David Beckham's Miami stadium plans unveiled
David Beckham and his partners have released images of the proposed US$200m (€145m, £120m) football stadium they are hoping to build in Miami, Florida, US.
The conglomerate of investors - Miami Beckham United (MBU) - is hoping to establish a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise in Miami with the view of having the team and stadium ready for the 2018 season.
Designed by Arquitectonica and 360 Architecture, the stadium is based on an open-air design with an undulating roof and a maximum capacity of 35,000.
Despite the releasing of the plans, however, MBU has yet to secure the proposed piece of land for the stadium at PortMiami, a highly-desired location between Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami.
MBU - which includes, among others, Beckham, his manager Simon Fuller and Bolivian billionaire Marcelo Claure - has admitted that building a privately-funded stadium on publicly-provided land is likely to be a long haul.
"This is going to take time - but once we have the site we'll hopefully be quick, very quick," Beckham said.
"I think it's important we're in downtown Miami because I see what The Miami Heat has done and football fans love to commute, love to walk to games."
It is likely that MBU will face similar difficulties in securing a stadium site as it's future local rivals, Orlando City SC - another Florida-based franchise that is expected to join MLS in 2015.
Orlando currently plays its games at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium and is unlikely to finish its soccer-specific stadium in time for 2015. The club secured the remaining parcel of land at the city centre site in April 2013.
MBU's stadium plans in Miami have, however, secured the backing of Miami mayor Carlos Giménez, who described the proposed venue as "iconic".
"We're going to do all we can to get this stadium built ASAP and start enjoying football matches," Giménez said.
• The MLS currently consists of 19 teams with two further sides joining in 2015 - Orlando City SC and New York City, which is part-owned by English Premier League club Manchester City.
The last MLS team in the Miami area, Miami Fusion, folded after being in existence for four seasons. Fusion struggled with poor attendance and had the lowest income in the MLS during its spell between 1998 and 2001.


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