David Beckham's Miami football stadium backed by public vote
Football star David Beckham has made a major step towards building a home for his professional soccer team in Miami, after the public voted to approve the project.
The vote – which took place on 6 November 2018 to coincide with US midterm elections – invited the Miami public to decide whether city officials can negotiate a no-bid lease deal for Beckham's soccer stadium for the city.
![Club Internacional de Futbol by Arquitectonica](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/11/david-beckham-club-internacional-de-futbol-miami-arquitectonica_dezeen_2364_col_0-852x381.jpg)
The former England captain wants to transform the former site of Melreese Country Club, next to Miami International Airport, into a complex dedicated to his new professional football team Club Internacional de Futbol Miami — or Inter Miami.
It would include a 25,000-seat stadium, along with a 23-hectare park, a hotel, shopping precinct and public sports grounds, designed by Miami-headquartered firm Arquitectonica.
![Club Internacional de Futbol by Arquitectonica](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/11/david-beckham-club-internacional-de-futbol-miami-arquitectonica_dezeen_2364_col_3-852x376.jpg)
While the vote does not confirm the park, it marks a major move forward for Beckham, who has been trying to realise his dream of a major league soccer (MLS) team for years.
His attempts to bring a team to Miami began in 2013 – the same year that he retired from the profession – but proposals for a home venue have been stalled by rejected planning applications, deals falling through and resistance from locals.
![Club Internacional de Futbol by Arquitectonica](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/11/david-beckham-club-internacional-de-futbol-miami-arquitectonica_dezeen_2364_col_1-852x359.jpg)
"I started this dream five and a half years ago... to bring a team to Miami, to bring a team to this great city," Beckham reportedly said at a rally following the vote.
"We've had some speed bumps along the way," he added. "We've had a few problems along the way."
If negotiations with the city are successful, Miami Freedom Park and Soccer Village is slated for completion in 2021.
![Club Internacional de Futbol by Arquitectonica](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/11/david-beckham-club-internacional-de-futbol-miami-arquitectonica_dezeen_2364_col_4-852x378.jpg)
Beckham, 43, focused on developing the Melreese scheme in September 2018, following a past ambition to build a stadium on another plot of land designed by Populous – the architecture firm behind the London 2012 Olympic stadium.
Populous, however, was recently dropped in favour of Arquitectonica – the firm that developed the first proposal for the Miami stadium in 2014 with 360 Architecture, which was rejected by politicians.
![Club Internacional de Futbol by Arquitectonica](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/11/david-beckham-club-internacional-de-futbol-miami-arquitectonica_dezeen_2364_col_2-852x377.jpg)
Earlier this year, Beckham confirmed that the team will be named Internacional Club de Fútbol Miami, and signified by a black and pink crest.
The team, which is now expected to begin playing in 2020, will be the region's first in the soccer league since Fort Lauderdale-based Miami Fusion stopped in 2001.