The long-discussed deal to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Miami appears to have been kick-started again, with a major assist from a new investor.
David Beckham's group apparently now has the capital to close on the remaining three acres of land needed for the planned Overtown stadium. Miami Beckham recently added billionaire Todd Boehly to the investor group to help secure the financing that other MLS owners wanted to see soon, or move on.
In addition to owning a piece of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boehly's portfolio includes Billboard Magazine and Dick Clark Productions. Miami Beckham United brought him on board to help secure the money needed to buy the currently-county owned land, build the stadium, and start the franchise.
According to the Miami Herald, Mayor Carlos Gimenez is planning to add an item regarding the sale of the land which has been used for vehicle storage to the County Commission meeting agenda for next week. However, it is not clear whether the measure to close the deal would actually see a vote.
District 3 Commissioner Audrey Edmonson's feelings about the deal carry a lot of weight, since the board often sides with the respective commissioner whose district is impacted by a deal. Edmonson has not committed support to the potential agreement, saying she wants to hear from her constituents first.
While Beckham's original contract to play in the MLS granted him an option to get a franchise at a discounted rate, other league owners are growing increasingly frustrated over the stadium and financing delays since Beckham first announced his intentions to bring a team to Miami.
Even if the county and the Beckham group agree to a deal for the property, other issues--such as zoning approval--remain. Time is of the essence now, as MLS Commissioner Don Garber said at last month's league meetings that owners want a deal done by the end of this year or move on to other expansion sites.
(Photo credit: Alexia Fodere/AFP/Getty Images)