FT. LAUDERDALE (CelebrityAccess) Soccer team Inter Miami CF and the city of Ft. Lauderdale have finalized a plan for the team to lease the city’s Lockhart stadium site and renovate the property for $60 million.
The team will now move forward with structural and foundation construction of the site as it prepares for its inaugural season in Major League Soccer next march, according to Pan Stadia. Inter Miami will fully fund the renovation and agree to operate and maintain the site throughout the 50-year agreement. The city will maintain ownership of the property.
The agreement includes an 18,000-capacity soccer stadium, a training facility, several soccer fields, a turf field, running and walking trails, a playground and a dog park, according to Pan Stadia.
“We are thankful for the tremendous collaboration from the City of Fort Lauderdale in helping us finalize this agreement and proceed with the next phase of construction following demolition that concluded in late June,” team managing owner Jorge Mas said. “We are working diligently to finalize many elements of the Club to bring our fans closer to their first match, including bringing on corporate partners, signing players and unveiling a seating plan for the thousands of supporters across South Florida who have already secured their season ticket deposits in the coming months.”
“The agreement with Inter Miami CF is the beginning of an exciting future for Fort Lauderdale that brings more recreation and sports opportunities to residents with the soccer group shouldering the cost. Fort Lauderdale acted quickly and decisively to secure this arrangement that moves our city to the next level as a quality place to live,” Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean J. Trantalis said. “Together we greatly expand soccer opportunities for our youth and obtain a signature public park while also gaining an important role in the future of professional soccer in America. I would like to thank Jorge Mas and David Beckham for bringing this possibility to our city, and I look forward to a long future with them.”
