MIAMI (WSVN) - Soccer star David Beckham has returned to South Florida to rally for a yes vote on his proposed soccer stadium in Miami.
South Floridians are still lining up to make their voices heard at the polls, and Beckham made a stop Tuesday to gain support for his plan to build a stadium in Miami-Dade County.
Although Beckham is not a political candidate, he’s pounding the pavement for support for his Major League Soccer stadium.
If things go Beckham’s way on Tuesday, his group could get closer to making the new stadium, mall, park and 750-room hotel a reality.
Beckham was spotted in Doral with Jorge Mas, owners and partners of the Major League Soccer team InterMiami, which is set to begin playing in 2020. But first they need a place to play.
Sometimes we smile for the camera #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/uF5u5Pf5kg
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The Beckham group is pushing Miami residents to vote yes on #378. That would mean the city agrees to do away with the formal bidding process and only work with Beckham’s ownership team who want to lease public land for the privately funded soccer stadium.
It will also be part of what will be called Freedom Park that will hold the hotel, retail and green space.
All of that, if voters decide to vote yes, will go where the Melreese Country Club is currently located.
Those opposed to the enterprise said that they want the golf course to stay as is and call the stadium proposal a money grab that strips the city of its only municipal golf course. They also said that the stadium will bring heavy traffic to the area.
There’s also concern over the fact that some of the land sits on top of toxic ash, which will likely cost tens of millions of dollars to handle safely. However, the Beckham group said they are prepared to absorb the costs.
Beckham said this whole idea is about a city that he thinks wants soccer badly and the time for him is right now.
“I know this is the right city. I know these are the right people that deserve a great football team in this city,” Beckham said. “I’ve seen the passion. I’ve played everywhere in the world, and I’ve played for great teams, I’ve played in great cities. This city has passion like no other.”
Even if Beckham gets a yes vote, he’d still need four out of five commissioners to approve the lease. If they end up getting a no, the Beckham team said they do not have a plan B.
Beckham’s camp has a public party scheduled for Tuesday night at 800 Douglas Road.
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