AIRBALL SPORTS - AWARD

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

Resolution to waive competitive bidding and award a non-competitive revenue-generating lease and concession agreement, Contract No. BW-10479, to Airball Sports II, LLC for a Miami Heat-licensed merchandise retail concession at Miami International Airport (MIA), Concourse D. Projected revenue of $17,000,000.00 for an eight-year term with one two-year option to renew. Status: Deferred. Introduced 4/13/2026. Deferred by Aviation and Seaport Committee on 5/11/2026 to 6/8/2026, and deferred again on 7/13/2026 to no date certain. Applicant/Developer/Owner: Airball Sports II, LLC. Prime Sponsor: Danielle Cohen Higgins. Requester: Strategic Procurement. The contract replaces Contract No. R-1110-11 approved December 19, 2011. The concessionaire must pay the greater of 10% of gross revenues or the prevailing Class VI Terminal rental rate. The current contract requires 8% of gross revenues and is month-to-month. Fiscal impact for initial eight-year term is $13,600,000; with option to renew, estimated cumulative value is $17,000,000. The vendor principal address is 201 S. Biscayne Blvd, Ste 800, Miami, FL. The contract manager is Sylvia Novela. The Procurement Contracting Manager is Marie Williams. The Living Wage Ordinance applies. The Small Business Enterprise measures and Local Preference do not apply. The two percent User Access Program does not apply. Due diligence found no adverse findings. No comparable competitive contracts identified for piggybacking. The item is located within District 6, represented by Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis, but impact is countywide. Public comment sentiment: During the 5/11/2026 committee meeting, Chairwoman Cohen Higgins requested a status update on the airport's concessionaire program, referencing a pool of prospective businesses and asking whether those firms had been able to bid on new airport spaces. 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 the department was engaged in the first two phases, with concessions under design or construction, one space completed, another about to begin construction, and expected to enter the third phase on May 23. He stated implementation would not be complete in time for the World Cup but was progressing well, and the department was negotiating the pool of 45 firms, with solicitations to follow for spaces expected to become available.