Inter Miami CF

Inter Miami CF
Full name Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami
Short name Inter Miami
Founded January 28, 2018 (2018-01-28)
Stadium Miami MLS stadium
Capacity 25,000
Owners David Beckham
Simon Fuller
Marcelo Claure
Jorge and Jose Mas
Masayoshi Son
President David Beckham
League Major League Soccer
Website Club website

Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, referred to as Inter Miami CF or Inter Miami, is a professional soccer expansion team to be based in Miami, Florida.[1] The team is due to begin play in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2020, with its permanent home stadium opening a season or two later pending final decisions about financing and location.[2]

The ownership group, formed in 2013 as Miami Beckham United, now works through Miami Freedom Park LLC.[3] The group is led by David Beckham, his business partner Simon Fuller, and Miami-based Bolivian businessman Marcelo Claure.[4] On December 14, 2017, Masayoshi Son and brothers Jorge and Jose Mas were added to the ownership group.[5] The effort originated in a contract Beckham signed with MLS in 2007: he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy and negotiated an option to own an expansion team at a discounted franchise fee.[3]

MLS officially awarded the group an expansion team on January 29, 2018.[6][7] The award represented part of a larger expansion of MLS that would increase its number of teams to 24 by 2020 and 28 after that. Since Beckham's original announcement of his intention to place a team in Miami, Los Angeles FC, Minnesota United FC, and Atlanta United FC have begun MLS play.

Stadium plans remain unsettled. MLS and the team's ownership group announced in December 2015 that a new stadium would be built in the Overtown neighborhood of Miami,[8][9] but a newer proposal to build a stadium near Miami International Airport is currently under discussion. Which plans go forward will depend largely on the results of a public referendum to be held on November 6, 2018.[10]

Colors and badge

The Miami Beckham United group unveiled the team's name and colors on September 5, 2018. The official name was announced as Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami (Inter Miami CF). The crest, realized in style and colours that recall the city's Art Deco architectural tradition, displays two great white herons with interlocking legs forming a letter M. Between the herons is an eclipse, the sun bearing seven rays in an homage to the number Beckham often wore as a player.[1][11] The team colors are black, pink, and white.[12] The full achievement displays the team name encircling all with the roman numerals MMXX representing the year 2020, the planned inaugural season of play.[13]

The identity of the birds in the crest was subject to debate after the announcement and unveiling, with some speculating them to be flamingos and egrets.[14]

History

In November 2012, MLS commissioner Don Garber confirmed the league's renewed interest in placing an expansion franchise in Miami,[15] after the Miami Fusion folded following the 2001 season and an expansion bid led by Claure and FC Barcelona failed in 2009.[16]

When Beckham, who had received an option to purchase an expansion team at a price of $25 million when he joined the league in 2007,[17] ended his playing career in April 2013, the league held preliminary discussions with Beckham's advisers about several expansion targets, including Miami.[18] That same year, other investors, including Italian financier Alessandro Butini[19] and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross expressed interest in owning a Miami franchise as well.[20]

In his December 2013 state of the League address, Garber identified Beckham and Simon Fuller as potential owners in Miami.[21] Later that month, on December 17, Miami-Dade County commissioners voted unanimously to allow Mayor Carlos A. Giménez to negotiate with the Beckham-led group on a new stadium in downtown Miami.[22]

The league announced that Beckham exercised his option on February 5, 2014,[23] and that Miami Beckham United,[24] the investment group led by Beckham, Fuller and Claure, would own an expansion franchise in Miami, assuming that financing for a stadium could be agreed upon.[25] In presentations to officials and potential investors, the ownership group used "Miami Vice" and "Miami Current" as working titles for the club.[26] After its initial stadium proposals fell through, Commissioner Garber reiterated in August 2014 that the expansion would not be approved until a downtown stadium plan was secured.[27]

On January 29, 2018, the Miami Beckham United group, four years after the ownerships' original announcement of pursuing a team, was officially awarded the twenty-fifth MLS franchise and will launch in the 2020 season. Paul McDonough was hired as sporting director effective August 4.[28]

The team's ownership now operates through Miami Freedom Park LLC.[3] Some graphics used by the group have evoked the Freedom Tower, a city landmark.[29]

Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, or Inter Miami CF for short, was officially announced as the club's name on September 5, 2018.

Stadium

Current plans are for the team to begin play by 2020 and to open its 2021 season in a new stadium.[29] The current proposal is for a 25,000-seat stadium that would form part of Freedom Park, a mixed-use complex on the present site of the city-owned Melreese Country Club near the Miami International Airport. Approval for construction of the stadium depends on the outcome of a public referendum to be held in November 2018.[10]

The proposed development, to be built on 131-acre (53 ha) public land, would include 1,000,000 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.[30] 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. If the measure passes, the agreement would then require the approval by a four-vote supermajority of the five City of Miami commissioners. The plan faces opposition from supporters of the golf club and many details, such as fiscal responsibility for toxic incinerator ash in the soil, remain to be worked out.[31]

The proposal follows a lengthy exploration of options, some of which remain fallback positions for the city and the club.[32] Other locations which have been considered include: Dodge Island at PortMiami (2013), the Downtown Miami waterfront at Museum Park (2014),[33][34] a site adjacent to MLB's Marlins Park (2015), and a privately-owned site in Miami's Overtown (2015–16).[35][36][37][38] The possibility of the team opening its inaugural season in FIU Stadium at Florida International University while the permanent stadium is constructed near the airport or at the Overtown site remains open.[39][40] The latter was endorsed as a temporary option in a February 2015 vote by the Miami-Dade County commissioners.[41]

Supporters

A 200-member supporters group named Southern Legion was formed after the Fusion folded.[42] Members of the Southern Legion were on hand for the announcement that Beckham was exercising his option, presenting him with a scarf.[43]

References

  1. 1 2 "MLS Miami expansion team unveils name, crest". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  2. ↑ "David Beckham's new MLS team will be called Inter Miami". The Guardian. London. September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Flechas, Joey (July 17, 2018). "Revised terms for Beckham soccer stadium complex offer city concessions, more money". Miami Herald. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  4. ↑ Madigan, Nick (February 6, 2014). "Hurdles Ahead for Beckham and M.L.S. in Miami". The New York Times. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Three new owners added to David Beckham's Miami expansion team". MLSsoccer.com. MLS Digital. December 14, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  6. ↑ "It's official: Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Miami". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  7. ↑ "MLS announces David Beckham's expansion team in Miami". ESPN. January 29, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  8. ↑ Bandell, Brian (December 7, 2015). "Major League Soccer approves David Beckham's expansion team in Miami, Overtown location". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  9. ↑ "MLS announces possible plans to expand league to 28 teams, 2016 scheduling updates". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. December 6, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  10. 1 2 Davis, Craig (July 18, 2018). "Miami commission OK's referendum on David Beckham's MLS stadium plan". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  11. ↑ Gonzalez, Roger (September 5, 2018). "David Beckham's Miami MLS team unveils unique logo, color scheme and new name". CBSSports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  12. ↑ Phillips, Doug; Lerner, Keven (September 5, 2018). "Inter Miami: David Beckham's MLS team unveils name and crest". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Beckham's MLS team named Inter Miami CF". ESPN. September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  14. ↑ Bunch, Matthew (September 18, 2018). "Inter Miami CF logo explained in social media video". Magic City Soccer. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  15. ↑ Goff, Steven (November 26, 2012). "MLS commissioner's state of league". Soccer Insider.
  16. ↑ "Miami Barcelona MLS Campaign Is Dead". Goal.com. March 3, 2009.
  17. ↑ Kennedy, Paul (May 20, 2013). "Beckham is MLS expansion story du jour". Soccer Business Insider.
  18. ↑ Evans, Simon (May 17, 2013). "Soccer-Beckham talking to MLS about owning a new team". Yahoo!. Reuters.
  19. ↑ Kaufman, Michelle (October 2, 2013). "David Beckham group still working on Miami MLS bid; competing group emerges". The Miami Herald.
  20. ↑ "Alessandro Butini is the latest suitor in MLS' Miami expansion project". Planet Fútbol. October 2, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  21. ↑ Borg, Simon (December 3, 2013). "MLS commissioner Don Garber discusses expansion, scheduling in latest State of the League address". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer.
  22. ↑ Mazzei, Patricia (December 17, 2013). "Miami-Dade commissioners sound gung-ho about David Beckham's potential Major League Soccer stadium". The Miami Herald. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  23. ↑ Kaufman, Michelle (February 2, 2014). "Beckham-Miami deal one step closer; local visit plans revealed". The Miami Herald.
  24. ↑ Smith, Chris (March 24, 2014). "David Beckham's grand plan for Port Miami stadium for new MLS team". The Guardian. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  25. ↑ Mazzei, Patricia (February 5, 2014). "Soccer star David Beckham to bring MLS team to Miami". The Miami Herald.
  26. ↑ "Photos: possible logo, uniforms for David Beckham's Miami MLS club?". The Palm Beach Post. February 12, 2014. Archived from the original on February 15, 2014.
  27. ↑ "David Beckham's Miami MLS plans on hold until stadium secured". Sports Illustrated. July 29, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  28. ↑ Tom Bogert (August 2, 2018). "Miami MLS hires Paul McDonough from Atlanta to be Sporting Director". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  29. 1 2 "David Beckham's Miami MLS team might finally have a name". Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  30. ↑ Flechas, Joey (July 18, 2018). "After Beckham's 5-year quest, the next decision on his soccer stadium is up to voters". The Miami Herald. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  31. ↑ Koziarz, Jay (July 20, 2018). "Miami voters to decide fate of David Beckham's $1B soccer stadium". Curbed Miami. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  32. ↑ "David Beckham wins $9 million land deal for Miami soccer stadium". Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  33. ↑ Mazzei, Patricia (May 22, 2014). "David Beckham's latest Miami stadium plans revealed after earlier site scratched". The Miami Herald.
  34. ↑ Mazzei, Patricia (June 10, 2014). "David Beckham's MLS Stadium Is a No-Go at Downtown Miami's Museum Park, Boat Slip". The Miami Herald. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  35. ↑ "David Beckham group buys private land needed for Miami soccer stadium". Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Miami Stadium Land Deal A Not-So-Easy Score For Beckham - Law360". Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Beckham announces Overtown site for soccer stadium". The Miami Herald. December 4, 2015.
  38. ↑ "MLS owners support David Beckham's proposed Overtown stadium site". Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  39. ↑ "David Beckham unveils MLS stadium plans in Port of Miami". BBC Sport. March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Beckham group eyes Port of Miami for MLS home". Associated Press. March 24, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  41. ↑ "FIU Stadium Approved As Temp. Venue For Miami Soccer Club". CBS Miami. February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  42. ↑ Walfish, Josh (February 6, 2014). "Fans remain optimistic David Beckham will deliver MLS team to Miami". The Miami Herald. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  43. ↑ Wine, Steven (February 5, 2014). "Beckham exercises option to buy MLS team in Miami". U-T San Diego. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
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