(The Center Square) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says that he is against using state money to fund the construction of sports stadiums.
DeSantis, however, announced Thursday that he and the state will grant $8 million from the Governors’ Job Growth Grant Fund toward road infrastructure around the new construction of Miami Freedom Park by the Inter Miami soccer club’s ownership.
DeSantis said he believes this funding is different than a sports stadium as it will allow those attending matches and other residents to access the new facility and expected increased traffic in the area.
“For us, as much as I like sports, we have not been willing, we just don’t give money to build a sports stadium, we’ve just never done that,” DeSantis said.
Economists have consistently shown that public funding for sports stadiums does not bring the promised public benefits and that economic impact numbers touted around those stadiums do not come to fruition.
“Ah yes, nothing like a hard core ‘fiscal conservative’ handing over hard-earned tax dollars to benefit a pro sports teams,” economist J.C. Bradbury of Georgia’s Kennesaw State University wrote about the grant.
DeSantis said, “Our role as a state government is not necessarily to give money to a team but is create an environment where everybody can be successful. Infrastructure is a big part of that.”
Miami Freedom Park is planned to include a new 25,000-seat soccer stadium, a 58-acre publicly accessible park, a planned tech hub and 750 hotel rooms along with a soccer village including food, beverage and retail.
The $1 billion project is privately funded.
The project is expected to be completed in late 2025 with Inter Miami beginning play at the new stadium in 2026. The team’s Major League Soccer games are played in 19,100-seat Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.