David Beckham’s soccer stadium blitz continues today with a visit to Tallahassee to push state officials for subsidies.
Before heading to Florida’s capital, the soccer legend vowed to sway critics of his group’s proposal to build a Major League Soccer venue on PortMiami land, the Miami Herald reported. Beckham spoke during a Monday press conference at the downtown Miami campus of Miami-Dade College. It was his first public appearance in the city since announcing his intention to bring a Major League Soccer franchise in early February.
“I want to change their minds,” Beckham said. “I don’t want to be an enemy to the people that are opposed to the stadium.”
A Beckham lobbyist plans to seek state subsidies for the 25,000-seat stadium, citing the $2 million per year Sun Life Stadium and AmericanAirlines Arena currently get.
“We want to be treated like every other franchise,” Beckham said. “We’re not asking for anything more or anything less.” [Miami Herald] — Eric Kalis