Renderings Show New Soccer Complex in Miami

Did we mention David Beckham is behind the proposal?

2 minute read

July 16, 2018, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Miami

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

"David Beckham and his partners have released the first image of a proposed stadium complex and park that would replace a city-owned golf course near Miami International Airport and provide a home for a future Major League Soccer franchise," reports Joey Flechas.

According to Flechas, the City Commission could pass the the proposal onto voters in November. "The actual question would be whether to allow the city to change its laws and waive competitive bidding to allow the commission to negotiate a deal to lease 73 acres near Miami International Airport on the site of the city-owned Melreese golf course for a privately-funded 25,000-seat soccer stadium, youth soccer fields, restaurants, hotel, stores, offices and park," according to Flechas.

According to a follow up article by Craig Davis, written after the hearing, the Miami City Commission continued the issue until a July 18 meeting.

Jonathan Hilburg also shares the renderings of the attention grabbing plans for the new MLS stadium, and provides some of the design and planning angles readers could be looking for, including changes from an earlier iteration fo the proposal.

According to Hilburg, the proposal before the Miami City Commission represents a departure from an earlier version of the plan to bring the Miami Freedom to South Florida. "Beckham and his MLS expansion partners have scrapped plans to build the breezy, Populous-designed stadium on land that they already own in Miami’s Overton neighborhood, and are instead looking to develop the publicly-owned Melreese Country Club," according to Hilburg.

Sunday, July 8, 2018 in Miami Herald

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

Nilu Jenks wears a long gray coat and speaks with one man and two women outside.

Housing is the top priority of Seattle’s sole new councilmember

Jenks campaigned on building 1,000 new units of affordable housing.

November 8 - Reason

People sit on wooden benches on a bus in Miami

New tax cuts may slash $1.5 billion in funding for Miami transit, public parks

Amendment 3 will save Miami-Dade homeowners $2,700 in 2028.

November 8 - Miami New Times

Two men install solar panels on the roof of a house.

Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania hope to finally advance climate goals post-midterms

The three states have spent years under Republican or divided control.

November 8 - Grist

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.