Miami Freedom Park LLC

Who owns Miami Freedom Park LLC?
Miami Freedom Park LLC is owned by a group of private investors led by Jorge Mas as managing owner, with David Beckham as a significant minority owner. The ownership group also includes Marcelo Claure, Jose Mas, and other private investors. Jorge Mas, chairman of MasTec (NYSE: MTZ), provides the primary financial backing.

Is Miami Freedom Park LLC publicly traded?
No. Miami Freedom Park LLC is a private company and is not publicly traded. Forbes valued Inter Miami at approximately $1.3 billion in 2024, making it one of the most valuable MLS franchises.

When was Miami Freedom Park LLC founded?
The company was founded in 2018 when the ownership group, led by Jorge Mas and David Beckham, was awarded the 25th MLS expansion team. Inter Miami CF began play in the 2020 MLS season.

What is Miami Freedom Park?
Miami Freedom Park is a planned 131-acre stadium and entertainment complex near Miami International Airport, currently targeting a 2026 opening. The project includes a 25,000-seat stadium for Inter Miami CF, a 58-acre public park, youth soccer fields, retail and entertainment venues, and a technology hub. The estimated cost is approximately $1 billion, funded privately by the ownership group. Miami voters approved the project in a November 2022 referendum.

How much did Inter Miami pay for Lionel Messi?
Messi's contract is reportedly worth $50 to $60 million annually, including salary and equity. The contract was structured with contributions from MLS, Apple TV (which holds MLS streaming rights), and Adidas (MLS's apparel partner), in addition to Inter Miami. Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023 on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

What trophies has Inter Miami won?
Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup, the franchise's first trophy, defeating Nashville SC in the final. In 2024, Inter Miami won the Supporters' Shield with 74 points, setting the MLS regular-season points record. The team was upset by Atlanta United in the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs.

Why was Inter Miami fined by MLS?
In 2023, MLS fined Inter Miami a record $2.27 million for violations of salary budget and roster rules related to the 2020 signing of Blaise Matuidi. The league found that Inter Miami had improperly classified Matuidi as a targeted allocation money player when he should have been a designated player, effectively circumventing salary budget rules.

The origins of Miami Freedom Park LLC trace to 2007, when David Beckham negotiated an option to purchase an MLS expansion team at a discounted franchise fee as part of his contract with the LA Galaxy. The option allowed Beckham to acquire a team for $25 million, well below the market rate for MLS expansion teams. After years of searching for a suitable market and stadium site, Beckham and his group focused on Miami.

In January 2018, MLS awarded the expansion team to the Miami ownership group, which initially included Beckham, Marcelo Claure (then CEO of Sprint), and Todd Boehly (part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers). Jorge Mas and his brother Jose Mas joined the ownership group later in 2018, providing additional financial backing and local business expertise. Jorge Mas became the managing owner, taking operational control of the franchise.

Inter Miami CF began play in the 2020 MLS season, initially using DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (now renamed Chase Stadium) as its home venue. The team played its first match on March 1, 2020, losing 1-0 to Los Angeles FC.

The franchise's early years were challenging, with the team missing the playoffs in 2020 and 2021. Phil Neville was hired as head coach ahead of the 2021 season but was fired in June 2023 after a poor start to the season.

In July 2023, Inter Miami signed Lionel Messi on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. Messi's contract, reportedly worth $50 to $60 million annually including salary and equity, was structured with contributions from MLS, Apple TV (which holds MLS streaming rights), and Adidas (MLS's apparel partner). The signing immediately transformed the franchise's global profile and financial trajectory.

Under Messi's leadership, Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup, defeating Nashville SC in the final. The team also added Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and later Luis Suarez, reuniting key members of Barcelona's historic teams. In 2024, Inter Miami set the MLS regular-season points record with 74 points, winning the Supporters' Shield. However, the team was upset by Atlanta United in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

The Miami Freedom Park stadium project has been a central focus of the company since its founding. In November 2022, Miami voters approved a referendum allowing the city to negotiate a lease for the 131-acre site near Miami International Airport, currently occupied by the Melreese Country Club golf course. The project includes a 25,000-seat stadium, a 58-acre public park, youth soccer fields, retail and entertainment venues, and a technology hub. The estimated cost is approximately $1 billion, funded privately by the ownership group. The project has faced environmental and regulatory challenges, including soil contamination concerns at the site, but construction is targeting completion in 2026.

Miami Freedom Park LLC has incorporated sustainability elements into the Miami Freedom Park development plan. The project includes a 58-acre public park, which represents approximately 44% of the 131-acre site. The development plan includes green space preservation, public access to recreational facilities, and youth soccer fields for community use.

The stadium project has faced environmental scrutiny related to soil contamination at the Melreese Country Club site, which was previously used as a landfill. Environmental assessments have been conducted, and remediation plans are part of the development process. The ownership group has committed to addressing environmental concerns as part of the construction process.

The company is not a certified B Corporation and does not publish standalone sustainability reports. As a private entity, its environmental and social practices are not subject to public disclosure requirements.

On community engagement, Inter Miami operates the Inter Miami Academy, which provides youth soccer development programs across South Florida. The academy offers opportunities for young players to develop skills and potentially advance to professional soccer. The foundation associated with the club has conducted community outreach programs in the Miami area.

• 2023 Leagues Cup Champions: Inter Miami won the 2023 Leagues Cup, the franchise's first trophy, defeating Nashville SC in the final
• 2024 Supporters' Shield: Inter Miami won the 2024 Supporters' Shield with 74 points, setting the MLS regular-season points record
• MLS Most Valuable Franchise (2024): Forbes valued Inter Miami at approximately $1.3 billion, ranking among the top three most valuable MLS franchises
• Messi Individual Awards: Lionel Messi won the 2023 Ballon d'Or (his eighth) while playing for Inter Miami, and was named MLS MVP for the 2024 season

The Miami Freedom Park stadium project has faced significant regulatory and environmental challenges. The site, formerly the Melreese Country Club golf course, is located on land that was previously used as a landfill, raising concerns about soil contamination. Environmental assessments identified elevated levels of arsenic and other contaminants, requiring remediation before construction can proceed.

The project required voter approval through a referendum in November 2022, which passed with approximately 60% support. However, some community groups opposed the project, citing concerns about traffic, environmental impact, and the use of public land for a private sports franchise. The lease negotiation with the City of Miami has been complex, with ongoing discussions about rent terms, environmental remediation responsibilities, and public benefits.

The signing of Lionel Messi in 2023 raised questions about MLS's salary cap and roster rules. Messi's contract, reportedly worth $50 to $60 million annually, was structured with contributions from MLS, Apple TV, and Adidas, in addition to Inter Miami. Some MLS team owners and observers questioned whether the league's single-entity structure and salary budget rules were being applied differently for a high-profile signing. MLS defended the arrangement as compliant with league rules, noting that designated player and allocation money mechanisms allow teams to sign high-profile players above the salary budget.

Inter Miami was fined a record $2.27 million by MLS in 2023 for violations of salary budget and roster rules related to the 2020 signing of Blaise Matuidi. The league found that Inter Miami had improperly classified Matuidi as a targeted allocation money player when he should have been a designated player, effectively circumventing salary budget rules. The fine was the largest in MLS history.

The firing of head coach Phil Neville in June 2023 drew media attention, as did the subsequent hiring of Tata Martino, who had previously coached Messi with the Argentine national team and Atlanta United.