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Beckham’s group reveals new plans for soccer-specific stadium

Second Miami Stadium Plan

By FRANCO PANIZO

David Beckham is wasting no time in his pursuit for a soccer-specific stadium in downtown Miami.

Just two days after Beckham and his group of investors said they changed their focus and were looking at a boat slip as the site for their proposed stadium instead of initial target PortMiami, the global icon’s representatives publicly laid out a plan for the new location on Thursday. The plans include filling the boat slip that is located next to the Miami Heat’s AmericanAirlines Arena and turning that land and a nearby parcel into new green space.

The stadium – which MLS has required Beckham to secure before granting him an expansion franchise – would not sit right next to a body of water as Beckham and his investors initially hoped, but the Atlantic Ocean would not be far away. The new plans also expand a neighboring park.

“By expanding Museum Park with new public spaces anchored by world-class art and science museums and a world-class soccer club, we’ll be activating the waterfront on a year-round basis,” Beckham said in a statement.

Beckham’s group would pay the more than $20 million estimated cost of filling the slip, which is currently owned by the city of Miami, in addition to paying for construction of the stadium.

This is not a done deal, however. Beckham’s group still needs to overcome some political hurdles and will likely need Miami voters to approve the deal, most likely in November.

“Our plans to transform the FEC slip and Parcel B into soccer grounds and a public park will give Miami fans a chance to experience the thrill of the sport,” said Marcelo Claure, Beckham’s MLS franchise business partner, in a statement, “right in the heart of downtown.”

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What do you think of Beckham and his group’s new proposed stadium plan? Do you see it being alluring to Miami officials and residents? Does the fact that it adds land to a park make you feel better about the stadium project?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Question, if nycfc can start playing at Yankee stadium by 2015 and I’m pretty sure nycfc gets their stadium by latest 2019, why can Miami join the league and start play in 2016 in a temporary stadium or even at their new stadium.
    Nycfc will join 2015 same as Orlando and play at temporary fields.
    Atlanta will get their nfl stadium by 2017.
    Miami can easily start in a temporary field in 2016
    And why doesn’t MLS get Las Vegas before nba or MLB, since Las Vegas has everything MLS is asking for. Imagine having Miami,Los Angeles, NYC, Las Vegas, wow it would be a fancy soccer league. Too bad Chicago has an unglued stadium and sucky team and future.
    Las Vegas team number 24 and I don’t understand why people say Minneapolis is ahead. No more nfl stadiums!!

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  2. Where can I get a job as a stadium proposal maker. It seems like a fun job to have and Beckham alone seems like an entire cottage industry by himself.

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  3. How about a boardwalk by the water’s edge? Maybe a few docs for boats and yachts to pull-up. Kind of like Georgetown Harbor in DC? What is that stuff to the left of the stadium?

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  4. Muuuuch better spot than out at the port…and downtown..and on the water… The other stadium location seemed like a pipe-dream. This one seems doable..and i like the green space.

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    • Why not turn the green space into soccer fields. A city can’t have too many soccer fields and it’s still green space.

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  5. That look goods. As a part-time Miami resident, I might actually prefer that to the port. The stadium design for the port was fantastic, but this new spot would be more accessible, both in terms of driving and public transport, while still being a pretty sweet location. I would imagine the park space would go over well with the public too, but then again, around that area, it might just turn into a homeless campground.

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  6. I can’t help but think that this might’ve been their plan all along. Maybe I’m just a little too devious minded but I can see it. The group led by Royal Caribbean has already stated that they wouldn’t fight ANY other location so long as it wasn’t Port Miami. So anyone who came out and joined their little “alliance” runs the risk of looking like the bad guys now if they attack this stadium idea as well. I’ll be curious to see how it all shakes out and how well received this idea is.

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    • Totally thought the same thing. Do a hard press on the non-starter location then fall back to the actual location to make it appear as it was a huge concession thus speeding up the negotiation process.

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      • thats a lot of time, energy, and $$$ spent though just to make these guys look like the bad guys. I’m inclined to think they just got starry eyed over the first location.

  7. I just hopes it gets done and I hope they start playing ASAP. Here’s one vote for Miami United as a wink to his favorite club. Yes, there is room for more than one “United”.

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  8. Becks Says: I can’t have your land for a stadium? Fine… I’ll make my own land for a stadium, with blackjack and hookers. In fact… Forget the stadium.

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