David Beckham is facing opposition over his plans for a stadium for his new soccer team.
The retired sportsman is launching a Major League Soccer (MLS) team in Miami and had been eyeing a 12-acre site in Port Miami to build a 25,000-40,000 seat arena, but as well as facing competition for the prestigious land, Royal Caribbean Cruises – who also want to develop the site – have objected to the plans due to traffic concerns and fears their parking lot, daycare centre and staff gym would have to relocate to accommodate the project.
A source told the New York Post newspaper: "The land Beckham wants is very coveted. The cruise lines want the land, the city wants the land, and developers want the land, so there is definitely going to have to be a lot of politics involved. Beckham is doing a big push for that site, but he’s far from getting it."
Local officials are also said to have some concerns after previously allowing Major League Baseball side Miami Marlins to build their stadium in another prime location, only for the area to be hit with poor attendance figures.
The source added: "The city previously gave up a prime site for Marlins Park, they even made the taxpayers pay for it, and it turned into a failure because of poor attendance."
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has also insisted the stadium project must include public amenities.
Basketball star LeBron James is rumoured to be considering investing in the team, with there also speculation David – who has four children with wife Victoria – must secure other local investors.
The 38-year-old soccer star’s main partner Bolivian billionaire Marcelo Claure, owner of telecommunications firm Brightstar Corp, has now received approval as an MLS owner.
A spokesperson for David said: "MLS have 100 percent approved Marcelo as partner. His involvement has been contractually signed off by the commissioner. Secondly, Port of Miami is one of many sites we are looking at. We have many options."
David Beckham faces opposition for stadium site
