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DeSantis allocates $8 million of state money for Inter Miami soccer stadium project

By The News Service of Florida
Published  August 9, 2024 8:37am EDT
Sports
The News Service of Florida

DeSantis directs $8M to MLS soccer stadium

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday directed $8 million to help with a stadium project for Inter Miami.

MIAMI - Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday directed $8 million to help with a stadium project for the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami. 

The money, which will come from the state’s Job Growth Grant Fund, will be used to construct a road around the planned Miami Freedom Park, a 25,000-seat soccer stadium close to Miami International Airport. 

DeSantis said the road work will help create construction jobs, relieve future traffic in the area and potentially increase tourism in a new business district. 

(From L) Inter Miami CF Co-Owner Jose Mas, Inter Miami CF Managing Owner Jorge Mas, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez and Florida Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly pose with a check for $8 million during a press conference

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"The soccer games are going to be one thing," DeSantis said during a news conference at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, where the team currently plays home matches. "There’s going to be other events at the stadium, and then there's going to be businesses around there. People may not even want to go to a game, maybe just want to go out to dinner. This is going to be an attraction." 

Inter Miami recently announced a delay in building the new stadium and will stay at Chase Stadium through the 2025 season. 

The state budget for the fiscal year that started July 1 includes $75 million for the Job Growth fund, which is designed to provide money for infrastructure projects and job-training programs. Thursday’s announcement was DeSantis’ fifth use of the fund this fiscal year, totaling $23.2 million.

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