David Beckham MLS Ownership Group Buys Land in Miami for Soccer-Only Stadium
David Beckham's bid to put an MLS team in Miami has taken a big step forward, as the ownership group behind the project announced they have acquired a patch of land to build a soccer-specific stadium in the Overtown district of the city.
In a statement, Miami Beckham United laid out their plans for the immediate future as they await approval from the MLS Board of Governors. Per the Guardian's Bryan Armen Graham, the statement read:
"Miami Beckham United has secured a stadium development site at 650 Northwest 8th Street in the City of Miami’s historic Overtown neighborhood. We intend to create an assemblage of private and County-controlled land totaling approximately nine acres in Miami’s urban core, within walking distance of multiple public transit options and the up-and-coming Miami River District.
The private properties, which comprise the majority of the land, are under contract and we intend to purchase the County land at fair market value pending approval of our site by the MLS Board of Governors.
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The Board of Governors are set to meet in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, one day before the MLS Cup match between Columbus Crew and Portland Timbers.
Beckham has been trying to move forward with his plans to start a franchise in Miami since 2014, but there has been little movement in recent months.
Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sentinel recently released a statement from MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who threatened to put Sacramento ahead of Miami in the expansion queue if Beckham and Co. couldn't resolve the issues with their proposed stadium.
Former U.S. international Alexi Lalas thinks Garber has been remarkably lenient on the issue:
The threat of the Sacramento bid likely forced Beckham's hand, and the timing of the announcement that a site has been found shouldn't come as a surprise. If the Board of Governors approve the site on Saturday, Beckham's new team would be on schedule to enter MLS as early as 2018.
Miami would become the 24th MLS franchise should they join alongside Los Angeles FC in 2018, one year after Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC are expected to join as well.
