Miami vote takes Beckham closer to stadium deal

Article by Coliseum, published December 3, 2018

Image: Inter Miami CF

Soccer legend David Beckham’s long-planned stadium deal is now a step closer to reality.

Miami voters gave city officials permission on November 6 – in a vote the coincided with Florida’s midterm elections – to negotiate a no-bid lease deal with Beckham’s group, which wants to build a Major League Soccer (MLS) complex on what has been a public golf course.

Beckham’s group is also planning to have technology offices, a hotel and retail space on the land, in return for guaranteeing the city about $3.6 million in rent annually.

Apply for membership

It’s not a done deal: Now the retired soccer star and his partners must negotiate the terms with city officials for the 25,000-seat stadium and transforming the rest of what is now the Melreese Country Club into a 58-acre (23-hectare) public park.

The victory in the vote was the first big one for Beckham’s club, officially named Club Internacional de Futbol Miami — or Inter Miami. Beckham has considered and wanted several other sites over the years, before turning his attention to Melreese in recent months.

MLS is targeting a 2020 launch for Inter Miami and Beckham said yesterday’s vote marked a big step in the group’s long-running plans to form a franchise in the Floridian city.

“I started this dream five and a half years ago…to bring a team to Miami, to bring a team to this great city,” Beckham said, according to the Associated Press news agency. “To bring a team to you, the people. We’ve had some speed bumps along the way. We’ve had a few problems along the way.”

He added: “We’ve proved to the world that persistence, patience, makes things happen. We are going to bring a championship-winning team. We are going to bring great players. We are going to create homegrown talent.”

Continue to follow Coliseum for latest updates on stadium business news. Coliseum is dedicated towards building the best global community of sports venue executives and professionals.

Watch 150 member-exclusive videos with valuable tips for your venue