That said, these are the Sites that were mentioned last week in the Herald and what it could mean for UM Football:
- Beckham has some heavy hitters in play here, which include:
- Simon Fuller, who is Beckham’s longtime business partner
- Marcelo Claure, the Miami-based billionaire who heads a global wireless distributor.
- They believe this site could work here.
- This is owned by Miami-Dade county. so all that would have to be done here is sign a land deal once, instead of going through hoop after hoop. It’s very close to Biscayne Boulevard (via a Walking bridge), and has access to parking and the Metromover.
- Not to mention the views of Downtown Miami is second to none.
- They could build a mega-yacht marina that would have lots of restaurants and shops, which planners, have thought about for this site.
- A landscaped pedestrian bridge to Dodge Island, and the location could become a gathering place, according to Carlos Gimenez in the Herald.
WHY IT MIGHT NOT:
- Currently proposed is an existing seaport master plan which promises commercial development. Included in that plan are:
- Offices
- Hotel
- From a port perspective, Badly-needed revenue would be coming in. A lease for a stadium that could have MLS and UM, would not be able to match it.
- Critics have said that the proposed pedestrian bridge would probably have a grade of some sort — making the walk to the stadium more of a hike — and be challenging in the summer heat and humidity and especially when UM begins their season in September.
- According to Beckham, he believes that a seaport location would not be able to compete with the Miami Heat for sports fans or concert bookings. However, if you listen to the some of the politicos in Miami-Dade, they have said that the issue of gridlock would happen when both the AAA and the new stadium, are hosting events (whether it be MLS or UM Football).
- This would be the case when Heat open their season in November and UM has a game there as well. The big nightmare would be for the FSU game.
- If you take what, the Chairperson of the Miami-Dade County Commission Rebeca Sosa says, then it carries a lot of weight. Her issue is the fact that she doesn't want tamp the growth of the Port. You have to remember as well, the tunnel that was forced on the taxpayers, only to have a stadium bring more cars in. This would be especially true for UM Football, and especially for the FSU game. She also wants the commissioners for the public's input (i.e. with a vote on any deal there). And she has suggested commissioners could ask for a public vote on any deal. Sosa said to a Spanish-language radio station two weeks ago: “I firmly believe the port is not an ideal location, It’s going to bring more headaches.”
- Here's something to remember here: Even though that slice of land is owned by Miami-Dade, Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado points out that it once deeded a portion of the seaport to Miami-Dade. A restriction in the deed requires the land to be used for port purposes. Otherwise, it’s possible it could revert to the city.
- Lack of Mass Transit back to Broward and Palm Beach for Night Games.
- The first site is west of Marlins Park, on three city-owned parcels currently used as green space and parking lots and on six privately owned residential and office properties. Taken together, the land along Northwest 17th Avenue amounts to nearly 10 acres. However, according to Jackson in the Herald, a county official told him that this site would be unlikely.
- The second site, on 19 acres of county-owned land northeast of the ballpark on the shores of the Miami River, appears far less feasible. There’s a public-housing facility for the elderly on the property. No shot this site happens either
WHY THEY COULD WORK:
- In a word: parking.
- If you remember the days of the OB, then you realize that renting out parking spaces on a temporary basis works.
- There are four garages next to the ballpark already.
- Mass Transit: The city also has a free-of-charge trolley line that loops in riders. This is key for those that would rely on Mass Transit, especially for day games from Broward and Palm Beach. Close to Campus as well.
Map C is from Fort Lauderdale to the Marlins Park Site:
WHY THEY MIGHT NOT
- For the first site, Beckham and his crew would have to deal with the city, and if you remember how they treated UM and the way the Marlins deal went down to evict UM from that site, its been a big problem even to this day and still rankles the UM faithful even today.
- Although Regalado said that no one has contacted him about that the site, and added that he would only consider it “if we have a referendum, and only if we can sell the land at market rate.” (“ Ese perro nos mordió ya,” he added in Spanish — literally, “that dog bit us already,” or been there, done that.) - Translation, no chance the stadium goes here on this site at all.
- For the second site, the issue here is that Miami-Dade County would have to relocate the King High Towers housing complex which comprises two 14-story high-rises. According to Gregg Fortner, director of the county’s public housing and community development department, he said through a spokeswoman that there is “no possibility” of public-housing property being used for a soccer stadium.
- The main problem with both these sites is that would have to deal with the same issues that haunt the Marlins, whose ballpark has had problems attracting fans as well as businesses to the neighborhood. The idea for the park was to be the engine for redevelopment and that has not happened as of yet.
- Another issue is that the Marlins, an MLS soccer team, and UM would also have to deal with scheduling challenges, given that their seasons overlap — though MLS plays far fewer matches, UM plays 7-8 home games a year. The conflicts would be mainly in September, when the Marlins wind down and UM starts up.
- Lack of Mass Transit back to Broward and Palm Beach for Night Games.
NEAR SCHOOL BOARD
Now, something of note here: The School Board owns a nearly two-acre parcel north of its downtown headquarters, which it uses as a parking lot, as well as several other small parcels nearby. This could be beneficial here.
WHY IT COULD WORK:
- It’s downtown
- There are a couple of Metromover stops in that area
- Close to 395. Those that drive from Broward and Palm Beach could get to this place easily
- Map A: West Palm Beach to this site
- Map B: Fort Lauderdale to this site
- Possible spots for Tailgating.
WHY IT MIGHT NOT
- That parking-lot parcel the School board owns by itself won't cut it for a stadium. Beckham and his ground would have to gobble up a couple of privately owned properties — that would take too long for Beckham’s contract option to be exercised. Also, it would be too long for UM as well, if Beckham really wants UM as he says.
- Who knows if the School Board even wants to talk with Beckham’s group and/or UM officials. They weren't too happy with the snub two weeks to Beckham's big announcement. As School board Chairwoman Perla Tabares Hantman said at a School Board meeting the next day. “I think they totally disrespected the board, And if we don’t demand respect, we’ll never get it.”
WYNWOOD
This is an interesting area to watch here. Beckham's group have identified about 12 acres on Northwest 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue that once comprised the Wynwood Foreign Trade Zone, a boondoggle economic development project that never got off the ground. However, with Beckham and the possibility of adding UM Football, there's some possibilities here.
WHY IT COULD WORK:
- Two properties that have a single private owner, New York entrepreneur Moishe Mana.
- one 8 1/2 acres
- the other about 3 acres
- On these sites, you have warehouses.
- These warehouses served as TV and film production studios.
- Miami-Dade County owns an additional acre or so of adjacent land.
- What it means is that any deal cuts out Miami-Dade. That would make Beckham, his group, and UM look like heroes from a political point of view.
- Close to Campus (20 minutes)
- Easy to get to from Broward and Palm Beach
- Map A: West Palm Beach to this site:
- Map B: Fort Lauderdale to this site:
- The site is not near any public transit and that's a big deal for Beckham, who said that he wants a site close to Mass Transit. Too long a walk. Nearest station on Metrorail is Santa Clara.
- From Broward and Palm Beach, you would have to take Tri-Rail to Opa-Locka and then a bus from Opa-Locka Tri-Rail to NW 20th Street and NW 5th Place and walk 8 minutes to the site.
- No service back to Broward and Palm Beach late Saturday Night.
- For Beckham's group, they would have to pay more to get a lot of private land at the market rate.
- Once that's done, they would have to build a garage for parking.
- Beckham's group will go with one or the other, but not both.
What it means for UM, there are positives and negatives to this site. Though, if Beckham wants Mass Transit close by, then this is a no-go. This is a site to watch here.
BY MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (East of Miami Central Station)
Former Miami Mayor and current County Commissioner Xavier Suarez asked Beckham’s group a while back to take a look at an 8 1/2-acre site belonging to the DOT and other private owners east of the Miami Intermodal Center (Miami Central Station), which is Miami International Airport’s car-rental and mass-transit hub.
WHY IT COULD WORK:
- It’s a central location with a neighboring Metrorail stop.
- Easy to get to by Mass Transit from Broward and Palm Beach (Noon and 3:30 pm kickoffs)
- Quick drive from UM to the site (20 minutes)
- Easy drive from Broward and Palm Beach.
WHY IT MIGHT NOT:
On this site, it could work for UM, but not for Beckham and his group. As close as this site is, at the end of the day, its a no go for this site. - Suarez went with John Alschuler, the New York developer working for Beckham’s group, to the site. They both came to the conclusion that without the closure of a portion of NW 37th Avenue in that area, that stadium would not fit.
- Beckham and his group would have to fork over $80 million, just for a parking garage. According to Suarez, that would be in addition to buying the private property.
- Long trip from UM via Metrorail to Miami Central Station.
- No mass transit back to Broward and Palm Beach from here after Night games.
The way I see it. Of these sites, the best one with the most realistic shot for both Beckham and UM is the Wynwood site. Your takes.
Here's the link to the article: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/09/3920167/david-beckham-investors-have-identified.html
