For months, Inter Miami promoted Nu Stadium with a straightforward message: “We’re coming home.” On Saturday, during a thrilling 2-2 draw against Austin FC, the club fulfilled that promise in a spectacular fashion during its inaugural game at the venue.
The stadium was brilliantly illuminated in pink before kick-off, accompanied by a tifo in the stands that read “Aquí empieza una nueva era,” meaning “Today marks a new era.” Lionel Messi initiated the game in the center of the pitch and, within just 10 minutes, netted the stadium’s first goal in front of a stand named in his honor.
“Witnessing this stadium come to life after years of effort to establish a venue in Miami is incredibly special,” said club co-owner and founder David Beckham.
“I came to America and the MLS two decades ago, making numerous promises. Twelve years ago, I assured everyone I was coming to Miami. Today, it’s a dream realized for us… I’m standing in our new home while we are MLS champions and have the greatest player in the history of the game playing in Miami.”
This long-awaited moment has been particularly significant for Beckham. His vision for a stadium based in Miami Dade originated in 2014, shortly after MLS commissioner Don Garber awarded him the expansion franchise. His goal was to create a waterfront venue at the heart of the city with a capacity of 20,000 to 30,000 seats.
Beckham’s initial proposition focused on land adjacent to the Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat, featuring views of Biscayne Bay and Downtown Miami. However, his early plans were swiftly rejected by the city, leading him to pursue other options in Little Havana and Overtown, both of which fell through.
In 2018, Jorge and Jose Mas, founders of Miami-based construction firm MasTec, joined Inter Miami’s ownership group, revitalizing the search for a suitable stadium location.
With no lease agreement in sight and the team’s MLS debut approaching, the new ownership opted to renovate Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale as a temporary solution. After an investment of nearly $100 million that included a training facility, multiple practice fields, and a revamped 20,000-seat stadium, Inter Miami prepared to begin its journey at the newly renamed DRV PNK Stadium.
However, the pursuit of a permanent home never wavered.
Beckham and the Mas brothers initiated discussions for the Melreese golf course site in 2018 after a successful referendum authorized the city to negotiate a 99-year lease. It took four additional years for the deal to be officially approved, but finally, Beckham and the Mas brothers secured their desired location.
“This is a dream come true,” noted club co-owner Jorge Mas. “This stadium represents a dream of creating a top-tier venue in my hometown to celebrate football. Miami is now a global capital, and it will be the epicenter of football, especially with our team and our captain, Leo Messi.”
On the field, Austin FC dampened the celebratory atmosphere early as winger Guilherme Biro scored the first official goal at Nu Stadium in the sixth minute. However, Messi soon alleviated the situation by scoring the equalizer with a perfectly placed header. For the first of many times, the entire crowd erupted in chants of Messi’s name.
Though Beckham and Mas enjoyed their dream moment, the match did not end as they had hoped: winger Jayden Nelson put Austin back ahead early in the second half. It wasn’t until the final moments of the match that Inter Miami equalized with a goal from striker Luis Suárez, who found the net at the back post from a corner kick.
Suárez, regarded as one of the top players of his generation, had been grappling with osteoarthritis in recent seasons and hadn’t scored in a competitive game since October 11, 2025. His goal came at a crucial moment, as he nearly seized the opportunity for a winning goal moments later when Messi’s free-kick struck the post, only for Suárez’s follow-up to be ruled offside.
While a draw wasn’t the ideal start for Miami, the team, much like the surrounding Miami Freedom Park sports complex, remains a work in progress. “I believed in Miami, and Miami believes in us,” Beckham affirmed.
For now, Miami sets its sights on claiming its first victory in a city and a stadium they can finally call their own.