Aerial view rendering for David Beckham's European-style, open-air soccer stadium at the Port of Miami.
David Beckham isn't just bringing a soccer stadium to Miami. The former England captain has plans to develop a sought-after piece of land on Biscayne Bay into a site that will offer entertainment options year-round.
Beckham's group released renderings Monday of its proposed 25,000-seat stadium for the yet-to-be-named MLS team that will take up residence in South Florida beginning in 2017.
The plan for the Dodge Island site in the Port of Miami includes a plaza and the rehabilitation of a defunct drawbridge for fans to walk to the stadium from downtown, the Miami Herald reported. There would be shopping, dining and entertainment options with views of the city that currently can only be seen by by people on private yachts. The open-air arena, which would be the third-largest in the league, would be privately-financed, with Beckham and his partners not seeking any funding from Dade County or the City of Miami.
Interior bowl rendering for David Beckham's European-style, open-air soccer stadium, which features views of downtown Miami.
The location is currently used by Royal Caribbean Cruises, which has concerns about sharing the site with a soccer venue and how increased traffic in the area would affect its ships' arrivals and departures, the Herald reported. John Alschuer, Beckham's real-estate advisor, told the paper that the cruise line's concerns could be put to rest thanks to the findings of their own traffic study. Beckham's group feels that with the majority of games taking place at night, and many cruises departing and arriving during the daytime hours, sharing the port with the cruise line is not impossible.
“We want to come to the port only if we’re an asset to the port,” Alschuer told the Herald. “If we’re a liability to the port, then we shouldn’t be there.”
The plaza area surrounding David Beckham's proposed Miami soccer stadium will feature dining, shopping and entertainment options.
Parking at the proposed location is a key concern. According to the Miami Herald, Beckham's team won't play home games on nights where the Miami Heat — located at nearby American Airlines Arena — are also playing at home. Part of the plan to alleviate parking concerns is to have fans park in downtown Miami, where there would be ample parking on nights when LeBron James & Co. are not playing.
If the plans to build on Dodge Island fall through, Beckham's group has three fallback options; building on the land abutting Marlins Park in Little Havana, developing a piece of land near Miami International Airport or building near Florida International University.
The proposed space in the Port of Miami is currently used by Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Beckham's arrival will mark the MLS' return to South Florida. Fort Lauderdale hosted the Miami Fusion for four seasons before folding due to a lack of interest in 2002.
To Post Comments Sign In