Miami Election Bends David Beckham's Way

MIAMI, FL — Soccer legend David Beckham wasn't running for office in Miami, but he and business partner Jorge Mas came away big winners in Tuesday's election.

The striker, it turns out, can also bend an election his way. Unofficial election night results were 60,235 in favor of Beckham's proposal to build a soccer stadium and mixed-use entertainment complex on city-owned property while only 39,950 people voted against the proposal.

"We haven't just proved to Miami today. We proved to the world that persistence, patience makes things happen," Beckham said following Tuesday's vote. "We are going to bring a championship winning team. We're going to be bring great players. We are going to create homegrown talent."

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Beckham and Mas won the right to proceed with plans to build a soccer stadium and complex on the site of a city-owned golf course. The project still requires further approvals from the city.

The group had previously agreed to pay an unprecedented minimum "living wage" to all employees who work at the planned Freedom Park of $15 per hour in most cases.

Some employees of tenants would start at $11 an hour and work their way up to the $15 wage over a four-year period.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told Patch previously that the so-called living wage concession was key to winning the support of city commissioners to place the question on the ballot.

Now that voters have approved the November ballot question, the negotiated agreement will require approval by four of the five city commissioners.

Mas has told Patch that the new stadium will most likely be ready in 2021 though Miami's new Major League Soccer time is likely to take the field for the first time at Marlins Park or Hard Rock Stadium for the first time in 2020.

Here is the text of the ballot that was put before Miami voters:

"Shall Miami's Charter be amended authorizing city to negotiate, execute 99-year lease with Miami Freedom Park LLC for approximately 73 acres of city land, waiving bidding, converting Melreese Country Club (1400 NW 37 Avenue) at no cost to city to:

• Soccer stadium;
• Minimum 1,000,000 square feet office, retail, commercial uses;
• Minimum 750 hotel rooms;
• Living wage for on-site employees;
• $3,577,365 minimum annual rent;
• $20,000,000 for 58-acre public park or other green space?""

Freedom Park required voter approval because the proposed site is located on the city-owned Melreese Country Club — a public space run by a private contractor.

In addition to a 25,000-seat soccer stadium for Miami's new Major League Soccer team, the proposed complex will include a food and beverage/retail district, rooftop soccer fields, sculpture park, pedestrian bridge, tech hub and office space, outdoor digital media screen, amphitheater, kids' playground, skate park, farm-to-table park restaurant, baseball complex and water park.

The 110-acre complex will also include 23 acres of proposed youth soccer fields. The site is located near Miami International Airport. The billion-dollar soccer complex will be home to Club Miami Internacional de Futbol, which is set to make its debut in 2020.

"This project will require zero taxpayer dollars," Mas declared in outlining the project to Miami elected officials prior to the vote. "We don't want a subsidy. We don't want a giveaway. We don't want absolutely anything. We want to give to the city and create what does not exist today."

The site is home to Miami's popular First Tee youth golf program. Dozens of orange-shirted supporters of the golf program opposed the change and urged commissioners to vote against the project.

See also Critics Fear Golf Program Won't Survive Soccer and Miami Delays Decision On David Beckham's Soccer Stadium

The Mas and Beckham group want to pay $3.6 million per year in rent after a $20 million gift to the city upon activation of the park in installments spread over 30 years.

"This will create 11,000 jobs over the next three years for the construction of this project, and it will create 2,300 permanent jobs," Mas said previously.

One potential challenge involves the removal of contaminated soil from the site, which dates back decades. Mas has said that his group would pay up to $35 million to clean up the site and would consider spending more if necessary.

David Beckham (right) and business partner Jorge Mas arrive for a rally next to Miami City Hall .(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images).