Expansion MLS club Inter Miami CF is "deciding among Doral, Hialeah’s Amelia Earhart Park and a few West Broward parcels of land for a training site/academy," and is also "weighing Marlins Park and Hard Rock Stadium as a temporary home" in '20 while its stadium is built, according to Michelle Kaufman of the MIAMI HERALD. Inter Miami could play in the temporary home for its first season in '20 -- and possibly some or all of '21 -- while its "stadium is built at Freedom Park" adjacent to Miami Int'l Airport. Team officials have been "busy hiring office staff and scouts and are beginning to talk to potential players and coaches." Another "pressing order of business is the summer launch of the youth academy" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/16). In Miami, Brian Bandell noted stadium negotiations between Miami-Dade officials and Inter Miami reps "have been placed on hold because of an ethics complaint filed against members of the group." That means the team’s deal to build a stadium "can’t become official until this legal issue is resolved." Local attorney David Winker alleged that "numerous individuals," including Inter Miami Managing Owner Jorge Mas, David Beckham and SoftBank COO Marcelo Claure, a team investor, "lobbied city officials on behalf of Miami Freedom Park LLC without registering as lobbyists with the county." Meanwhile, Miami Freedom Park still "needs to negotiate a lease and development agreement with city officials, and receive approval from four of the five city commissioners to finalize that deal" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/15).
