Inter Miami on Saturday “finally got to play in Miami” after spending six years in a temporary stadium in Fort Lauderdale, officially opening its $350M Nu Stadium with a 2-2 tie against Austin FC. There were “questions, as late as Friday, whether the 26,700-seat stadium would be ready to host the historic occasion.” The building “did not yet have a temporary certificate of occupancy,” and construction was “still ongoing in and around the grounds.” There were also “concerns about traffic gridlock around the airport and neighboring streets.” The city of Miami granted Nu Stadium a “limited event permit, which is limited to that day, with specific hours, restrictions and additional precautions.” Traffic “flowed more smoothly than most expected,” considering it was opening night at a new venue. Fans arrived “several hours early and passed the time in the Fan Zone, awaiting the opening of the gates” (MIAMI HERALD, 4/5).
The stadium itself is “not complete,” as there are “whole sections of the lower bowels that are not finished.” Stadium stairwells “haven’t been fully swept of debris,” and “not all concession sites were fully operational.” But that did not stop MLS Commissioner Don Garber from calling the venue “breathtaking” in comments before the game. There is “general acknowledgment that it will take more time before the stadium is fully optimized” (THE ATHLETIC, 4/5).
When asked if Inter Miami “should have delayed or postponed its match so the stadium could be further completed,” Garber said, “It’s still got some work to be done. Frankly, I was here a month ago or so, and what’s happened in the last 30 days, where they are today is just remarkable. It’s way further along than I expected it to be.” Garber also “praised” Inter Miami co-owners David Beckham and Jorge Mas for their work. Garber: “It’s absolutely spectacular. It feels to me like a building that could rival any sports facility anywhere in the world. Not just soccer stadiums, but any sports building” (USA TODAY, 4/5).
