Miami Delays Decision On David Beckham's Soccer Stadium

MIAMI, FL — It was soccer vs. golf Thursday as dozens of orange-shirted children, golf moms and supporters of Miami’s only city-owned golf course jammed Miami City Hall to oppose plans by soccer legend David Beckham to build a billion-dollar soccer stadium and business complex called Freedom Park on the site. The 43-year-old icon made a personal appeal for the planned development along with partner and well-known Miami businessman Jorge Mas. But at the end of a long day filled with public comments, city officials delayed a crucial vote until Wednesday.

With his former teammates suffering a crushing loss to Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semifinals on Wednesday, Beckham hoped to rebound with a big win on Thursday. But the striker soon learned that politics can be trickier than any soccer pitch. Beckham abruptly canceled plans to meet with reporters following Thursday's meeting of the Miami City Commission.

See also World Cup 2018: Where To Watch Finals Around Miami

"To say that I played for the clubs that I played for, to have won championships for the clubs I played for, to represent my country 115 times it makes me very proud," Beckham told Miami elected officials and the audience during the public meeting. "We are bringing a global sport to one of the most interesting, important, vibrant cities in the world."

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But Beckham also acknowledged the opposition to his plan and admitted it made him a bit uncomfortable. "It's been a long time before I walked into a room and people have not smiled at me. It's not a nice feeling," he explained. "I've had it once or twice on the field — actually more than once or twice — and it's not nice. I can handle it on the field."

City officials will once again take up the issue at 10 a.m. Wednesday but they did not plan to allow any further public comments. The vote would put the privately funded project on the November ballot as a voter referendum. Mas repeatedly pledged during Thursday's meeting that the stadium project would be funded entirely with $850 million up to $1 billion of private money as compared to the sweetheart deal then Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria received on the construction of Marlins Park.

Watch Beckham's plea before the Miami City Commission below:

Beckham and Mas need permission to lease the city-owned Melreese County Club and community golf course that they plan to turn into a soccer village and multi-use shopping center to house the thus-far unnamed Miami Soccer team. The question is likely to be settled by a voter referendum in November.

But some residents who oppose the project feared they are no match for Beckham's star power in a voter referendum.

"If it goes to a vote they are going to win because it is sexy just like Beckham is sexy," one woman said as laughter broke out in the commission chamber.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told reporters after Thursday's meeting that he is confident the development will ultimately win approval.

"Obviously, this is a process, which is a multi-layered process," said Suarez. "Ultimately, all I want is that the owners of the property which are the residents of the city of Miami — which are my bosses — are the ones that make the final decision and not anyone else."

Watch below as Mayor Suarez addresses reporters:

Ahead of Beckham's appearance at Miami City Hall on Thursday, the soccer star could be seen out canvassing the Miami area for support, appearing at a World Cup watch party in Miami on Wednesday, paying a visit to Nicklaus Children's Hospital and even hosting a community barbecue on Thursday at Regatta Park prior to the Miami City Commission meeting.

Many of the opponents to the project feared that it would spell the end for the successful First Tee youth golf program that is headquartered at Melreese. The program prepares Miami area youth for college and teaches life skills through golf.

Earlier this year, jubilant soccer fans poured into the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Center in downtown Miami as Beckham announced he was bringing professional soccer to the Magic City after a four-year quest that required the striker to bend it around a number of zoning and funding obstacles. The new team will be a Major League Soccer expansion team and is expected to take the pitch for the first time in 2020.

Miami City Hall is located at 3500 Pan American Dr. Wednesday's meeting is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Photo gallery and videos by Paul Scicchitano