You can get your game on in Miami

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/12/2024 (363 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Miami may be famous for its beautiful beaches and legendary nightlife, but don’t get it twisted: this is a sports town.

A near sold-out MLS crowd of 21,318 packed Chase Stadium on May 19 to watch the world’s greatest soccer player — Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi — make his return to the lineup after a brief injury absence to lead their beloved Inter Miami CF against D.C. United.

Everyone was eager to see the record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner step onto the pitch, only for Mother Nature to complicate things by delaying the festivities by 30 minutes. The poor conditions returned not long after opening whistle as heavy rain drenched the players and majority of fans in attendance.

Did that stop the party? C’mon… this is Miami.

The supporters remained undeterred, singing, dancing, waving flags and releasing pink smoke into the air for the entire 90-plus minutes, no matter what the weather threw at them.

Their dedication was rewarded in stoppage time as their favourite MLS side prevailed 1-0 thanks to a goal from substitute Leonardo Campana, igniting a massive eruption from the stands.

The Inter Miami faithful didn’t have much to cheer for in their first two seasons of play after breaking into the North American league in 2020, but the “Messi effect,” with help from his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez, has bolstered the squad to the top of the table. It should come as no surprise the dynamic duo’s are the top-selling player jerseys around the 29-team circuit.

The match-day atmosphere will only get better as Inter Miami prepares to leave its temporary Fort Lauderdale digs for the brand-new privately funded Miami Freedom Park, set to open in 2026.

You don’t have to wait that long to get an unforgettable experience at an impressive sports facility, though. Head downtown to the Kaseya Center — home of the NBA’s Miami Heat — for their new all-access guided tour.

Most arena tours don’t pull back the curtain much, but the three-time NBA champions go above and beyond to make sure fans see everything they could ever have hoped for. The obvious highlight is walking down the hallway with the uber-comfortable plush, red carpet — installed to keep players’ knees and joints happy — and into the dome-shaped locker room to hang out where all-stars like Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo get ready before tip-off.

You also get to step inside the team’s weight room which has been named after former two-time defensive player of the year Alonzo Mourning, take pictures with their three championship trophies, visit VIP seating and lounge areas which celebrities often frequent, take shots on the practice court, check out where players, head coach Erik Spoelstra, and hall-of-fame president Pat Riley park their rides, and even pop by the arena’s private nightclub, Hyde Lounge, which, as you can imagine, is quite popular among players.

If only those walls could talk.

The guide does a great job sharing some fun facts throughout the tour, such as why the cramped visitor’s dressing room features one large locker — it was specially built for LeBron James, the current Los Angeles Lakers player who led the Heat to back-to-back NBA titles in 2012-13.

It’s been over two decades since the Miami Marlins hoisted the World Series trophy over their heads, but they know how to have a good time at LoanDepot Park, where the Major League Baseball team has played since 2012. Their Fiesta Fridays allow fans to drink and dance out in left field after the game while a live DJ provides a Miami Beach nightclub vibe.

LoanDepot Park hosted a memorable World Baseball Classic (WBC) championship game in 2023 when Shohei Ohtani capped off a 3-2 Japan victory over the United States by striking out future hall-of-famer and former Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Mike Trout. That’ll be a tough act to follow when the WBC final returns to Miami in March 2026.

Before moving into their own ballpark, the Marlins were on Don Shula Drive sharing Hard Rock Stadium with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. It’s also where the University of Miami Hurricanes football team plays, but in July 2026, it will have the soccer world’s attention when it hosts seven FIFA World Cup matches.

But in the fall, this city turns its attention to auto racing. Every October the Homestead-Miami Speedway track hosts a round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, a three-day spectacle.

Not your average racing facility, Homestead-Miami Speedway spices things up with an area called “Beach Bash,” located inside Turn 3. This actual beach, situated on seven acres of spring-fed lake, allows fans to dig their toes into the sand during race weekend or even kayak in the water while watching the cars zip around the nearby track. For those wanting to enjoy the action in style, the Ally Pit Box, overlooking the start/finish line, offers the best view and accommodations. This private indoor club features a relaxing lounge area with an all-inclusive buffet and beverage bar, with tickets starting at US$1,465.

For a different experience, NASCAR diehards can purchase camping packages, with options for RVs (US$250) or tents (US$75) at the campground just outside the track.

If you can’t make it to Homestead-Miami for their premier weekend, they stay busy year-round with 260 different events, including Friday-night drag racing, where motor enthusiasts can race their street-legal cars on the drag strip. Illegal street racing is a major issue in South Florida, and Fast Lane Friday is an initiative that was designed to help combat that.

WHERE TO STAY: The Elser Hotel is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Kaseya Center — but the location isn’t the sole reason why it’s a great place to lay your head at night. The Elser has a stunning rooftop pool that overlooks downtown Miami, and a two-storey fitness centre that blows the average hotel gym out of the water. It’s also a short walk to the Port of Miami, the world’s largest cruise port.

If you’re more interested in the authentic Miami Beach experience, consider Loews Miami Beach Hotel. You can soak up the sun in their expansive pool area, or take a few steps further to have your toes in the sand.. A block or so away you’ll find no shortage of bars and nightclubs.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31