AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
David Beckham looks like he's taking his talents to Overtown.
David Beckham looks like he's taking his talents to Overtown.
The man behind the increasingly challenging mission of bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to Miami announced via statement on Friday the site will be in Overtown, on 650 Northwest 8th Street, seven blocks east of Marlins Park and close to the Miami River.
"Miami Beckham United has secured a stadium development site at 650 Northwest 8th Street in the City of Miami's historic Overtown neighborhood," the team said in a statement. "We intend to create an assemblage of private and County-controlled land totaling approximately 9 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."Construction of our venue will be privately financed and we will work with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to establish our club as an educational resource for the community. We will also engage nearby businesses and residents as we develop our stadium design and take steps to enhance the neighborhood."
The Herald reports Beckham's group "plans to own the real estate and stadium itself, dropping past efforts for a government-owned stadium that would be shielded from property taxes."
This comes a couple weeks after reports of the Little Havana site next to Marlins Park fell through in part due to private-property owners seeking "astronomical payments."
The timing of the new site was critical. Beckham's group has a meeting with the Major League Soccer Board of Governors set for tomorrow and they wanted a site ready by then. The Overtown site becomes their fourth try.
· Beckham announces Overtown Site for Soccer Stadium [Miami Herald]
· Miami Beckham United coverage [Curbed Miami]
· Miami Beckham United coverage [Curbed Miami]
|
No comments:
Post a Comment