MIAMI — Miami Beckham United (MBU), an investment group led by international soccer star and celebrity David Beckham, has purchased two parcels of land in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood for a new soccer stadium. In December 2015, Major League Soccer (MLS) approved the location of the $300 million project, which is expected to have about 30,000 seats and 7,000 parking spaces, according to the South Florida Business Journal.
The new stadium will be the home of an MLS expansion team in Miami. In addition to Beckham, MBU is headed by Marcelo Claure, CEO of Sprint, producer Simon Fuller and sports executive Tim Leiweke. The partners have said the project will be privately funded.
“We have the right site, the right ownership group, and a loyal base of fans counting down the days until our first match,” said Claure in a prepared statement. “We’re all-in on Overtown, and we couldn’t be more excited about moving forward with plans to deliver the most responsible stadium in Miami history.”
MBU purchased the two sites, which total 6.2 acres, at 650 N.W. 8th St. The stadium site is situated midway between Miami Beach and Miami International Airport, within walking distance of downtown Miami and two blocks from the Miami River District.
Artist rendering of the new MLS stadium in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood (Rendering courtesy of Miami Beckham United)
“The Culmer Metrorail station is three blocks away, 7,000 parking spaces are within a 10 minute walk and All Aboard Florida’s new rail terminal is within a half-mile, ensuring fans will have several options for arriving and departing on game day,” the statement read.
The Business Journal reports that Miami-Dade County records list the purchase price of the two parcels at roughly $19 million.
The investment group is also looking to purchase an adjacent 2.8-acre tract currently owned by Miami-Dade County, after which the county and the city of Miami will need to approve the stadium design before construction commences. MBU is currently meeting with area businesses, residents and community organizations before the stadium’s design and development phase.
— John Nelson