Lionel Messi’s training ground at Inter Miami set to be used by new franchise in another sport

Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates will have new neighbours at their Florida Blue Training Centre from January 2024, the franchise has confirmed. A new Major League Rugby franchise, the Miami Sharks, will train at the facility, making them the first non-football team to do so.

The Miami Sharks are the latest addition to the MLR roster, making them the 12th team in the new season. They reached an agreement with Inter Miami to use the AutoNation Sports Field in the training centre.

The Sports Field is currently used to hold events, as well as training sessions for Inter Miami. The facility will be improved upon to make it befitting for the Miami Sharks, and it is expected to seat up to 5,000 spectators.

Lionel Messi will get his first major feel of the sports ecosystem in the USA. His team is one of multiple based in Miami, including NBA's Miami Heat, NFL's Miami Dolphins, and MLB's Miami Marlins.

The club's Chief Business Officer, Xavier Asensi, referred to the opportunity to share their home as exciting and beneficial to South Florida.

"This is an exciting opportunity for unique collaboration with a new face in the South Florida sports landscape. We are happy to provide the Miami Sharks a home and access to the state-of-the-art resources of the Florida Blue Training Center as we come together at a special time for sports fans in South Florida."

The captain of the Miami Sharks, Tomas Cubelli, regards the opportunity to use the facility as an honour. Like Lionel Messi, he is a star in Argentina and also believes that his team will thrive in the environment.

"It is an honor for us to train and play in the facilities where IMCF trains. We are convinced our players will thrive in such an environment and look forward to the crowds being able to enjoy another team action sport in the Miami area".

Inter Miami have plans to move Lionel Messi and others to a new stadium

The arrangement between Inter Miami and the Miami Sharks is likely to be a temporary one, with the football team having its own plans. David Beckham and the rest of the management have seen construction begin for the new Miami Freedom Park.

Lionel Messi and the rest of the team currently play their games at the DRV PNK Stadium, a short distance from the Florida Blue Training Centre. They will move to their new home in 2025, once construction is completed.

Inter Miami and Miami Sharks will remain as neighbours for just around two years. Afterwards, the football team will move their match-day activities to the Miami Freedom Park.