Twelve days before the club’s home kickoff, Miami United FC announced that it would be moving venues, leaving Ted Hendricks Stadium at Milander Park for the North Miami Athletic Stadium.
🏟New home who dis?!
Your very own club will have a new stadium to call home (at least for the 2019 NPSL Regular Season).
All of our home matches will be played at 2555 NE 151 St. North Miami, FL. 33181. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/mjOGWjSXvr
— MIAMI UNITED F.C. (@miamiunitedfc) April 15, 2019
North Miami Athletic Stadium (also known as Ronald L. Book Athletic Stadium) is located next to the Alonzo And Tracy Mourning Senior High Biscayne Bay Campus. Per the Florida Football Alliance, which also uses the site for its Miami Magic City Bulls, the venue has aluminum bleachers a capacity of 4,241. Per the FFA, the field had artificial turf installed last year.
History at Hendricks
The club had played at Ted Hendricks Stadium since the 2016 season. Before that season, the club competed at Flamingo Park on Miami Beach. Highlights at Ted Hendricks include a Sunshine Conference title in 2016 and a fourth-round matchup against Major League Soccer side Orlando City SC. Miami lost 3-0.
Miami United is generally a bastion of stability in the South Florida soccer market, existing since 2012.
The club does appear to leave some wiggle room for a possible return, including the phrase “(at least for the 2019 NPSL Regular Season)” in a parenthetical in its tweet. There’s no indication whether the club will move back to Milander (or another venue) for NPSL postseason matches or Founders Cup competition in the summer.
The club’s main complaint has been the status and maintenance of the venue, particularly the visiting locker rooms.
At the time of publication, Magic City Soccer reached out for further comment but had not yet received a reply.
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