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Beckham has purchased the land he needs for a stadium / david beckham photos: pa images
David Beckham’s plans to launch a glamorous new Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise in Miami have taken a major step forward, with the county’s board of commissioners agreeing to sell a 2.8 acre plot of land he needs to build a stadium.
Miami Beckham United (MBU), the consortium representing the footballing icon, has paid over US$9m (€7.9m, £7m) for the land in Miami’s Overtown neighbourhood and said it is “looking forward to working with the Miami community to bring our vision for the neighbourhood to life.”
The group – which includes US sports executive Tim Leiweke, Bolivian American telecoms entrepreneur Marcelo Claure, former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller and LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly – already owned a neighbouring six-acre plot, and needed the additional land to build its planned 25,000-capacity stadium, designed by sports architects Populous.
Beckham now has a limited time period in which to finalise a deal with MLS approving the franchise’s stadium site, ownership team and financing model. Then he plans to attract some of the world’s best players to join the team in Miami.
“By purchasing the last piece of land needed for our privately-funded stadium, MBU is achieving another major milestone on the way to MLS formally awarding Miami a franchise,” said MBU.
“We have assembled a world-class team of partners, presented a vision for building the premier soccer club in the Americas, and assembled the land needed to build our stadium. Now is the time for MLS to move forward in helping us deliver the soccer club Miami has been waiting for.
“Miami is the eighth largest metro area in the US, the country’s number one soccer market, and a critical gateway to Latin America and Europe. MLS will only reach its full potential once it fields a team here. Our loyal fans in Miami and around the world have been waiting for this moment for years.”
According to local news reports, the group has pledged to spend around $175m (€155m, £137m) building the stadium and to create 50 full-time jobs in Overtown as part of the land deal.
Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Gimenez said: “I firmly believe that the sale of this property, as well as the subsequent soccer stadium, will leave a lasting positive impact on the community,” adding that the deal means county taxpayers will be “properly compensated” for the land.
Populous’ vision for the stadium is lighter and airier than previous iterations proposed by other firms, with Leiweke telling a public meeting in Overtown in May that MBU has listened to concerns raised by residents that a “hulking stadium would choke the area”.
The open-roofed structure features a thin canopy, with parts of the field visible from above, and walls that are open to the elements above the seats. Spectators will be encouraged to arrive by boat, bus or on foot to reduce traffic, as there will be limited parking space for cars.
According to Leiweke, if approved the stadium will not open until 2021, but the team could still play in a temporary venue while construction is underway.
MLS gave Beckham the option to form a new team for a discounted franchise fee as part of the deal that brought him to LA Galaxy as a player in 2007.
Beckham has purchased the land he needs for a stadium / david beckham photos: pa images
David Beckham’s plans to launch a glamorous new Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise in Miami have taken a major step forward, with the county’s board of commissioners agreeing to sell a 2.8 acre plot of land he needs to build a stadium.
Miami Beckham United (MBU), the consortium representing the footballing icon, has paid over US$9m (€7.9m, £7m) for the land in Miami’s Overtown neighbourhood and said it is “looking forward to working with the Miami community to bring our vision for the neighbourhood to life.”
The group – which includes US sports executive Tim Leiweke, Bolivian American telecoms entrepreneur Marcelo Claure, former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller and LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly – already owned a neighbouring six-acre plot, and needed the additional land to build its planned 25,000-capacity stadium, designed by sports architects Populous.
Beckham now has a limited time period in which to finalise a deal with MLS approving the franchise’s stadium site, ownership team and financing model. Then he plans to attract some of the world’s best players to join the team in Miami.
“By purchasing the last piece of land needed for our privately-funded stadium, MBU is achieving another major milestone on the way to MLS formally awarding Miami a franchise,” said MBU.
“We have assembled a world-class team of partners, presented a vision for building the premier soccer club in the Americas, and assembled the land needed to build our stadium. Now is the time for MLS to move forward in helping us deliver the soccer club Miami has been waiting for.
“Miami is the eighth largest metro area in the US, the country’s number one soccer market, and a critical gateway to Latin America and Europe. MLS will only reach its full potential once it fields a team here. Our loyal fans in Miami and around the world have been waiting for this moment for years.”
According to local news reports, the group has pledged to spend around $175m (€155m, £137m) building the stadium and to create 50 full-time jobs in Overtown as part of the land deal.
Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Gimenez said: “I firmly believe that the sale of this property, as well as the subsequent soccer stadium, will leave a lasting positive impact on the community,” adding that the deal means county taxpayers will be “properly compensated” for the land.
Populous’ vision for the stadium is lighter and airier than previous iterations proposed by other firms, with Leiweke telling a public meeting in Overtown in May that MBU has listened to concerns raised by residents that a “hulking stadium would choke the area”.
The open-roofed structure features a thin canopy, with parts of the field visible from above, and walls that are open to the elements above the seats. Spectators will be encouraged to arrive by boat, bus or on foot to reduce traffic, as there will be limited parking space for cars.
According to Leiweke, if approved the stadium will not open until 2021, but the team could still play in a temporary venue while construction is underway.
MLS gave Beckham the option to form a new team for a discounted franchise fee as part of the deal that brought him to LA Galaxy as a player in 2007.
Mass protests have been taking place since Monday 1 June in Albania over the development of
a luxury resort by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
