After four years of hard work, David Beckham has realised his American dream of owning a Major League Soccer team.
The former England skipper yesterday unveiled his Miami club, which is set to enter the US top flight in 2020 despite continued wrangling over a site for its controversial home ground.
Locals feel the location proposed for his 25,000-seater Overtown stadium is a nightmare. And 60 days ago, all parties were on the verge of quitting – but continued after finding local investors.
But despite ongoing problems, Beckham described his new club as a “dream come true”.
“This is a city built on dreams and today you’ve made my dreams come true,” he said to thunderous applause.
Welling up, he told fans of the struggles he and his team had faced in the past four years, adding: “I promised my son I wouldn’t get emotional. This is something that has been dream for many, many years.”
Turning to the city’s Mayor and his financial backers, he said: “Thank you for believing in me, in us and for all your support.
“I was drawn to the city because of its diversity. It has been difficult at times but we never gave up.”
Beckham, 42, vowed to build a youth academy in a clear nod to the Manchester United class of ’92 that produced him, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.
He would not be drawn on players he has in mind but said he had been contacted by several big names who told him: “I’m in.” He added: “I can’t say their names. There are many. Of course, we want to reach for the stars.”
Asked about potential managers, Beckham ruled out his best pal Gary Neville, saying: “He talks too much.
“On management, all the owners have made it clear, that is my area and that is where my experience will come in.
“We will look for the right manager. It doesn’t have to be a big name. We have to focus on is the philosophy of the club.”
During the launch, Beckham’s showbiz pull was evident as A-list stars from Hollywood and sport backed the club in a video. They included Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Serena Williams and Usain Bolt.
Beckham’s four kids also appeared, wishing him luck along with wife Victoria.
But despite the fanfare launch, not everyone here shares his excitement.
Protests are expected and flyers have been left around the proposed site urging people to “Stop the stadium”, paid for by Overtown Spring Garden Community Collective.
The group has held rallies where speakers promise to detail a “lack of infrastructure” and “diminished quality of life”.
Local Gustavo Alfonzo, 33, said: “They didn’t choose the best spot. Everyone is against anything that changes the neighbourhood.”
Manchester United idol Beckham knows the MLS well after five seasons at LA Galaxy. When he signed there in 2007, he got an option from league bosses to set up a franchise at a knockdown £17.7million rather than the usual £106.5million.
Former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller joined him in the deal, as well as mobile phone firm Sprint’s chief Marcelo Claure and South Florida tycoon Jorge Mas. But since revealing his plans in February 2014, he has had countless kicks in the Golden Balls.
City officials rejected three previous locations. Before yesterday’s news, questions remained as to why the ex-Real Madrid star refused to give up on owning an MLS franchise in Miami.
Undoubtedly, for a stadium that could only be used 25 times a year, it would appear a financial gamble along with the high costs of funding a team.
But with lucrative TV rights and sponsorship, financial experts believe ownership could boost Beckham’s £336.7million estimated fortune.
“We will generate more money than any other MLS team can dream of,” Fuller said at the original launch.
“The marketing power of a sports franchise is immense.”
Beckham revealed plans to build a waterfront stadium on Miami’s Dodge Island, paying for it himself. However, it required the city to hand over public land just east of downtown at PortMiami, which it refused to do.
His next plan was for his team, known as Miami Beckham United, to take over a site near the Miami Heat’s basketball arena, north of downtown Miami – a spot set to be a new park.
Museum Park would give way to a stadium on Biscayne Bay. In return, the Beckham group would fill in a water basin and build a new park on top of it.
Miami had paid £12.1million to improve the basin and Beckham’s group would not pay them back but offered to pay £14.2million to fill it.
Unfortunately, drawings failed to include what a 120ft-high stadium would look like from street level, blocking out most park and water views. City bosses again rejected the plans.
But sensing his determination to stay in Miami, officials offered land in Little Havana, near Marlins Park – a detested, poorly attended white elephant that cost local taxpayers £176million.
It was clear from Fuller branding the site “spiritually tainted” that it was not their first choice. Yet again, the two parties could not agree on a deal.
Then, in December 2015, MBU purchased a six-acre site in Overtown.
The proposed spot, in a downtrodden area of downtown Miami, continues to fuel anger among residents who would prefer affordable housing. A new stadium, home to millionaire stars, is not on their wish-list.
And any hope the ground would bring jobs to the area also appear ill-founded, with MBU having only promised around 50 positions so far.
Despite yesterday’s fanfare, most locals have opposed the deal. After an agreement to sell the remaining plot last year Bruce Matheson, a local landowner, took legal action. His bid was rejected, although he is appealing and the result is expected in June.
Asked about the stumbling blocks with the stadium, Beckham said yesterday: “I am coming into this wanting to learn, I want to be a good neighbour. I want to make people happy, this is a global city.”
But not everyone is against his club and fan groups are already running.
One fan, Clarence Ruiz, who was at the launch, said: “Soccer cannot come soon enough to this area. It will create a huge buzz, especially among the Latino population. We have to thank David Beckham for choosing Miami and refusing to give up.”
MLS commissioner Don Garber said he was “confident” Beckham’s club would overcome legal challenges.
He said the team has of yet not been officially named and it would be a process that involves the fans, a branding company and Beckham.
January 11 – A day after Real Madrid’s sporting director Predrag Mijatovic reveals Beckham will not renew his contract, he announces he has agreed to join MLS side LA Galaxy on a £128million, five-year deal in August.
July 13 – The Beckhams arrive in Los Angeles and the 32-year-old midfielder is later unveiled to 5,000 fans in a ticker-tape welcome and insists he has not gone into “semi-retirement”.
July 22 – Beckham makes his debut as a late substitute in a 1-0 friendly defeat by Chelsea at the Home Depot Center after struggling to shake off an ankle injury.
August 16 – Marks his first start by scoring with a trademark free-kick in a 2-0 SuperLiga semi-final victory over DC United.
March 26 – Wins his 100th cap in England’s 1-0 defeat by France.
October 30 – AC Milan announce the midfielder will join them on loan on January 7.
March 9 – Milan announce they have reached a “timeshare” agreement which will allow them to retain Beckham’s services until the end of the season, when he will return to Galaxy.
March 14 – Tears his Achilles tendon in Milan’s 1-0 win over Chievo, an injury which ends his World Cup dream.
2011
November 20 – Plays a starring role as LA Galaxy win the MLS Cup with a 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo.
December 31 – His initial five-year contract expires.
January 19 – Beckham commits his future to the Los Angeles club by signing a new two-year deal.
November 20 – Announces he is to leave Galaxy after the MLS Cup final after deciding not to take up the option of the second year.
December 1 – Signs off in style with a 3-1 cup final victory over Houston Dynamo.
February 5 – Announces he has exercised an option in his LA Galaxy contract to buy an MLS franchise in Miami.
2018
January 29 – MLS officially unveil Miami as the next expansion franchise.
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