David Beckham's plans for an MLS franchise in Miami have hit a roadblock. The international soccer icon has removed his bid to build a stadium from the city's commission agenda on Tuesday, according to NBC 6 Miami.
The proposed stadium location in Miami's Little Havana area, next to Marlins Park, is where Beckham planned to build a "World-Class Stadium." The proposal would have to be on the city commission agenda in order to meet a Dec. 10 deadline and get referendum in March, according to Fox Sports.
Beckham struggled to secure land parcels to build the stadium, despite having the support of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who told NBC 6 Miami: "All I want is a stadium here. I will support them as much as I can, again with a caveat there's no public financing, no public funds to go to the stadium."
The MLS plans to expand the league from its current 20 teams to at least 23, according to CBS Sports, with franchises set to kick off in Atlanta for the 2017 season, as well Los Angeles and Minnesota in 2018. Beckham and the MLS targeted a 2018 start date for the Miami franchise, but the MLS wont approve a franchise without a stadium location, according to The Mirror.
This is the third failed attempt to secure a stadium location since Beckham and his group, Miami Beckham United LLC, expressed its interest in bringing a MLS franchise to Miami in 2014.
The MLS plans for future expansion is promising for Beckham. However, Beckham might have to look outside of Miami, to fulfill his vision of heading up an MLS franchise, Stefano Fusaro (NBC6) posted on Twitter.
Statement from Miami Beckham United to the Miami Herald on soccer stadium situation. @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/uWnEk2NXR5
— Stefano Fusaro (@StefanoNBC6) November 30, 2015
#MLSMiami pic.twitter.com/giVfuSBYbX — Southern Legion (@Southern_Legion) December 1, 2015
