The stadium is the primary headquarters for the team and its youth academy, in addition to further training grounds.[1]
History
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers announced in 2016 that they were moving out of Lockhart Stadium,[2] after which the stadium fell into a state of disrepair.[3] In January 2019, Major League Soccer expansion team Inter Miami CF announced its intentions to pursue the Lockhart Stadium site to serve as the club's training ground for its first team, youth academy, and then-future USL League One (USL1) team Fort Lauderdale CF. The Fort Lauderdale city council unanimously approved Inter Miami's bid for the Lockhart Stadium site in March 2019. In April, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission gave approval to Inter Miami to begin the demolition process.[3][4]
On July 9, 2019, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission unanimously approved a 50-year lease agreement for the Lockhart Stadium site with Inter Miami; under the terms of the agreement, the city of Fort Lauderdale will retain ownership of the property while Inter Miami will be responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the new facilities.[5] The stadium is intended to be an interim facility for Inter Miami CF until the completion of the Miami Freedom Park stadium in Miami in 2026; the expansion franchise was granted on the condition that a stadium eventually be built in Miami.[1][6][7]
On November 13, 2019, Inter Miami CF announced that the club's inaugural home match would be scheduled for March 14, 2020, against the LA Galaxy.[8] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MLS season was paused.[9] Fort Lauderdale CF therefore played the first match of the new stadium, a 0–2 loss to Greenville Triumph SC.[10] Inter Miami CF would not play home matches until August 22, 2020, when they beat their in-state rival Orlando City SC 3–2 in the first MLS match at the stadium.[9]
On April 8, 2021, it was reported that Inter Miami CF had reached a naming rights agreement with Fort Lauderdale-based car retailer AutoNation; the agreement was officially announced the next day. The stadium was branded as DRV PNK Stadium, a tie-in with AutoNation's breast cancer awareness campaign (with pink also being one of Inter Miami's main kit colors).[11][12]
On February 20, 2024, the day before Inter Miami CF's opening match of the 2024 regular season, the team announced a new naming rights deal with JPMorgan Chase, renaming the stadium to Chase Stadium.[13]
Following the 2025 season, and with the team's move to Nu Stadium in Miami, the stadium reverted to its original name, Inter Miami CF Stadium.[14][bettersourceneeded]
Expansion
Inter Miami CF Stadium seen with the new seats (center)
The Fort Lauderdale city government announced on June 21 that Inter Miami CF would need to cease work on the seating expansion due to alleged installations done without permits; the club claimed that no work had commenced.[18] An agreement between the club and the city was quickly struck to resolve the permitting dispute, as well as outstanding payments the club owed for a temporary parking lot used by the stadium that is planned to be converted to a public park.[16][19] The 3,000 new seats were completed ahead of Messi's unveiling on July 16, along with new security measures and barriers on the pitch and near the players entrance. The press box was expanded from 37 to 52 seats with an auxiliary area that is adjusted based on demand.[20]
A second expansion was completed in January 2024 that increased capacity to 21,550 seats. A new section in the southwest corner, along with more seats in the northeast and southeast corners, added 1,200 seats; the expansion also included six "opera boxes" and nine "theatre boxes" with suite-like seats.[21][22]
Soccer
During the 2021 MLS season, CF Montréal used the stadium to play their home matches since the start of the season after travel restrictions prevented the team from playing their matches in Montreal.[23]
On December 6, 2025, Inter Miami CF Stadium hosted MLS Cup 2025, where Inter Miami CF defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3–1 to win their first MLS Cup title.[24] This was also the final MLS home game for Inter Miami CF at the stadium.
Inter Miami CF Stadium is located near Interstate 95 at its junction with Commercial Boulevard (State Route 870) in Fort Lauderdale. The stadium has three designated parking lots for pre-purchased ticketholders and an additional lot for other visitors.[31] The nearest Tri-Rail commuter rail station is Cypress Creek, but additional nighttime train service is not provided for Inter Miami CF matches.[32]
In April 2022, Inter Miami CF announced a partnership with Brightline to provide passenger trains from Miami and West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale station with a dedicated shuttle for fans. The service, named the GOOOL Getter, will have three round-trips before and after home matches.[33]
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