Beckham group faces deadline on new stadium site

David Beckham’s investment group has one week to decide if it wants to pursue a waterfront downtown Miami soccer stadium site recommended by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez.

Beckham’s real estate confidant, John Alschuler, told the Miami Herald last week that the group would be on board with the idea to convert a large boat slip between Museum Park and AmericanAirlines Arena if the cost is near $250 million. That’s how much Miami Beckham United projected would be necessary to privately fund construction of a Major League Soccer Stadium at PortMiami. The county-owned downtown site, known as Parcel B, is frequently used as a staging location for arena events.

Like the proposed port site, Parcel B would present challenges for Beckham’s group. Filling the boat slip and constructing the stadium requires a series of permits from local, state and federal departments. The group would still have to persuade opponents that a stadium is the best use for a public property.

“You’re basically giving away public land,” Tropical Audubon Society executive director Laura Reynolds told the Herald. Reynolds sent the county a letter opposing the proposed site last week. Former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz is also against the idea. [Miami Herald] — Eric Kalis