Beckham has deal to build Miami stadium

MLS has been adamant that it will not grant Beckham’s group an expansion license without a soccer-specific stadium in downtown Miami.

Friday’s development is a watershed moment for the Miami MLS expansion project.

After a meeting with Beckham United ownership, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado announced on Friday a tentative deal with the club to construct a privately financed stadium near Marlins Park, at the site of the old Orange Bowl, which a Beckham United spokesperson called “another step forward”.

Marlins Park is in Little Havana, just west of downtown. But agreeing upon the former Orange Bowl stadium site – after other Beckham choices had been rejected by city leaders to push this plan – was a major step, according to a statement from the Beckham group.

Claure said his architects have studied the area and decided there is no need to alter roadways near the planned stadium area, which eventually could include an entertainment district with shops, restaurants and hotels.

“David, Marcelo [Claure] and Simon [Fuller] are thrilled by the initial outpouring of support we’ve received from our fans and we’re excited about sharing our plans with the City, County and community soon”, the group said.

The league’s commissioner, Don Garber, has said he believes Miami could be “a great MLS market” if Beckham can find the right venue.

The decision represents a significant shift by Beckham, who told The Associated Press in an interview previous year that he preferred another location in his quest to bring MLS back to Miami.

“It’s what football is all about”, Beckham told AP in June 2014. If that happens, the stadium would grow from 25,000 seats to 40,000.