Fútbol in the financial district
Over the past half century, Miami has seen the population of its skyline explode. Open space in Downtown is nearly impossible to come by, so vertical growth has increased to accommodate all those working and living off Brickell Avenue. Luckily for many, the recreation they seek is at the beach, easily accessed either via the Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne or across the MacArthur Causeway to Miami Beach. For those looking for more than the ocean breeze, there’s an Astroturf oasis on the roof of a small office building at the mouth of the Miami River.
Encased in mesh walls, the soccer field stands alone, lost among the myriad of megastructures surrounding the pitch. The field and nets are smaller than regulation size, but the landscape they’re situated in is larger than life. Incredible towering hotels, condos, and office buildings are the grounds’ spectators. At the southern end of the field, a parking garage with a polka-dot color gradient lies flush with the goal line. High above its rainbow facade hovers the otherworldly halo of 500 Brickell. The large white circular perforation, hundreds of feet in the air, harnesses the sunlight and looks down on the field like a deity. At the northern end, the Miami River, flanked by skyscrapers, spills into Biscayne Bay.
Info
Address 444 Brickell Avenue, 2nd Floor, Miami, FL 33131, +1 305.967.3512, www.soccerooftop.com | Hours Mon–Fri 4pm–midnight, Fri–Sat 9am–midnight| Tip Head north on Miami Avenue to Fooq’s (1035 N Miami Ave), a contemporary American restaurant with one of the best burgers in town. Short rib, skirt steak, and brisket comprise this patty, topped with a layer of melted Jarlsberg and served on a toasted, buttered brioche.
The field is available to rent hourly for practice or organized matches throughout the week, and also hosts local leagues and offers soccer lessons to kids on Sundays.
In the midst of Miami’s melting pot, it’s only natural that the international game of soccer has bubbled over and found a home in Downtown’s sweaty concrete jungle. Latin Americans constitute two-thirds of the city’s population, and what’s common among them is an undying passion for fútbol. Talk of Miami getting its own professional team has been in the air for some time, but hinges on the financing and construction of a major-league soccer stadium.
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