Inter Miami played its first game on March 1, 2020, but its first home match was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and they did not play at home in front of fans until May 9, 2021.īut other, similarly young MLS expansion clubs in places like Austin, Texas and Los Angeles have captivated locals almost immediately, even during rough times. Inter Miami is far from a cultural institution here, 30 miles north of downtown Miami, and there are several reasons for that. Scooter, a moped repair shop located just up the road from Messi’s new home stadium. “He’s just a guy who gets paid a lot of f-ing money to kick a ball,” says David, who owns Mr. Soccer - particularly the international game - has exploded in popularity over the past two decades, but it still has not entirely been mainstreamed in the States and you can see that in Fort Lauderdale. The United States, though, can sometimes be slow to adapt and pockets still exist where Messi is unknown. As a result, Messi is among the most famous people in the world. His dizzying runs and physics-defying strikes have come at a time when they can be shared instantly, beamed to every corner of the planet. The overgrown lot south of DRV PNK Stadium (Photo: Pablo Maurer)įame and historic sporting success tend to go hand-in-hand, but perhaps no athlete in the history of sports approaches Lionel Messi’s global ubiquity. Drive up the road from DRV PNK Stadium and you will find a strip club or a body shop. Drive up the road from the Regalia and you will be at the Ritz-Carlton. It is a modular, bare-bones, 19,100-seat venue plopped down in the middle of an industrial park and next to an airport for private planes. The club plays 20 miles north at the DRV PNK Stadium (pronounced “Drive Pink” and named after sponsor AutoNation’s breast cancer awareness campaign) on the outskirts of Fort Lauderdale. His eventual transfer to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami will be the richest deal in MLS history and among the highest-profile moves in the history of sports.īut Messi’s reality at Inter Miami will be a far cry from the Regalia penthouse. Now, Messi says he will move here permanently. The private beaches, the nightlife, the exotic cars rumbling up and down Collins Ave in Miami Beach… parts of Miami are dripping with more opulence than any other place in the United States, a lifestyle that offers a strong pull to any high-profile athlete or celebrity. Spend a few days rubbing shoulders with the city’s wealthiest residents and it is not hard to see why. He has made several visits to Miami over the years, each time reportedly falling a little more in love with the place. The Regalia penthouse, with elevator to roof deck pictured (Courtesy Mark Pordes and Adam Kauffman)Īrguably the greatest player in football history owns the ninth floor and his family stays regularly.
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