Florida Senate - 2024 (NP) SR 336 By Senator Avila 39-00541A-24 2024336__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing Club Internacional de Fútbol 3 Miami, popularly known as Inter Miami CF, for its 4 outstanding achievements on and off the field, for its 5 passion to bring people together, and for its mission 6 and expanding the vision of “Freedom to Dream.” 7 8 WHEREAS, Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, popularly 9 known as Inter Miami CF, is a professional global fútbol club 10 located in South Florida and born out of its fans’ “Freedom to 11 Dream,” and 12 WHEREAS, fueled by the passion and drive to bring people 13 together locally, nationally, and internationally, Inter Miami 14 CF was established in 2018 as Major League Soccer’s (MLS’s) 25th 15 club, and 16 WHEREAS, in 2019, the club launched its Inter Miami CF 17 Academy, dedicated to providing local youth with the “Freedom to 18 Dream” through an attainable pathway to the highest levels of 19 the sport, and has since seen seven Academy products sign 20 professional first-team Homegrown Player contracts, and 21 WHEREAS, Inter Miami CF began its inaugural MLS season in 22 2020, the year that the club opened its world-class Inter Miami 23 CF Stadium, now DRV PNK Stadium, and 24 WHEREAS, in 2022, Inter Miami CF unveiled its first iconic 25 pink primary jersey, the first all-pink jersey in club history, 26 inspired by and designed for the club’s fans, and 27 WHEREAS, on National Nonprofit Day 2022, Inter Miami CF 28 announced its community-driven nonprofit arm, the Inter Miami CF 29 Foundation, along with its goal to “harness the power of fútbol 30 to do good” through its support of community initiatives, such 31 as back-to-school drives, cancer research and fundraising, meal 32 and literacy programs, and more, and 33 WHEREAS, in the summer of 2023, Inter Miami CF made 34 groundbreaking signings, securing three of history’s most 35 renowned fútbol players, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and 36 Jordi Alba, inspiring excitement in the community and 37 significantly contributing to the growth of the sport locally 38 and nationally, and 39 WHEREAS, on August 19, 2023, Inter Miami CF reached a major 40 milestone by defeating Nashville SC in a dramatic penalty 41 shootout to win the 2023 Leagues Cup title, the club’s first 42 major trophy, with forward and team captain Lionel Messi earning 43 the Leagues Cup Best Player and Top Scorer awards, and 44 goalkeeper Drake Callender earning Man of the Match honors and 45 the Leagues Cup Best Goalkeeper award, and 46 WHEREAS, on August 28, 2023, Inter Miami CF announced that 47 construction had begun on Miami Freedom Park, a state-of-the-art 48 25,000-seat fútbol-specific stadium in the City of Miami which 49 will be the club’s new home and a significant addition to local 50 sports infrastructure, providing economic and entertainment 51 benefits to the South Florida community, NOW, THEREFORE, 52 53 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 54 55 That Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami is recognized for 56 its outstanding achievements on and off the field, for its 57 passion to bring people together, and for its mission and 58 expanding the vision of “Freedom to Dream.”