AIRBALL SPORTS - AWARD

Aviation and Seaport Committee · 2026-07-13 · resolution

Legislative item File Number 260654 is a Resolution to waive competitive bidding and award a non-competitive revenue-generating contract, Contract No. BW-10479, to Airball Sports II, LLC for a Miami Heat-licensed merchandise retail concession at Miami International Airport (MIA) in Concourse D. The contract has a projected revenue of $17,000,000.00 for an eight-year term with one two-year option to renew. The status is Deferred. The applicant is Airball Sports II, LLC. The sponsor is Danielle Cohen Higgins. The item was introduced on 4/13/2026. The Aviation and Seaport Committee deferred the item on 7/13/2026 to no date certain, and previously deferred it on 5/11/2026 to June 8, 2026. The contract will replace Contract No. R-1110-11 approved on December 19, 2011. The initial eight-year term fiscal impact is $13,600,000, with a cumulative value of $17,000,000 if the option to renew is exercised. The vendor principal address is 201 S. Biscayne Blvd, Ste 800, Miami, FL. The contract requires Airball to pay the County the greater of ten percent (10%) of gross revenues or the prevailing Class VI Terminal rental rate. The current contract requires a percentage fee of 8% of gross revenues. Market research identified Airball as the only vendor authorized to operate a Miami Heat franchise retail store at MIA. The item is located within District 6, represented by Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis, but the impact is countywide. During the 5/11/2026 committee meeting, Chairwoman Cohen Higgins requested a status update on the airport's concessionaire program. Mr. Cutie reported that the Board had approved a 15-year extension of many concession areas the previous April, with a three-year implementation phase. He noted one space was completed, another was about to begin construction, and the department expected to enter the third phase on May 23. He added that implementation would not be complete in time for the World Cup but was progressing well, and the department was negotiating a pool of 45 firms. The document does not state a street address for the project site, parcel or folio number, or acreage.