Miami Mayor reflects on legacy, highlights Inter Miami stadium in final State of the City address

Mayor Francis Suarez delivered his final State of the City address on Jan. 15, 2025, at Miami Freedom Park, reflecting on his 16 years in public service and celebrating Miami’s growth during his tenure. Addressing local and federal dignitaries, Suarez outlined his administration’s achievements, including fostering Miami’s reputation as a tech hub, attracting major companies, and reducing crime rates.

“The Miami Vice era of the 80s is long behind us,” Suarez proclaimed, referencing a 40% reduction in murders and nonfatal shootings in Miami-Dade County from 2022 to 2023, as reported by the Miami Police Department.

Standing against the backdrop of construction equipment at the future home of the Inter Miami CF soccer team, Suarez highlighted the Miami Freedom Park project, calling it his ‘legacy.’ The $1 billion privately funded development will include a 25,000-seat stadium, a retail village, a hotel, and a public park.

“This was like birthing a child, this deal,” Suarez said, thanking Inter Miami owners Jorge and Jose Mas, as well as David Beckham. “Not only do I challenge anyone to find me a better deal, but I’d actually like to know if there is one.” According to Suarez, the project will generate $2 billion in revenue for the city over its 99-year lease.

The mayor used his address to urge Miami to continue building on its successes, including efforts to become a global hub for technology and finance. 

“We should work further to make Miami the capital of capital, displacing New York and London as the central point for capital aggregation and deployment in the world,” he stated.

Suarez’s legacy is not without controversy. His tenure has been marked by investigations into his outside income, his role in aiding embattled developer Rishi Kapoor, and accusations of corruption at City Hall as Joshua Ceballos reports for WLRN Public Media. Addressing criticism, Suarez told WLRN, “I urge our residents to listen to my speech, which talks about what we’ve done as opposed to how people try to characterize what we’ve done.” 

Suarez, who has floated the idea of running for Florida governor in 2026, hinted at future political ambitions, stating, “The one thing you can almost guarantee about politics is that there’s constantly opportunities if you want to serve.”

As Suarez’s time as mayor winds down, the city is left to reckon with both his achievements and the challenges that remain, including a housing crisis that continues to push residents out of the city.

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