Miami OKs soccer and business complex at Melreese, ties in UM football

Written by John Charles Robbins on April 28, 2022

The Miami City Commission has approved a proposed 99-year lease of the city property next to Miami International Airport to a private company for development of Miami Freedom Park, to become home to a professional soccer stadium and commercial project.

A four-fifths vote was needed for approval.

It came with a 4-to-1 vote at the end of a more than five-hour special meeting Thursday. Commissioner Manolo Reyes was the lone no vote.

It means the end of Melreese golf course, which has operated on the city-owned land for years.

Commissioner Joe Carollo had methodically laid out a compromise to the original proposed agreement that would bring the city higher rent revenue and other guarantees.

What appeared mostly to be a cooperative and collaborative meeting spiraled late into a shouting match between Commissioners Ken Russell and Alex Diaz de la Portilla.

At 7:50 p.m., Chair Christine King called for an immediate 15- to 30-minute recess, and uniformed police officers flanked the dais.

The meeting was reconvened at about 8:40 p.m. with Mr. Russell addressing the room, apologizing for his outburst but saying he is very passionate about this matter.

One of the items Mr. Russell was advocating for in a final agreement was to ensure the city’s no net loss of parkland – a requirement in the city charter – be upheld.

The Melreese property is about 131 acres and is considered parkland.

The deal with David Beckham and partners Jorge and Jose Mas will turn over the property to the private development company for an MLS stadium and a commercial park that is to include an office complex, retail, and a hotel, along with construction of a new 58-acre public park, paid for and maintained by the private company.

A last-minute addition to the deal directs the Mas brothers and Mr. Beckham to immediately begin talks with the University of Miami to join in the stadium project, so the venue can be home for the university’s Hurricanes football team, if a deal can be worked out in 90 days.