Key Takeaways
- Sports Performance Hub secures $280 million in private funding for a 100+ acre multi-sport complex in Homestead, Florida
- The facility will generate 4,300 construction jobs and 600 permanent positions in South Florida
- Founders include NBA’s Manu Ginobili, soccer stars Juan Sebastián Verón and Pico Mónaco, alongside business leaders from fintech and energy sectors
- Miami FC will make the 10,000-seat stadium its permanent home for training and matches
- At least 10% of academy spots will be allocated to scholarship students from local communities
Elite Athlete-Investors Enter Youth Sports Infrastructure
Sports Performance Hub announced a landmark agreement with the City of Homestead on October 24, bringing together an unusual coalition of investors. The founding group combines four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili, former Argentina national team captain Juan Sebastián Verón, and tennis player Juan “Pico” Mónaco with entrepreneurs including fintech founder Emiliano Fernández Balagué and former Dow Chemical executive Gastón Remy.
The $280 million project, funded entirely through private capital, spans more than 100 acres under an 80-year lease agreement. Located 30 miles from Miami International Airport, the Homestead site positions the facility within reach of South Florida’s youth sports market while offering space for large-scale infrastructure.
What’s Being Built
The complex will house academies for soccer, basketball, tennis, and football, alongside a boarding school for residential athletes. Additional infrastructure includes a 100-room hotel, a medical and mental health center, and a 10,000-seat stadium.
Miami FC, owned by SPH partner Riccardo Silva, will relocate its training operations and home matches to the stadium. The facility will also support recreational sports including baseball, volleyball, pickleball, and padel.
The boarding school component represents a significant residential capacity, though specific enrollment numbers were not disclosed in the announcement.
Economic and Community Impact
The development is projected to create 4,300 jobs during the construction phase and 600 permanent positions once operational. SPH has committed to allocating 10% of academy enrollment to scholarship students, with additional programming focused on local community access and female athlete inclusion.
“This is more than infrastructure, it’s a platform for human development,” said Gastón Remy, who brings corporate leadership experience from the energy and technology sectors to the project.
The Homestead location carries symbolic weight. The city rebuilt itself after Hurricane Andrew devastated the area in 1992, and SPH’s founders have framed the investment as aligned with that narrative of resilience and renewal.
South Florida’s Growing Sports Infrastructure Landscape
The announcement adds to South Florida’s expanding youth and professional sports footprint. Miami has seen increasing investment in sports facilities and academies in recent years, driven by demographic growth, international migration patterns, and year-round training weather.
“Miami has everything it takes to become the new global epicenter of sports: talent, diversity, and energy,” said Silva. “SPH brings all of that together with education and community.”
The region’s proximity to Latin America has made it a strategic location for academies targeting international athletes, particularly in soccer and tennis.
Timeline and Next Steps
Groundbreaking timelines were not specified in the October announcement. The project will require coordination across multiple construction phases given the scope of facilities being developed simultaneously.
With private funding secured and the municipal agreement in place, SPH will move forward on permitting, design finalization, and construction scheduling for the Homestead site.
Via: PRNW
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