FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - City commissioners continued with a meeting that could bring professional soccer to Fort Lauderdale.
Two groups are battling over who will be allowed to negotiate with the city commission to renovate Lockhart Stadium, at 1350 NW 55th St.
David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF ownership group is up against FXE Futbol.
“It’s always been our aspiration through Inter Miami that the eyes of the world see the potential of our community and our city, so, we’ve put our best foot forward with our proposal here in Fort Lauderdale,” Inter Miami CF co-owner Jorge Mas said. “I’m very confident that we will be given a green light to be able to move forward.”
City commissioners can vote to hold off on the project altogether or they can vote to put one group ahead of the other and begin negotiations with that group.
Each group hopes to deliver the right pitch to be granted the opportunity to negotiate with commissioners for the location.
“It’s all about the academy and the future of the kids in this great city,” Beckham said.
FXE’s proposal includes a renovated stadium, a United Soccer League franchise, a Topgolf facility and community spaces.
FXE Futbol Managing Partner John Paul Reynal said, “We seriously feel that we’ve been working on this project for two years, and until Beckham arrived last minute, things were working smoothly, but obviously he has star power, and that got people here to rush things unnecessarily.”
Beckham’s group said Inter Miami CF would play at the location for two years while Freedom Park in Miami is under construction.
He said he wouldn’t leave the Fort Lauderdale location once the project in Miami is built.
“We’re not coming here for just two years, and then we’re going to desert this place,” Beckham said.
Inter Miami CF plans on building a new $60 million, 18,000 seat stadium to include a Major League Soccer franchise, a training facility, a youth academy and community space.
Both sides promise commissioners the 64-acre site will bring in millions if their proposed renovations were to proceed.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.