Site Of Miami's Future Soccer Stadium Abruptly Shut Down

MIAMI, FL — Miami officials on Tuesday night abruptly shut down the city-owned Melreese Country Club until further notice pending a "favorable analysis" of environmental tests conducted on behalf of a group led by businessman Jorge Mas and soccer legend David Beckham who plan to construct the proposed billion-dollar Miami Freedom Park soccer complex on the site.

The tests showed the presence of high levels of arsenic and debris in certain areas that were tested, most likely left over from when the site served as a dump for incinerator ash during the 1950s, according to city officials. See also Beckham Group Proposes $3.5 Million In Rent To Miami, New Park

"There's no indication that anyone has been exposed to any harmful chemicals," Miami Mayor Francis Surarez said Tuesday in a videotaped message to residents. "Based on the new information that we received of the toxicity levels yesterday, it's imperative for the safety of our residents to immediately review the findings that we have seen to determine whether for the health and safety of our residents the park should remain open or closed."

Suarez and Mas both told Patch in recent weeks that they anticipate Miami Freedom Park will be ready for the 2022 season, but it was not clear whether Tuesday's decision to temporarily close Melreese would change the construction timetable.

The Beckham group acknowledged early on in public meetings with the city that it was prepared to undertake an environmental cleanup of the site.

Suarez said city officials hope to make a determination shortly as to whether Melreese will remain closed or will be permitted to reopen. "We hope to conclude the study quickly," Suarez said. "As mayor, the priority and safety of our residents will always come first."

In a statement, Miami City Manager Emilio Gonzalez said the closure was needed to "allow outside experts to analyze the results of substantial new environmental testing conducted at the course."

A spokesperson for Miami Freedom Park said the group has made its experts available to city officials to discuss the environmental findings, which were delivered to the city this week in multiple boxes.

“Our legal team and engineers have been meeting with city commissioners and staff about the environmental report our consultants conducted on the city’s land to answer any questions they may have regarding the results," the spokesperson explained. "As we continue to advance plans for the voter-approved Miami Freedom Park, we will be working with the city and DERM to implement a remediation plan that is thorough, and provides residents and visitors a destination that is safe for all to enjoy.”

In an interview with Patch prior to the Melreese closing, Suarez called the soccer stadium project the "best sports deal in the history of sports deals" and said the city is not providing any subsidies to the Beckham group.

"It means a tremendous amount to the city as evidenced by the city's overwhelming support of the deal in November," the mayor told Patch, referring to the referendum passed by voters in support of leasing the country club to the Beckham group. The actual details of that lease agreement have yet to be worked out, but are expected to come before commissioners on Sept. 12.

"This is something that has an opportunity to keep the trajectory of Miami," the mayor said, adding that the city experienced 10.5 percent growth last year and was able to reduce taxes to the second lowest level in 30 years.

"We have challenges like any other city, and any other major city, but I think bringing another major professional franchise here, creating a 60-acre public park, 23 additional acres of soccer fields, are direly needed in the city," the mayor said. "Over a billion dollars in revenue the city is going to generate — with zero subsidies."

The Beckham group submitted a proposed 99-year lease for the property ahead of the September meeting. The proposed terms call for a minimum of $3.5 million to be paid to the city each year in rent and also calls for the Beckham group to create a 58-acre public park with 11 soccer fields on the property, which is near Miami International Airport.

The Beckham group would pay for any necessary environmental cleanup on the site under the proposed agreement.

In a separate interview with Patch prior to the closing of Melreese, Mas said Inter Miami CF is on target to play its first games at Lockhart Stadium in nearby Fort Lauderdale starting in March of 2020. The team will move to Miami after its second season.

"I'm very optimistic that we'll start our 2022 season in Miami at Miami Freedom Park. That's our target and yes, I am very optimistic we'll be ready for 2022," Mas told Patch.

The team has been moving forward with preparations in advance of its inaugural season. Mas announced a new long-term sponsorship with Heineken, which was named the first founding partner and official beer of Inter Miami CF.

Heineken will have signage at both stadiums, intellectual property rights and retail activations under its agreement with the team.

"We got foundations in the ground. The site work is almost complete," Mas told Patch with respect to the Fort Lauderdale stadium. "We're on schedule which is good ... Our canopy and steel has been ordered to be on site in the next three months, no later. Our seating is being built as we speak."

The team announced this week that it is accepting deposits for its inaugural season though ticket prices have yet to be publicly released. The non-refundable deposits cost $50 per seat, $150 per club seat and $4,000 per suite.

"Our seating plan will be out probably next month but it will be affordable and available to anyone and everyone," said Mas. "We're going to have a great value proposition for our fans."

Mas said he expects Lockhart to be up and running sometime in February.

"We want to have the stadium functioning mid February," he said. "That's the target date and so far so good. Our construction crews are working around the clock and we'll be ready."

He noted that it's taken five years to get to this point.

"A lot of the people out there who have been watching this journey that's taken five years, which David Beckham started with a dream, is finally here," Mas added. "It's a reality, and we'll be kicking off in March."