David Beckham May Announce Miami Soccer Team

MIAMI, FL — Expectations are building for a possible announcement on Monday that Major League Soccer is finally coming to the Miami area.

Mike Hernandez, a spokesman for Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez told Patch on Wednesday that the mayor has been asked to block out time on his calendar.

"Can't confirm what the team may be announcing," Hernandez explained. "Can only confirm that Mayor Gimenez has been asked to hold time on his calendar for an event which may take place."

Citing a source familiar with the matter, Local 10 News reported on Wednesday that Beckham and his partners will officially announce their new franchise in Miami on Monday, including the team name and team colors.

After the political equivalent of a three-year soccer match, the Miami-Dade Board of Commissioners in June approved the sale of 2.8 acres of county-owned land to a group headed by the British soccer legend. The 9-4 decision cleared a major hurdle blocking the erection of a soccer stadium in the Magic City and its entry into Major League Soccer.

"The process was lengthy, difficult, but necessary in order to ensure that Miami-Dade County taxpayers were properly compensated," Gimenez acknowledged at the time. "The funds from the $9,015,000.00 purchase will be for the Water and Sewer Department (WASD), which currently owns the parcel of land."

Beckham's group — Miami Properties, LLC — agreed to buy the land at its appraised value. Gimenez also said that the purchasing company would use private funds to build the proposed stadium and would guarantee at least 50 permanent jobs for the community.

"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," Gimenez added at the time.

David Beckham of Great Britain and Ireland may be poised to announce the arrival of Major League Soccer in Miami (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images). Photo credit: Alex Livesey / Staff/ Getty Images News