Inter Miami CF recently announced that they will be extending their stay at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, until the end of the 2025 Major League Soccer season. This news comes as a surprise to many fans who were expecting the new venue, Miami Freedom Park, to be ready by 2025. The club confirmed in emails to fans that the upcoming season will be the “final season” at Chase Stadium before the move to the new stadium in Miami.
The decision to delay the move to Miami Freedom Park has not been well received by all fans. Some have expressed disappointment over the second price increase in season tickets since the arrival of Lionel Messi in 2023. One season ticket holder since 2020, Morgan Guigon, made the decision not to renew his membership this year due to the price hikes and the delay of the new stadium. He mentioned, “2025 was widely advertised as the year the team would move to Miami Freedom Park, and has been used as a ‘benefit’ of season tickets since the inaugural year.”
Another fan expressed frustration by highlighting Messi’s absence from many matches and the subsequent drop in ticket value. The decision to raise ticket prices has left some fans questioning the logic behind the increase, especially in light of the delays in moving to the new stadium.
With the target year now set for 2026 to move to Miami Freedom Park, there is uncertainty surrounding Messi’s future with the club. His contract is set to expire at the end of 2025, and it is unclear whether he will choose to extend his time with Inter Miami. This raises questions about whether fans will get the chance to see Messi play at the new stadium as originally planned.
Construction on the 25,000-seat Miami Freedom Park began in August 2023, with the initial target of opening in 2025. However, the latest announcement suggests that the completion date may be pushed back to 2026. Despite missing the playoffs in the previous season, Inter Miami currently sits at the top of the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings after 25 games this year.
The delay in moving to Miami Freedom Park has sparked mixed reactions among fans, with some expressing disappointment over the price increases and uncertainty about Messi’s future with the club. The construction progress of the new stadium and the team’s performance on the field will be closely watched as Inter Miami navigates this transitional period.
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