Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
The Sunshine State is well known for its love of sports, and MLS history in Florida has been an interesting one, as well. At this moment, Inter Miami is the only soccer club from Florida competing in the MLS. As a matter of fact, it's the current leader of the league, ahead of Philadelphia and Columbus. As Techopedia reviews Florida's top sportsbooks, Inter seems to be the most probable club to win the MLS competition this year: +350 odds offered by most bookmakers.
Led by the soccer magician Leo Messi, this club is one of the most exciting soccer attractions in the world, together with its monumental Chase Stadium. But some other stadiums in Florida have been important for the development of soccer in this state, and this is a story about them.
When MLS made its debut in 1996, Florida had two original teams: Miami Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny. Unfortunately, neither of them stayed active after 2001. Still, even in that short time, both teams made their imprint on the soccer landscape in Florida.
Miami Fusion moved into Lockhart Stadium for the 1998 season. Even though it was built in 1959, this was the year when it became the first soccer-specific stadium in MLS. Its capacity of around 20 thousand attendees made for an intimate atmosphere, but the Fusion struggled with visitor numbers and folded at the end of the 2001 season. The stadium was used for various lower-league teams in the following years.
Also known as the "Big Sombrero", Tampa Stadium was primarily an NFL venue that the Tampa Bay Mutiny shared with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even though the Mutiny was a moderately successful team, they disbanded in 2001 after a period of financial troubles and lack of support by the owners. Tampa Stadium was eventually demolished to make space for Raymond James Stadium.
It took almost 15 years for Florida to get back on the MLS map when Orlando City SC joined in 2015. In a very short time, the club built a base of passionate fans and started working on the creation of a strong regional soccer culture.
During their first two MLS seasons, Orlando City SC played at the Camping World Stadium. This historic venue, with its capacity of over 60 thousand seats was an impressive stage, but not ideal for the club in the long term. The stadium still works, and will host several matches in the Club World Cup this year.
After two years, Orlando City SC found its permanent home at Exploria Stadium. This venue was designed specifically with soccer in mind, hosting 25,500 seats and a safe-standing section for supporters, as well as a European-style roof that amplifies noise from the crowd. These features make it one of the MLS stadiums with the best atmosphere.
When Inter Miami CF joined the MLS in 2020, it was a big moment for soccer fans in South Florida. Despite challenges in the early years, the club quickly established its place with the help of David Beckham's ownership group, and now stands as a major player in the league.
Standing on the spot of former Lockhart Stadium, DRV PNK Stadium was Inter Miami's first temporary home. Even though somewhat limited in capacity (18,000 seats), it proved to be a crucial component in the club's beginning, giving fans and players a solid experience while the team was looking for a permanent home.
Current plans for Inter Miami include moving to a state-of-the-art stadium: the Miami Freedom Park. This privately funded venue should open in the coming years and provide a blend of soccer and wider entertainment that should make Miami the center of the MLS landscape in the region.
Since the league's first days, the vibrant soccer culture in Florida has had its highs and lows. However, there is a certain sense of history in the venues throughout the Sunshine State, as well as a bright future with the stadium currently in construction. If the road takes you to this part of the States, be sure to check out some of them as they are well worth the visit.
All good things have to come to an end, and the same unfortunately has to be said for football stadiums too. This article looks at the grounds which are soon to host their last match, the stadiums whose days are numbered and where fans will be watching their football from next.
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