Beckham and investors to build stadium next to Marlins Park

David Beckham is now one step closer to bringing Major League Soccer to Miami.

Beckham and his investors will enter talks with city of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado to build a soccer stadium on city-owned land next to Marlins Park, the mayor announced in a news conference on Friday.

After about 18 months of searching for an MLS stadium site, Regalado said Beckham’s group would fund the land acquisition, according to the Miami Herald. Beckham would privately fund construction of the stadium, which could amount to as much as $250 million. It would include city-owned lots, a private apartment complex and some commercial property.

“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,” according to a Beckham soccer group spokesperson.

For now, Regalado said Beckham’s team will send the city a proposed framework for the talks, which city commissioners would then green-light. The city and Beckham would eventually discuss the proposed land purchase, costs, infrastructure improvements and possibly ownership of the stadium. [Miami Herald] — Katherine Kallergis