David Beckham & Miami Beckham United to Make Major Announcement on MLS Franchise by End of 2016
David Beckham is pushing on in his quest to bring an MLS team to Miami and it seems that the potential new team's inaugural season may be 2019. Miami Beckham United, the corporate entity owned by Beckham and his partners, aims to make a major announcement by year end. Delays have come from continued negotiations from investor groups, including with the Milwaukee Bucks co-owner. Miami Beckham United will not ask for local subsidies to either build or operate the stadium. They also have said they plan to pay full property tax on the land as well as the venue. On December 4 2015 Miami Beckham United announced that they had executed sales contracts on a nine-acre property in Overtown which was formerlly a Miami-Dade Water and Sewer truck depot. They have been opposed to starting the team in a temporary stadium in favor of the 25,000 seat home stadium. Beckham was originally given the option to purchase an MLS franchise when he signed with the L.A. Galaxy in 2007. He had originally sought to bring the team to Port of Miami next to American Airlines Arena as well as in Little Havana next tot Marlins Park. Talks for both scenarios broke down.