David Beckham open to downtown stadium site

Carlos Gimenez and David Beckham
Carlos Gimenez and David Beckham

In a move that would undoubtedly satisfy many opponents of a Major League Soccer stadium at PortMiami, David Beckham said he is open to a different waterfront site recommended by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

Gimenez proposed converting a large boat slip between Museum Park and AmericanAirlines Arena for the $250 million stadium. Beckham told county officials on Wednesday the suggested site would be “equally as good as what we had at the port.”

The soccer legend and his financial backers are holding firm on one component of the stadium pitch, however. Suburban locations are still not being seriously considered by the group.

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“The preferred sites are the ones on the water,” Beckham told the Miami Herald. “I’m not going to lie to people about that.”

One prominent politician is speaking out against the boat slip proposal. Former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz released a written statement blasting the proposal. Three former city commissioners signed the statement. [Miami Herald]Eric Kalis