Miami Soccer Complex Wins Key Vote By 3-2 Margin

MIAMI, FL — The group led by Miami businessman Jorge Mas and soccer legend David Beckham won a key vote by the Miami City Commission Wednesday. The commission voted 3-2 to place the proposed Freedom Park soccer complex on the ballot. The approval followed an agreement from the group 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. But the concession likely clears the way for the five-member Miami City Commission to place the billion-dollar project on a voter ballot later this year.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told Patch (watch below) that the so-called living wage concession was key to winning the support of Commissioner Ken Russell which appeared to swing the commmission in favor of the measure.

Commissioners Keon Hardemon and Joe Carollo also approved the measure along with Russell. Commissioner Wifredo "Willy" Gort and Commissioner Manolo Reyes voted against the measure.

If voters approve the November referendum, the negotiated agreement would require approval by four of the five commissioners.

“It’s unprecedented,” Suarez said of the 'living wage' that was agreed upon. “It created a lot of consternation because at the end of the day we want to push and push but you don't want to kill the deal.”

Mas told Patch that he was elated by the decision and was eager to inform Beckham, who did not attend Wednesday's special meeting at Miami City Hall.

“I’m very satisfied with where we are,” Mas explained. He said 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.

Watch as Mas discusses his plans for the stadium with Patch below:

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Russell told Patch earlier that he agreed to support the measure largely on the basis of the “living wage” concession.

“I was a ‘no’ up until this morning because our negotiations last night up til past 1 a.m. had to deal with the ‘living wage.’ There’s a philosophical difference in the business world whether a $15 ‘living wage’ is a survivable business model,” Russell explained. “We know that it’s possible. The Staples Center and all surrounding ancillary restaurants all use it. All of Seattle uses it.”’

The text of the ballot that will be put before Miami voters states:

”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 requires 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 sprawling complex would include a food and beverage/retail district, rooftop soccer fields, sculpture park, pedestrian bridge, tech hub and office space, outdoor digital media screen, amphiteater, kids' playground, skate park, farm-to-table park restaurant, baseball complex and water park.

The 110-acre complex would also include 23 acres of youth soccer fields. The site is located near Miami International Airport. The unnamed soccer team 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 last week. "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, which would have to move elsewhere. Dozens of orange-shirted supporters of the golf program opposed the change last week and attended Wednesday’s special meeting to urge commmissioners 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 has said.

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

Watch below as Mayor Suarez discuses the ‘living wage’ with Patch:

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (left) embraces Jorge Mas following Wednesday's vote of the Miami Commisssion. Photo and video by Paul Scicchitano.