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Inter Miami CF

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For Miami's original MLS team, see Miami Fusion F.C.

Miami
Founded2014
GroundMiami MLS stadium
Capacity25,000
OwnerDavid Beckham
Simon Fuller
Marcelo Claure
Tim Leiweke
LeagueMajor League Soccer

The Miami MLS team is a proposed professional soccer team to be based in Miami, Florida. The year the team is scheduled to join Major League Soccer (MLS) is pending negotiations over stadium financing and location. The ownership group, known as Miami Beckham United, is led by David Beckham, his business partner Simon Fuller, Miami-based Bolivian businessman Marcelo Claure and American sports executive Tim Leiweke.[1][2][3]

The Miami team is part of a MLS expansion plan that will increase the number of teams from 20 to 24 teams by 2020 and to 28 teams beyond. The other locations already granted teams are Los Angeles, Minnesota, and Atlanta. MLS and the team's ownership group announced in December 2015 that a new stadium will be built in the Overtown neighborhood of Miami.[4][5]

Beckham had received an option to own an expansion team at a discounted franchise fee as part of the contract he signed with Major League Soccer when he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.

The name of the team has not yet been announced, although the "Miami Vice" and "Miami Current" were used by the ownership group in a presentation for the city officials and potential investors.[6]

Expansion bid

In November 2012, MLS commissioner Don Garber confirmed the league's renewed interest in placing an expansion franchise in Miami,[7] after the Miami Fusion folded following the 2001 season and an expansion bid led by Claure and F.C. Barcelona failed in 2009.[8]

When Beckham, who had received an option to purchase an expansion team at a price of $25 million when he joined the league in 2007,[9] ended his playing career in April 2013, the league held preliminary discussions with Beckham's advisers about several expansion targets, including Miami.[10] That same year, other investors, including Italian financier Alessandro Butini[11] and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross expressed interest in owning a Miami franchise as well.[12]

In his December 2013 state of the League address, Garber identified Beckham and Simon Fuller as potential owners in Miami.[13] Later that month, on December 17, Miami-Dade County commissioners voted unanimously to allow Mayor Carlos A. Giménez to negotiate with the Beckham-led group on a new stadium in downtown Miami.[14]

The league announced that Beckham exercised his option on February 5, 2014,[15] and that Miami Beckham United,[16] the investment group led by Beckham, Fuller and Claure, would own an expansion franchise in Miami, assuming that financing for a stadium could be agreed upon.[17]

After its initial stadium proposals fell through, Commissioner Garber reiterated in August 2014 that the expansion would not be approved until a downtown stadium plan was secured.[18]

Stadium

Main article: Miami MLS stadium

The team initially proposed a site on Dodge Island at PortMiami, but the plan was scrapped after facing opposition from existing seaport businesses. In May 2014, the team ownership group presented a plan for a largely privately financed 20,000-seat stadium on the waterfront in Downtown Miami at Museum Park,[19] but the new plan also fell through after facing opposition from local residents.[20]

Although the team initially expressed a desire for a stadium on the waterfront, other locations, including sites near Miami International Airport, Marlins Park and Florida International University have been mentioned as fallback plans.[21] After a proposal to build next to Marlins Park fell through, the ownership group announced that it had secured a nine-acre site in the Overtown neighborhood west of Downtown Miami.[22]

The team has said the new stadium would not be ready until 2018 at the earliest, and it would need to play in a temporary stadium, possibly Marlins Park or FIU Stadium.[23] The latter was endorsed as a temporary option in a February 2015 vote by the Miami-Dade County commissioners.[24]

Supporters

A 200-member supporters group named Southern Legion was formed after the Fusion folded.[25] Members of the Southern Legion were on-hand for the announcement that Beckham was exercising his option, presenting him with a scarf.[26]

References

  1. ^ Gaughan, Jack; Williamson, Laura (February 5, 2014). "This can be The People's Club... and yes, I want the very best to play here! Beckham announces 'exciting' MLS franchise in Miami (but will their kit be Man City blue?)". Daily Mail. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  2. ^ "Hurdles Ahead for Beckham and M.L.S. in Miami". The New York Times. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  3. ^ "Miami Beckham United's Tim Leiweke provides update on stadium quest". MLSsoccer.com. November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  4. ^ Bandell, Brian (December 7, 2015). "Major League Soccer approves David Beckham's expansion team in Miami, Overtown location". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  5. ^ "MLS announces possible plans to expand league to 28 teams, 2016 scheduling updates". Major League Soccer. December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  6. ^ "Photos: possible logo, uniforms for David Beckham's Miami MLS club?". Palm Beach Post. February 12, 2014.
  7. ^ Goff, Steven (November 26, 2012). "MLS commissioner's state of league". Soccer Insider. The Washington Post. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "Miami Barcelona MLS Campaign Is Dead". Goal.com. March 3, 2009.
  9. ^ Kennedy, Paul (May 20, 2013). "Beckham is MLS expansion story du jour". Soccer Business Insider.
  10. ^ Evans, Simon (May 17, 2013). "Soccer-Beckham talking to MLS about owning a new team". sports.yahoo.com. Yahoo! Sports. Reuters.
  11. ^ Kaufman, Michelle (October 2, 2013). "David Beckham group still working on Miami MLS bid; competing group emerges". Miami Herald.
  12. ^ "Alessandro Butini is the latest suitor in MLS' Miami expansion project". Planet Fútbol. SI.com. October 2, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  13. ^ Borg, Simon (December 3, 2013). "MLS commissioner Don Garber discusses expansion, scheduling in latest State of the League address". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer.
  14. ^ Mazzei, Patricia (December 17, 2013). "Miami-Dade commissioners sound gung-ho about David Beckham's potential Major League Soccer stadium". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  15. ^ Kaufman, Michelle (February 2, 2014). "Beckham-Miami deal one step closer; local visit plans revealed". Miami Herald.
  16. ^ Smith, Chris (March 24, 2014). "David Beckham's grand plan for Port Miami stadium for new MLS team". theguardian.com. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  17. ^ Mazzei, Patricia (February 5, 2014). "Soccer star David Beckham to bring MLS team to Miami". Miami Herald.
  18. ^ "David Beckham's Miami MLS plans on hold until stadium secured". Planet Futbol. SI.com. July 29, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  19. ^ Mazzei, Patricia (May 22, 2014). "David Beckham's latest Miami stadium plans revealed after earlier site scratched". Miami Herald.
  20. ^ Mazzei, Patricia (June 10, 2014). "David Beckham's MLS Stadium Is a No-Go at Downtown Miami's Museum Park, Boat Slip". The Miami Herald. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  21. ^ "David Beckham unveils MLS stadium plans in Port of Miami". BBC Sport. BBC. March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  22. ^ "Beckham announces Overtown site for soccer stadium". Miami Herald. December 4, 2015.
  23. ^ "Beckham group eyes Port of Miami for MLS home". Associated Press. March 24, 2014. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  24. ^ "FIU Stadium Approved As Temp. Venue For Miami Soccer Club". CBS Miami. February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  25. ^ Walfish, Josh (February 6, 2014). "Fans remain optimistic David Beckham will deliver MLS team to Miami". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  26. ^ Wine, Steven (February 5, 2014). "Beckham exercises option to buy MLS team in Miami". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
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