Initial deal with city officials could see 25,000-seat arena next door to Marlins arena, described by Beckham partner Marcelo Claure as ‘the moment of truth’

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

David Beckham’s proposed Miami MLS franchise plans to play its home games in a brand new stadium on the former site of the city’s famous Orange Bowl.

During a meeting with local officials on Friday, partners of the former England skipper reached an initial agreement for a privately funded 25,000-seater arena, next door to the Miami Marlins’ baseball park.

The announcement, which arrives just as hopes of a deal ever being reached had started to fade, was called a “milestone” by Miami mayor Tomas Regalado.

Jubilant Beckham partner Marcelo Claure said: “The time is now … This is the moment of truth.”

He later tweeted: “Great meeting with @Tomas_Regalado we have presented him our intentions to bring Futbol and a new soccer stadium in the former Orange Bowl.”

MarceloClaure (@marceloclaure) Great meeting with @Tomas_Regalado we have presented him our intentions to bring Futbol and a New soccer stadium in the former Orange Bowl.

Beckham and Major League Soccer want the as-yet-unnamed expansion team to take the field in time for the start of the 2018 campaign, and Mayor Regalado will now take proposals to city commissioners for approval.

A spokesman for Beckham Miami United, the investment group backing the MLS team for Miami, said: “Today’s meeting with Mayor Regalado was another positive step toward bringing a world class soccer club to Miami. We’re still in the early planning stages and several viable options still exist, but our preferred stadium location is the former Orange Bowl site.

“David, Marcelo and Simon are thrilled by the initial outpouring of support we’ve received from our fans and we’re excited about sharing our plans with the city, county and community soon.”

The accord comes after almost 18 months of haggling with city lawmakers over the potential location, which had tested the patience of MLS officials and threatened to derail the hopes of an MLS franchise ever coming to the city.

In May, MLS commissioner Don Garber told Goal.com: “I believe that there is a possibility for us to be in Miami, but it does need to be right.”

“Just because an opportunity exists doesn’t mean that we’re going to close on that deal, because we want to be sure that any new team has the opportunity to be successful.”

While the location isn’t quite the glitzy, waterfront Port Miami paradise the former Manchester United and LA Galaxy midfielder had optimistically pitched in his presentation to Miami, today’s deal should end the conjecture, which is great news for the city’s large soccer-obsessed Latino population.

Rather than a glamorous home next to the Miami Heat, Beckham’s organisation was offered the Orange Bowl site in the hopes of creating a pro sports and entertainment mecca in the under-served Little Havana district.

The area gained has national news prominence over the last week. Marlins Park featured prominently during a lambasting of publically-funded sports arenas and their effects on the local community on John Oliver’s agenda-setting HBO show.

The fallout from owner Jeffrey Loria’s award from public funds – which could cost the city up to $2.4bn over the next 40-years – had scarred Miami legislators and the local population, but the Beckham group had courted favour by promising to foot the bill for the project from day one.

If the stadium is not built in time for the start of the 2018 season, Beckham’s franchise may need to find a temporary home; with Marlins Park one of the options floated.

Another interested party, the University of Miami, had been in talks with the Beckham group over the potential for a shared stadium project. However, the Hurricanes are not involved in this deal at this stage, the mayor said.

The old Orange Bowl, a former home of ‘The U” and the original home of the Miami Dolphins NFL franchise was demolished in 2008. A return of professional sports to the site is significant for the city.

However, since Beckham sought to woo Miami, the soccer landscape has shifted somewhat with Miami FC – backed by Italian legend Paolo Maldini – set to join the second tier North American Soccer League in 2016, beating the MLS team to the market.