Miami FC Begins Work on $280M Stadium
Inter Miami isn’t the only South Florida professional soccer team getting a new home. Miami FC, the local USL team, which plays at FIU’s Pitbull Stadium, will relocate to a new 10,000-seat venue in Homestead over the next few years.
The stadium is part of the Sports Performance Hub (SPH), a 92-acre, privately funded $280 million sports and education campus that celebrated its groundbreaking last week at the former Homestead Sports Complex.
The project is led by a group of global athletes and entrepreneurs, including retired Argentine soccer legend Juan Sebastián Verón, Dario Sala, and Olympic gold medalist Pepe Sanchez. Co-Founders Gaston Remy, Emiliano Fernández Balagué, Riccardo Silva (majority owner of Miami FC), Nick Sakiewicz (longtime sports executive and real estate developer), and former Argentine NBA star Manu Ginobili, tennis pros Juan “Pico” Mónaco and Mariano Zabaleta, and NFL veteran Martin Gramatica.
In addition to the Miami FC stadium, which will host the Homestead Championship Rodeo and other community events, SPH will include multi-sport academies offering specialized training and expert coaching in soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball, and football; a boarding school for 600 student-athletes; a sports-themed hotel; a sports medicine center; a children’s park and public recreation facilities.
Traverse City Schools Approves $17.2M Athletics Facility
The Traverse City Area Public Schools board has voted to move forward with the construction of a $17.2 million multi-purpose athletic and extracurricular facility. The After-school Clubhouse and Multi-Purpose Fieldhouse will be located on Carlisle Field near East Middle School.
The 125,000-square-foot project will be funded in part by $10 million from the 2018 Capital Bond Funds. The board reached the decision after several months of discussions regarding the facility’s location and financial sustainability.
The pre-engineered metal building will span more than 125,000 square feet. It is designed to house full competition-sized fields for football, soccer and lacrosse, along with a six-lane 400-meter track and batting cages.
North Iowa Area Community College Launches Facilities Enhancement Projects
North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) has launched the "Let's Light 'Em Up" campaign to enhance athletic facilities and expand opportunities for student athletes.
A significant lead investment from the NIACC Foundation is propelling the initiative forward, inspiring additional philanthropic support. Phil Johnson, a NIACC alumnus, is leading the effort, recognized for his support of regional athletic programs.
“This is about giving our student athletes an experience that reflects their commitment and talent,” said Ryan Flickinger, NIACC Athletic Director. “Modern, high-quality facilities impact recruiting, retention, performance, and pride. But they also create opportunities to welcome teams and visitors from across the region, bringing new energy and activity to our campus.”
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