By FRANCO PANIZO
Landing a stadium in PortMiami was never going to be easy for David Beckham, and now he has his first real hurdle to overcome.
Miami-Dade commissioners on Tuesday did not allow PortMiami to move a fuel-spill facility that would need to be relocated for Beckham’s proposed soccer-specific stadium, according to a report from the Miami Herald. Finding a new home for the warehouse would cost approximately $6 million.
Port officials faced questions from commissioners over the port’s future. Beckham hopes that future will include a stadium and entertainment complex on the southwest corner of Dodge Island. At least one commissioner expressed concern that Miami-Dade mayor Carlos Gimenez is backing a stadium location that the commission won’t support.
“I think there’s a sentiment that it should not be in play,’’ Commissioner Esteban “Steve” Bovo told the Miami Herald of the port as a soccer option. “There may be a majority on this commission who do not want it in play.”
Beckham’s representation did not speak on Tuesday, but it did have a lobbyist spend the entire day in the commission chambers.
Port officials wanted the site where the stadium would located to be used for a new commercial complex instead, even with downtown Miami brokers and developers showing opposition because of what they deem a glutted office market.
Beckham, however, is hoping to convince local businesses and citizens that a soccer stadium for his expansion MLS franchise would be a good thing for all parties involved.
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