David Beckham's MLS Miami ownership group presented their new vision for a waterfront stadium in downtown Miami on Thursday, revealing plans for a soccer-specific venue surrounded by park space next to the American Airlines Arena.
Miami Beckham United's ambitious plans revolve around filling in a deep-water boat slip (known as the Florida East Coast railway slip) that currently sits next to the home of the NBA's Miami Heat, an estimated $20 million project which would enable the construction of a home for an MLS expansion club while also increasing the overall size of adjacent Museum Park by 4.3 acres. The group plans to seek state assistance for the project but will not call on city or county funds.
“By expanding Museum Park with new public spaces anchored by world-class art and science museums and a world-class soccer club, we’ll be activating the waterfront on a year-round basis,” Beckham said in a statement.
Officials said the stadium would hold 20,000 spectators and offer a range of modern features, including a large video board on the exterior of the building for hosting viewing parties. But detailed renderings of the facility itself are still under design.
The site on Biscayne Bay is the new focus of Miami Beckham United after their initial proposal for a facility at PortMiami, located a short distance south, met with resistance from local businesses and ruled out by Dade County commissioners earlier this week.
The new site also incorporates a smaller plot of publicly-owned land next to American Airlines Arena known as Parcel B. The overall proposal looks likely to require a partnership between the city of Miami and Dade County, both of which control land in the vicinity.
“Our plans to transform the FEC slip and Parcel B into soccer grounds and a public park will give Miami fans a chance to experience the thrill of the sport right in the heart of downtown,” Miami Beckham United investor Marcelo Claure said in a statement.
