Almost four years after former English soccer star, David Beckham, made a grand announcement that he would be bringing Major League Soccer to Miami, he announced on Monday the team will begin playing in Miami on 2020.
The journey to Monday’s announcement by Beckham and his partners took more twists and turns than a pretzel. Over the four years the investment group encounter problems including locating a stadium site; loss of investment partners; and procrastination in the halls of Miami and Miami-Dade government.
Beckham was determined
More than once it seemed to local, soccer fans, including several from the Caribbean, and the Beckham investment group that the project would not materialize. However, Beckham was determined to deliver the promise he made at Bayside on February 5, 2014.
Securing committed investors, including Miami businessmen Jorge and Jose Mas; City of Miami approval to locate the team’s stadium at a site in Overtown, and meeting other criteria, Beckham announced in a party like atmosphere at the Adrienne Arsht Center that “game’s on.”
Receives MLS scarves
Several cheering soccer fans were in the large audience of some 1,700 and 300 media people to hear the announcement, and witness MLS Commissioner Don Garber giving Beckham and his partners MLS scarves indicating the done deal.
Fans like Southwest Miami high school soccer coach Richard Donaldson, a Caribbean-American, was anxious to learn the name of Beckham’s team, the 25th franchise in the MLS.
Fans to participate in naming team
However, Beacham announced the team’s name, logo and colors will announced within the next few months. It was also announced that local fans would be invited to suggest ideas for the team’s name, colors and logo via an international social media campaign in the coming weeks.
Since it’s estimated that the Overtown MLS stadium will not be completed until 2021, the team will play at a temporary site, either Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FIU Stadium in South Miami, or Marlins Park in Miami as of 2020.
Beckham emotional
Beckham appeared emotional as he made the announcement although saying he promised his son, who was in the audience, that he “wouldn’t get emotional. But it’s very hard.” He confirmed he will oversee soccer operations and indicated he will be a hands-on owner. He told the Miami Herald he plans to spend a lot of time in Miami, a city that he has grown to love over the past four years.
He also told the Miami Herald he plans on having a team that consists of recognized young players, and players from the team’s development academy. The academy is planned as a first-class entity with several fields located across the region which can be used by local and visiting national teams. Beckham also indicated his team will consist of local players, as he believes there is great soccer talent in South Florida.
Donaldson is also convinced several local soccer players will make it to Backer’s MLS team. “Some of the best soccer players in America plays right here in South Florida. Many are frustrated by the lack of advancement as professional players. Now they can develop their ambitions as professionals with the possibility of making it to the local MLS team.”
Congrats from Usain Bolt
In a video played at the Arsht Center on Monday among the celebrities congratulating the Beckham group were Jamaican iconic sprinter Usain Bolt, international and South Florida tennis star Serena Williams and entertainers DJ Khaled and Jay-Z.
Beckham’s MLS team is the successor to another Miami team, the Miami Fusion, which played in the MLS for four years before calling it quits in 2002.
