WATCH: Former Miami mayor wants new stadium for Hurricanes

Former Miami mayor and current commissioner Joe Carollo made an interesting request while reviewing a proposal from local soccer club Inter Miami. According to local reporter Andy Slater, the politician called for them to revise their proposed stadium plan, increasing the size and asking the Miami Hurricanes to play there.

In a video posted on Twitter from the meeting of politicians, Carollo called the opportunity “once in a lifetime.”

Miami Hurricanes need to have a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to be part of Miami Freedom Park, Commissioner Carollo says.

Stadium capacity would need to increase to 45-50k, he says. pic.twitter.com/01gTB8oHJK

— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) April 28, 2022

The Miami Hurricanes currently play in Hard Rock Stadium, a 65,000-capacity venue which they share with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. The school signed a 25-year contract with the stadium when it moved there in 2008, with the deal set to expire in 2033.

Prior to the move, Miami football played its home games at the historic Miami Orange Bowl.

The current venue forces students to travel 25 miles across the city from campus to the stadium, making the gameday commute one of the longest in the country for a home team and its fans. The proposed location of the new stadium is approximately six miles away from campus, significantly closer.

More on potential stadium

The potential new stadium has been on the table for some time now, but the vote continues to get postponed as the city and team adjust plans. Titled “Miami Freedom Park,” the venue would host MLS soccer club Inter Miami for its home games and includes the addition of hotel rooms as well as commercial and office space.

The location of the new venue has been proposed for Melreese Golf Course and Country Club, with a deal near $1 billion in total value. While the original proposal called for 25,000 seats, the request by commissioner Joe Carollo could increase the size and value of the project while expanding usage.

In addition to the stadium and other construction, the project would create community fields and the largest public park in the city of Miami at more than 58 acres.