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.