DRV PNK Stadium

DRV PNK Stadium (pronounced "drive pink"; formerly Inter Miami CF Stadium) is a soccer-specific stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Built on the site of the former Lockhart Stadium, the 21,000-seat stadium is the home pitch of Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer and its MLS Next Pro reserve side Inter Miami CF II. DRV PNK Stadium opened in 2020 as an interim venue for Inter Miami CF until the completion of the Miami Freedom Park stadium.

DRV PNK Stadium
The stadium photographed in 2021
Former namesInter Miami CF Stadium (2020–2021)
Address1350 NW 55th Street
LocationFort Lauderdale, Florida
Coordinates26°11′35″N 80°9′40″W
Public transitBus interchange Broward County Transit: 55

Mainline rail interchange Tri-Rail:

Cypress Creek station
OwnerCity of Fort Lauderdale
OperatorInter Miami CF
Capacity21,000[1]
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)
Inter Miami CF II (MLS Next Pro) (2020–present)
CF Montréal (2021 season)
Website
intermiamicf.com/drive-pink-stadium

The stadium is the primary headquarters for the team and its youth academy, in addition to further training grounds.[2]

History

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers announced in 2016 that they were moving out of Lockhart Stadium,[3] after which the stadium fell into a state of disrepair.[4] 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 USL League One (USL1) 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.[4][5]

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.[6] 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; the expansion franchise was granted on the condition that a stadium eventually be built in downtown Miami.[2][7][8]

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.[9] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MLS season was paused.[10] Fort Lauderdale CF therefore played the first match of the new stadium, a 0–2 loss to Greenville Triumph SC.[11] 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.[10]

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.[12][13]

Expansion
DRV PNK Stadium seen with the new seats (center)

Following Lionel Messi's June 2023 announcement of his planned move to Inter Miami CF, the club's managing owner Jorge Mas stated that the corners of DRV PNK Stadium would be filled to add 3,000 to 3,200 seats to handle some of the expected demand.[14] The new sections use bleacher seating from the Miami International Autodrome, the temporary Formula One circuit built at Hard Rock Stadium for the Miami Grand Prix.[15][16]

The Fort Lauderdale city government announced on June 21 that Inter Miami CF would need to cease work on the seating expansion due to alleged installations done without permits; the club claimed that no work had commenced.[17] An agreement between the club and the city was quickly struck to resolve the permitting dispute, as well as outstanding payments the club owed for a temporary parking lot used by the stadium that is planned to be converted to a public park.[15][18]

The 3,000 new seats were completed ahead of Messi's unveiling on July 16, along with new security measures and barriers on the pitch and near the players entrance. The press box was expanded from 37 to 52 seats with an auxiliary area that is adjusted based on demand.[19]

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. 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.[20]

Notable matches
Date Home Result Away Tournament Spectators
December 9, 2020 United States6–0 El SalvadorInternational friendly2,500
July 2, 2021 Haiti6–1 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification – First Round2,601
 Trinidad and Tobago6–1 Montserrat7,425
 Bermuda8–1 Barbados2,025
July 3, 2021 Guatemala4–0 Guyana17,161
 Guadeloupe2–0 Bahamas100
 Cuba0–3 French Guiana0
July 6, 2021 Haiti4–1 Bermuda2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification – Second Round3,448
 Guatemala1–1
(9–10)		 Guadeloupe3,571
 Trinidad and Tobago1–1
(8–7)		 French Guiana1,124
March 27, 2022 Guatemala2–1 HaitiInternational friendlyunknown
June 11, 2022 Ecuador1–0 Cape Verde4,950
July 19, 2022United States Inter Miami CF0–6Spain BarcelonaClub friendly19,113[21]
November 10, 2022 United States1–2  Germany Women’s International friendly16,917
November 19, 2022 Colombia2–0  ParaguayInternational friendly18,000
June 16, 2023 Antigua and Barbuda0–5 Guadeloupe2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification – First Round
 Martinique3–1 Saint Lucia
 Curaçao1–1
(2–3)		 Saint Kitts and Nevis
June 17, 2023 French Guiana4–1 Sint Maarten
 Suriname0–0
(3–4)		 Puerto Rico
 Guyana1–1
(5–4)		 Grenada
June 20, 2023 Guadeloupe2–0 Guyana2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification – Second Round
 Martinique2–0 Puerto Rico
 Saint Kitts and Nevis1–1
(4–2)		 French Guiana
June 25, 2023  Trinidad and Tobago 3–0  Saint Kitts and Nevis 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group A 3,646
June 26, 2023  El Salvador 1–2  Martinique 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C 10,101
 Costa Rica 1–2  Panama
June 27, 2023  Guatemala 1–0  Cuba 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group D 13,426
July 8, 2023 Colombia Millonarios 1–0 Colombia Atlético Nacional Friendly
September 3, 2023  Guatemala 0–0  Honduras International friendly
September 27, 2023 United States Inter Miami CF 1–2 United States Houston Dynamo 2023 U.S. Open Cup final 20,288
December 2, 2023 United States ChinaWomen’s International friendly

American football

DRV PNK Stadium has also hosted American football games, including the Miami Hurricanes spring game,[22] and the Florida High School Athletic Association state championships.[23] The stadium is used for local regular season high school football games as well, with some schools which played games at the stadium including Fort Lauderdale High School, Pine Crest School, American Heritage School, and North Broward Preparatory School.[24][25]

Transportation

DRV PNK Stadium is located near Interstate 95 at its junction with Commercial Boulevard (State Route 870) in Fort Lauderdale. The stadium has three designated parking lots for pre-purchased ticketholders and an additional lot for other visitors.[26] The nearest Tri-Rail commuter rail station is Cypress Creek, but additional nighttime train service is not provided for Inter Miami CF matches.[27]

In April 2022, Inter Miami CF announced a partnership with Brightline to provide passenger trains from Miami and West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale station with a dedicated shuttle for fans. The service, named the GOOOL Getter, will have three round-trips before and after home matches.[28]

References
  1. "Inter Miami increases DRV PNK Stadium capacity for Lionel Messi's debut". as.com. MLS Digital. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  2. 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.
  3. Barszewski, Larry; Heizer, Pedro (July 14, 2016). "Strikers leaving longtime home at Lockhart". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  4. Boehm, Charles (April 3, 2019). "Inter Miami cleared to begin demolition of old Lockhart Stadium". MLS Soccer. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  5. "Demolition Of Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Underway". WFOR-TV. May 8, 2019.
  6. Boehm, Charles (July 10, 2019). "City of Fort Lauderdale approves Inter Miami stadium, training facility". MLS Soccer. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  7. Kaufman, Michelle (March 1, 2020). "MLS commissioner Don Garber on Inter Miami: "They will not stay in Fort Lauderdale"". Miami Herald.
  8. Oshan, Jeremiah (July 29, 2014). "MLS won't go to Miami without downtown stadium, commissioner says". SB Nation. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  9. Borgya, Andrew (November 13, 2019). "Beckham's Inter Miami soccer stadium taking shape in Fort Lauderdale". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  10. 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.
  11. "MATCH RECAP: Fort Lauderdale CF Makes Club debut, Falls 0-2 to Greenville Triumph SC". Inter Miami CF. Major League Soccer. July 18, 2020. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  12. Price, Khobi (April 8, 2021). "Inter Miami's stadium gets a naming-rights sponsor for second season". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  13. "Inter Miami rename stadium DRV PNK Stadium, enter AutoNation partnership". MLSSoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  14. Kaufman, Michelle (June 19, 2023). "Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas opens up on Messi deal, other roster moves, stadium status". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  15. Odzer, Ari (June 22, 2023). "Inter Miami, Fort Lauderdale racing to improve stadium before Messi arrives". NBC Miami. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  16. Thmas, Alanis (July 20, 2023). "The next chapter of Lionel Messi's career begins Friday at 18,000-seat DRV PNK Stadium". Associated Press. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  17. Bryan, Susannah (June 21, 2023). "Messi zone: Fort Lauderdale accuses Inter Miami of adding stadium seats without permit; team pushes back". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  18. Bryan, Susannah (June 8, 2023). "The Messi effect: With superstar on way, is DRV PNK big enough for Inter Miami?". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  19. Kaufman, Michelle (July 15, 2023). "Inter Miami beefs up security, adds seats, VIP areas as Lionel Messi joins team". Miami Herald. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  20. "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.
  21. "Inter Miami Shut Out by FC Barcelona in Historic Friendly Match". www.nbcmiami.com. NBC Universal Media. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  22. "DRV PNK Stadium to Host University of Miami 2022 Spring Football Game". InterMiamiCF.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  23. "The 2022 Florida High School Athletic Association Football Championships Are Heading to DRV PNK Stadium This Weekend". InterMiamiCF.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  24. TeamPages. "North Broward Prep Athletics". TeamPages.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  25. intermiamicf. "Inter Miami CF Training Center to Host Selection of High School Football Games at AutoNation Sports Field this Fall | Inter Miami CF". intermiamicf. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  26. Kaufman, Michelle (February 24, 2022). "Everything fans need to know for 2022 Inter Miami season: roster, bios, tickets, parking". Miami Herald. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  27. "Transportation". Inter Miami CF. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  28. "Brightline For The Assist: Announces "GOOOL Getter" Train to Inter Miami CF" (Press release). Inter Miami CF. April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
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