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Inter Miami CF will continue to play at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, through the 2025 Major League Soccer season, now targeting 2026 as the debut year for new venue Miami Freedom Park.
The club previously stated the new stadium would be ready in time for the 2025 campaign, but confirmed Tuesday in emails to fans regarding season-ticket membership renewal and waitlist that the upcoming year would be the "final season" in Fort Lauderdale.
"The 2025 Season is expected to be our FINAL season here at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale before moving to the new stadium in Miami," the message said. "We Look forward to having you sign and cheering along as we continue our playoff push!
Inter Miami will provide season ticket holders who choose to renew the membership "priority access to the inaugural season at Miami Freedom Park."
Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale will remain Inter Miami's home for the 2025 season. Simon Peach/PA Images via Getty Images
Some fans expressed displeasure over a second price increase to season tickets since the arrival of Argentine star Lionel Messi in the summer of 2023, and the delay of the new stadium.
"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 - "first in line" for Miami Freedom Park tickets," Morgan Guigon, Inter Miami season ticket holder since 2020 who is choosing not to renew his membership this year, told ESPN.
"I'm choosing not to renew this year after over a 150% increase in ticket prices in the past 2 years and since the arrival of Messi ... it's cheaper to buy tickets on the resale market match by match than it is to buy season tickets directly from the club."
Added another fan on X: "Messi has missed more than half of Inter Miami's matches this season. The value of tickets drops by over 85% in matches he misses. Inter Miami logic: let's raise prices again for no reason whatsoever."
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Prices vary depending on the location of seating.
With 2026 as a target for moving to Miami Freedom Park, Messi may now not feature in the new stadium. His original contract with the MLS club expires at the end of 2025, and it remains unclear whether he will extend his time in South Florida.
Construction on the 25,000-seat Miami Freedom Park began in August 2023, with Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas saying at the time that they were targeting a 2025 opening.
"I can't wait to welcome our fans to our state-of-the-art stadium and hear the chants as Messi and your Inter Miami players take the pitch for the first time in 2025," he said in a team statement.
In an interview with reporters at the same time, Mas added: "We're going to be fast tracking everything, targeting having the stadium ready at some point in the summer or early fall of 2025."
After missing the playoffs last season, Miami currently tops the MLS Supporters' Shied standings after 25 games.
Source: espn.co.uk