By FRANCO PANIZO
The opposition to David Beckham’s proposed soccer-specific stadium in PortMiami is steadily growing.
According to a report from the Miami Herald, Royal Caribbean Cruises has rounded up some allies to form an organization to oppose Beckham’s desired stadium in the southwest corner of Dodge Island near downtown Miami. Royal Caribbean has been opposed to the idea of having the 25,000-seat stadium that will not be built with public money at that location from the outset, but this development marks the first organized resistance to Beckham’s plans.
The Miami Seaport Alliance even went as far as putting a full-page ad in each of Monday’s Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald issues. The title of the ad was, “Here We Go Again”.
“The Alliance wholeheartedly supports a soccer franchise in Miami and believes there are other sites that would benefit greatly from a stadium,” the ad said. “However, PortMiami is not one of them, due to the risks a port stadium would pose to jobs, cruise and cargo operations, security, and the port’s promising future.”
Beckham’s camp commented on this development on Monday through the global icon’s real-estate advisor.
“People are responding to speculation,” John Alschuler told the Miami Herald. “I’ve got confidence that commissioners, when presented with a formal recommendation by the mayor — and a full, factual briefing — will respond to the facts.”
While Beckham is keen on the waterfront property so as to show off Miami’s skyline and ocean views, there are other potential locations for a stadium for his expansion MLS franchise.
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What do you make of this development? Still think Beckham will get to build his soccer-specific stadium on PortMiami when it is all said and done? Should Beckham’s camp give up on the idea of the PortMiami site?
Share your thoughts below.