic on I-95.”

Both Lampl and Dominguez say the new stadium is a winner.

Dominguez says they signed up for the season tickets not as rabid fans but "as something to do."

Lampl says the former stadium "wasn't the best situation, but it was the best they could do at the time."

Season ticket holders Maria Dominguez and John Lampl say they are excited about Nu Stadium and are happy they no longer have to drive to Fort Lauderdale to attend Inter Miami home games.

Maria Dominguez

In addition to attending the first two home games at Nu Stadium, named for Brazilian Nubank, they were at a pre-opening for media, influencers, and season ticket holders.

Lampl and Dominguez said that with each visit, they are seeing progress and improvements.

The 26,700-seat stadium is part of a billion-dollar complex that will eventually include a hotel, retail, office, and housing space; however, its core mission is to create an experience that transcends the play on the field.

Fans at Inter Miami home games help keep the excitement level high via a constant stream of beating drums and waving flags for the entire 90 minute match. Pictured are Inter Miami fans during the team's 2-2 draw with its New York rival.

Doug Gollan

The still-under-construction venue opened with temporary city permission before receiving a full certificate of occupancy in advance of its second home game, according to the Miami Herald.

Inside the stadium, there are a variety of seating options. There is a large swath of VIP sections and boxes that go for over $10,000 per game.

Dominguez says their season tickets, 12 rows up from the field, include lounge access, plus discounts on food and beverage, plus other perks, and run around $3,600 per seat for the 17 home games. Lampl says they prefer the line of sight to the field over some of the VIP boxes, which are located at the field level.

Jacob Ehrensvard, a tourist from Stockholm, Sweden, who attended the game with his six-year-old son August and wife Jennifer, said he was equally pleased with his seats, which were several rows from the top of the stadium.

Nu Stadium, home of Inter Miami, offers a wide variety of dining options from traditional hot dogs to Latin and Caribbean cuisine, plus concepts from local chefs.

Doug Gollan

"It's quite steep, so even though we were high up, you have great views of the action, and the seats were very comfortable," he said.

While seats for individual games start under $100, tickets close to the action for the next game against the New England Revolution reach up to $1,500 per seat.

Dominguez says that so far, they have been impressed by the quality and variety of dining options, ranging from hot dogs to Caribbean and Latin cuisine, as well as by local establishments.

They also say the pre- and post-game concerts add to the vibe. For a recent 7:30 pm kickoff against New York, while stadium gates opened at 5:30 pm, access to the park outside the stadium opened at 3:00 pm with food stands, picnic areas, and live music. Renderings suggest more extensive interactive experiences on the horizon.

Inside the gates, the outdoor stadium features a roof covering that protects all fans from the region's passing downpours.

Jacob Ehrensvard, who attended the game with his son August, while visiting from Stockholm, Sweden, complimented the stadium design and seat comfort.

Doug Gollan

A raucous group of fans keeps the volume up throughout the match, beating drums and waving large flags.

During the pregame festivities, the band members march onto the field, and during the first two games, there were pregame fireworks that created pink clouds, the team's predominant color.

While Lampl and Dominguez appreciate the shorter driving distance, they noted that parking in the newly constructed garage costs $50.

Like others, they said exiting the park needs improvement. Getting to the area for rideshare pickup requires walking via unfinished pathways. Multiple attendees gave up after waiting upwards of an hour as Uber and Lyft vehicles sat snarled in a system of aisles that seemed poorly designed. The walk to the public transportation meant traversing poorly lit parking lots, a lack of signage, and attendants who were also unsure of which way to go.

The location of Freedom Park next to the airport has also sparked controversy, with online commenters noting that Miami International Airport now warns flyers about possible traffic delays before and after the games.

So far, Lampl and Dominguez say their biggest concern is the team’s on-field performance, with only a pair of draws, including the first game against an inferior team from Austin, Texas. Inter Miami is the league's defending champion.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com