David Beckham’s plans to build a soccer stadium in Miami have reportedly hit yet another roadblock: parking.
The soccer star and his development group Miami Beckham United missed their February deadline to close on the purchase of Miami-Dade County land in Overtown, and now county officials are reportedly considering a renegotiation before approving the deal.
Their main concern is the lack of parking at the proposed 25,000-seat stadium, according to the Miami Herald. Beckham’s current plans would have stadium-goers walk from the nearby Metrorail station about three blocks away, plus use existing parking lots and garages in the area.
Miami residents’ dependence on cars for transport, plus the city’s hot climate have caused these officials — including Mayor Tomás Regalado — to worry about the lack of included parking, according to the Herald.
Beckham contends that if Miami is to become a true urban center, it needs to utilize mass transit.
Although the three acres of county land is critical to Beckham’s plan, the parking decision is ultimately up to the city of Miami, which has jurisdiction over the site.
The group has stated the remaining private land it needs is already under contract, leaving its deal with Miami-Dade as the last major barrier.
Beckham and his team’s plan to build a Major League Soccer stadium in Miami has been fraught with difficulties. Since the idea’s inception in 2014, the team has had to abandon several potential development sites due to complications, as well as opposition from both county officials and residents. [Miami Herald] —Sean Stewart-Muniz