DRV PNK Stadium

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DRV PNK Stadium
DRV PNK Stadium logo.png
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Former namesInter Miami CF Stadium (2020–2021)
Address1350 NW 55th Street
LocationFort Lauderdale, Florida
Coordinates26°11′35″N 80°9′40″W / 26.19306°N 80.16111°W / 26.19306; -80.16111Coordinates: 26°11′35″N 80°9′40″W / 26.19306°N 80.16111°W / 26.19306; -80.16111
Public transitTri-Rail Cypress Creek
OwnerCity of Fort Lauderdale
OperatorInter Miami CF
Capacity18,000
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundMay 8, 2019
OpenedJuly 18, 2020 (2020-07-18)
Construction cost$60 million
ArchitectManica Architecture
Tenants
Inter Miami CF (MLS) 2020–present
Fort Lauderdale CF (USL1) 2020–present
Website
Official website

DRV PNK Stadium (pronounced as Drive Pink Stadium, formerly Inter Miami CF Stadium) is a soccer-specific stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Built on the site of the former Lockhart Stadium, the 18,000-seat stadium is the home pitch of Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer and its USL League One reserve side Fort Lauderdale CF. DRV PNK Stadium is intended as an interim venue for Inter Miami CF until the completion of the proposed Freedom Park stadium.

The stadium is the primary headquarters for the team and its youth academy, in addition to further training grounds.[1]

History[]

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers announced in 2016 that they were moving out of Lockhart Stadium,[2] after which the stadium fell into a state of disrepair.[3] In January 2019, Major League Soccer expansion team Inter Miami CF announced its intentions to pursue the Lockhart Stadium site to serve as the club's training ground for its first team, youth academy, and future United Soccer League (USL) team Fort Lauderdale CF. The Fort Lauderdale city council unanimously approved Inter Miami's bid for the Lockhart Stadium site in March 2019. In April, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission cleared Inter Miami to begin the demolition process.[3][4]

On July 9, 2019, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission unanimously approved a 50-year lease agreement for the Lockhart Stadium site with Inter Miami; under the terms of the agreement, the city of Fort Lauderdale will retain ownership of the property while Inter Miami will be responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the new facilities.[5] The stadium is intended to be an interim facility for Inter Miami CF until the completion of the proposed Freedom Park stadium in downtown Miami.[1][6]

On November 13, 2019, Inter Miami CF announced that the club's inaugural home match would be scheduled for March 14, 2020, against the LA Galaxy.[7] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MLS season was paused.[8] Fort Lauderdale CF therefore played the first match of the new stadium, a 0–2 loss to Greenville Triumph SC.[9] Inter Miami CF would not play home matches until August 22, 2020, when they beat their in-state rival Orlando City SC 3–2 in the first MLS match at the stadium.[8]

On April 8, 2021, it was reported that Inter Miami CF had reached a naming rights agreement with AutoNation; the agreement was officially announced the next day. The stadium is branded as DRV PNK Stadium, a tie-in with AutoNation's breast cancer awareness campaign.[10][11]

Soccer[]

On December 9, 2020, the stadium hosted its first international match between the United States and El Salvador; the United States won 6–0.[citation needed] During the 2021 MLS season, CF Montréal used the stadium to play their home matches since the start of the season after travel restrictions prevented the team from playing their matches in Montreal.[12]

Date Home Result Away Tournament Spectators
December 9, 2020  United States 6–0  El Salvador International Friendly 2,500
July 2–3, 2021  Haiti 6–1  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification – First Round TBD
 Guatemala 4–0  Guyana
 Trinidad and Tobago 6–1  Montserrat
 Guadeloupe 2–0  Bahamas
 Bermuda 8–1  Barbados
July 6, 2021  Haiti 4–1  Bermuda 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification – Second Round TBD
 Guatemala 1–1 (9–10)  Guadeloupe
 Trinidad and Tobago 1–1 (8–7)  French Guiana

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Bandell, Brian (March 14, 2019). "David Beckham wants MLS team to play initial seasons in Fort Lauderdale at Lockhart Stadium". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  2. ^ Barszewski, Larry; Heizer, Pedro (July 14, 2016). "Strikers leaving longtime home at Lockhart". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Boehm, Charles (April 3, 2019). "Inter Miami cleared to begin demolition of old Lockhart Stadium". MLS Soccer. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  4. ^ "Demolition Of Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Underway". WFOR-TV. May 8, 2019.
  5. ^ Boehm, Charles (July 10, 2019). "City of Fort Lauderdale approves Inter Miami stadium, training facility". MLS Soccer. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  6. ^ Kaufman, Michelle (March 1, 2020). "MLS commissioner Don Garber on Inter Miami: "They will not stay in Fort Lauderdale"". Miami Herald.
  7. ^ Borgya, Andrew (November 13, 2019). "Beckham's Inter Miami soccer stadium taking shape in Fort Lauderdale". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Price, Khobi (August 22, 2020). "Carranza, Pizarro star as Inter Miami wins first game, 3-2, in home opener vs. Orlando City". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  9. ^ "MATCH RECAP: Fort Lauderdale CF Makes Club debut, Falls 0-2 to Greenville Triumph SC". Inter Miami CF. Major League Soccer, L.L.C. July 18, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  10. ^ Price, Khobi (April 8, 2021). "Inter Miami's stadium gets a naming-rights sponsor for second season". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  11. ^ "Inter Miami rename stadium DRV PNK Stadium, enter AutoNation partnership". MLSSoccer.com. Major League Soccer, L.L.C. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  12. ^ "Inter Miami CF Facilities to Host CF Montreal for the Start of the 2021 MLS Season". Inter Miami CF. March 8, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

External links[]

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