Sir David Beckham's long-held ambition to build a world-class stadium for Inter Miami was realised on Sunday as the club played its first game at the new Nu Stadium, a 26,700-capacity arena near Miami International Airport. The match, a 2-2 draw with Austin FC, marked the culmination of a 13-year journey for the former England captain, who first sought to establish an MLS team in Miami in 2011.
Speaking to fans before kick-off, Beckham said: 'I came to America and MLS 20 years ago with a dream – to win championships, to help grow the game of soccer that I love so much, and one day, to build a club of my own. We had no name. We had no fans. We had no stadium. Today I stand in our new home.' The stadium, which cost approximately £600 million to build, features pink, white and black seats, neon pink lighting, and a single-tiered stand that keeps fans close to the action.
On the pitch, Lionel Messi – who has a stand named after him at the stadium – scored the equaliser in the 10th minute with a header from Ian Fray's cross. Austin had taken the lead through Guilherme Biro's sixth-minute header, the first goal in the stadium's history. Jayden Nelson restored the visitors' lead in the 53rd minute before Luis Suárez equalised with 10 minutes remaining. Messi hit the crossbar with a free-kick in the 90th minute, and Suárez's follow-up was ruled offside.
The result was secondary to the occasion for many fans, who had previously travelled 35 miles to watch the team play in Fort Lauderdale. The sold-out crowd expressed joy and relief at finally having a home in Miami. The stadium, described as a 'proper bowl' with an overhanging canopy that contains noise, offers an intimate yet spacious feel, and supporters were seen arriving early – a rarity for South Florida sports fans.
